Problem:
Phase I results indicated the ground water may have been contaminated and a Phase II was conducted. This included the completion of soil borings and installation of ground water monitoring wells.
Definition:
The soil borings indicated the underlying soils were organic peat materials and the ground water gradient across the site had a very gradual slope to the north.
Solution: Chemical tests found that the existing organic-peat soils contained high amounts of fiberous materials which created a nutrient sink-like condition. Combined with a neutral pH of the ground water, the unique characteristic of the soils allowed the retention of suspected pollutants and protected the ground water from contamination thereby allowing the sale to proceed as planned.
Problem:
Temperatures in the existing system could not effectively destroy chemical contaminants and air quality discharge standards were becoming a limiting factor in the amounts and concentrations of contaminants that could be accepted for roasting.
Definition:
Several temperature controls were evaluated and process treatment alternatives were examined for recommendation.
Solution: The existing air quality permit was modified to allow a 2000 degree after burner complete with fire brick to be built adjacent to the process air stack to destroy chemical contaminants when processing contaminated soils.
Problem : Volume discrepancies in the fuel oil tank caused reasons for investigation. The return piping system was found to be badly corroded and fuel oil had migrated out from the building into the surrounding soils and not back to the tank where it was intended.
Definition: Several soil borings extended through the bedrock to the GW (ground water) where several feet of fuel oil was identified on the GW surface. Geophysical profiles revealed the bedrock was fractured and had allowed migration of fuel oil from the tank to the GW.
Solution: Deep ground water withdraw wells with product recovery pumps were installed to intercept the fuel oil and contaminated ground water before they entered the influent drinking water supply wells.
Overview:
As we move closer to the year 2000 and into the next century, the preservation of our natural environmental resources will become an increasingly important factor as we race to compete globally. We believe the successful key component in managing pollution will not be the traditional tail-pipe (Superfund) type of regulation but rather controlling pollution at the front end of the pipeline.
Already recent changes in federal and State programs have provided corporations a competitive advantage by allowing them to respond to the market changes faster through environmental permits that encompass the entire facility and not just the individual operations. As an incentitve to comply with these new programs, companies go beyond the minimal compliance regulations and achieve lower emission rates. Many times this allows them to wait for permit submittals and regulatory approvals.
Hazardous Waste: More emphasis will be placed on pollution prevention programs and managing pollution from a pipeline perspective. Regulatory emphasis will switch from strict compliance inspections to the direct issuance of financial penalties for not complying with pollution prevention goals and guidelines.
Industrial Hygiene Environmental Health & Safety(EH & S) Consistent with the regulatory directives for pollution prevention, industrial hygiene compliance including health and safety issues in the work place will emphasize increased employee training and employee participation in work group settings. Risk management insurance programs will also play a significant role in assisting companies with maintaining a safe work place environment.
¨Copyright 1996, Ohman Environmental Consultants. ohman@ohman.com