Trihydro partnered with a Fortune 500 waste management firm and local environmental health & safety managers to rapidly evaluate the potential liability associated with purchase of former used oil and solvent facilities. The project's goal was to quickly identify potential environmental issues (historical and current), and provide detailed and accurate cost estimates for addressing identified issues to adjust the purchase price.
Two-person teams visited each site along with at least one client representative to conduct 12 Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs), including conducting interviews with the current facility personnel while maintaining the confidential nature of the visit. Sites with potential environmental impacts were further investigated within two weeks of the site visit as part of a Phase II ESA, which involved:
- Collecting soil boring samples
- Installing temporary groundwater wells
- Collecting PCB wipe samples
- Completing EM-61 geophysical surveys of two sites with possible buried tanks and/or drums
Secondary containment measurements were also recorded to evaluate Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) compliance. Identified environmental concerns included wide-spread total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) impacts to soil, possible buried tanks and drums, off-site groundwater impacts, and possible surface water impacts.
After the purchase was completed, Trihydro was retained to provide environmental engineering services at one of the facilities in Louisiana. Test pits were used to evaluate the identified geophysical anomalies at the site. Additional soil sampling was conducted, along with removal of several subsurface oil/water separators identified as part of the geophysical survey, including one undocumented tank. A risk evaluation was conducted pursuant to the Louisiana Risk Evaluation and Corrective Action Program (RECAP) to develop site-specific standards. As part of the RECAP process, Trihydro characterized the site groundwater as a low-use non-drinking water source through completion of multiple aquifer slug tests and collection of geotechnical parameters. After soil characterization activities were completed, a Corrective Action Plan was prepared and approved to address groundwater through a low-cost monitored natural attenuation program.
Based on improvements in groundwater quality, LDEQ approved no further action (NFA).