Environmental Site Remediation & Clean-up
OEC combines geotechnical and hydrogeological capabilities to minimize, mitigate & clean-up a variety of pollutants and contaminates. These include defining the extent and magnitude of the pollution sources and developing ground water extraction and treatment, ground water gradient controls and disposal of waster contaminates. Scroll to view or return to the MAIN MENU.
Environmental Site Remediation & Clean-up
- Chemical Spills and Leaks
- Soil Borings and Soil Sampling
- Pollutant Drainage Surveys
- Ground Water Extraction and Monitoring
- In-Place Treatment Technologies
Underground Storage Tank Management
- Soil Vapor Testing
- Integrity Testing
- Corrosion Testing
- Soil Chemical Testing
- Ground Water Testing
- Regulatory Compliance Programs
Landfill and Hydrogeologic Studies
- Site Feasibility Studies
- Landfill Capping Plans
- Soil Condition Assessments
- Flood Control Evaluations
- Ground Water Impact Evaluations
- Regulatory Audits
Environmental Site Assessments: (ESA's)
- Phase I Site Reconnaissance
- Phase II Site Exploration (When recommended)
- Phase III Site Remidiation (Where appropriate)
Storm Water - NPDES Permitting
- Evaluate the applicability of storm water discharges
- Assist in determining the specific permitting requirements
- Improvements required under governmental authority
- Estimate of the total drainage area and impervious surfaces
- Information about any significant leaks or spills
- Information about the presence of storm water pollutants and significant materials
Air Quality Permits
- Strategies for non-attainment of criteria pollutants (primarily ozone and carbon monoxide)
- Control of hazardous air pollutants (HAP's) for 189 chemicals/chemical categories
- Control the precursors of acidic deposition from industrial and electric utility sources
- A uniform, nationwide system of permitting air pollutant sources
- Reduction and ultimate elimination of cholorofluorocarbons - CFCs
Industrial Hygiene - Health & Safety
- Right-to-know & Chemical Hazards
- Noise, Radiation Evaluation
- Ergonomic Stresses - Repetitive Motion Problems
- Asbestos
- OHSA Air Contaminate Standards
- Employee Training
Ohman Environmental Case Studies
Site Assessment Example
Situation: The site was situated on a flat 15 acre low land which was largely paved for parking cars. A few buildings were constructed for office areas. Future sale required a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment to evaluate the potential for contamination on the property.
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.
Air Quality Example
Situation: The site was located in a major metropolitan county where asphalt is manufactured and contaminated soils are roasted in an asphalt kiln as a treatment method. Increasing volumes of petroleum contaminated soils in addition to soils containing larger concentrations of various chemicals created the need for higher destruction temperatures and cleaner air discharges.
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.
Storage Tank Example
Situation: The project site was located in a north metropolitan county near a major river. Backup number two (2) fuel oil reserves (approx. 20,000 gallons) were kept current for purposes of qualifying for interruptible natural gas service. This capability reduced energy costs by 50% provided they could switch to fuel oil upon notice by the power utility.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.
Future Regulatory Developments
Future Regulatory Developments
- Hazardous Waste Rules
- OSHA Compliance
- Air Quality
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