Success Stories
Remediation Planning
SITUATON A large industrial corporation has a property involved in an EPA-led RCRA Facility Assessment (RFA). Concurrently, this property is involved in a State-led Corrective Action Program (CAP) to remediate groundwater beneath the facility that is contaminated with PAHs and chlorophenols as a result of former unlined surface impoundments at the property. The CAP involved a groundwater pump-and-treat (P&T) system that had been in operation since 1986. EarthCon Consultants (EarthCon) was retained to provide technical and regulatory assistance in guiding the property and the client through the RFA process. While EarthCon was not retained to assist with the groundwater CAP, a preliminary review by EarthCon of the site history and contaminant distributions performed for purpose of the RFA suggested the efficacy of the P&T system was poor. This was reported to the client. EarthCon was retained to assess the efficacy of the P&T system and to provide results.
SOLUTION EarthCon performed assessments on the ability of the P&T system to perform contaminant mass removal and provide hydraulic control. The P&T system was demonstrated to be ineffective and through groundwater modeling it was demonstrated that the stability of the groundwater plume and the ongoing mass removal was being provided primarily by intrinsic biodegradation. EarthCon subsequently negotiated with the State and EPA to implement Monitored Natural Attenuation (MNA) as an alternate remedial alternative to the P&T system.
RESULTS The P&T system was shut down and a MNA corrective action program was implemented. This resulted in a cost savings of approximately $150,000/year indefinitely.
Remediation design & Implementation 
SITUATON The State was aware of an issue at the retail operation and EarthCon was contracted to conduct a Preliminary Site Assessment. During that assessment, 8.53 feet of free phase gasoline was observed in monitoring well MW-1. Based on the findings, MDEQ requested that EarthCon develop a Turnkey Remedial Action Package (TRAP) to address the petroleum soil and groundwater contamination. The TRAP was submitted, approved the following month and EarthCon installed a dual phase groundwater remediation system one month later.
CHALLENGE The facility was a small, corner gas station with tight quarters, a narrow alley way in the back, and a busy intersection with vehicle traffic along both sides with access to the pump islands and the store. EarthCon was tasked with installing a remediation system with minimal disruption to the existing gas station business and ensure a rapid remediation of the free-phase product in order to provide a more marketable property to the future owners.
RESULTS EarthCon’s remediation strategy helped the client reduce their monthly remediation system use rate by 50% and maintain a system monthly run time of greater than 90%. The solution involved the redesign, installation, operation and maintenance of a trailer-mounted dual-phased used remediation system housed in a sound dampening enclosure to recover contaminated soil vapor, free-phase fuel and contaminated groundwater. The remediation system was located such that vehicle access to the store and pump islands was not impeded. Trenching was conducted during a period of ownership transition to minimize impacts to traffic flow. EarthCon worked with neighboring property owners to install off site monitoring wells. EarthCon technicians conducted monthly monitoring of the remediation activities, maintenance on the remediation system and conducted groundwater sampling. EarthCon project managers and senior engineers worked with MDEQ throughout the process to communicate remediation progress and generate the No Further Action letter for the site. Approximately 1,500 gallons of fuel was removed from the recovery wells over a three year period of remediation. The site was granted No Further Action status in 2010.
SITUATON A large natural resource corporation sold a photochemical mixing facility to a specialty products corporation in Florida. As part of the property transaction, the seller had agreed to reimburse the purchaser for “minor” environmental remediation and monitoring costs required by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) as part of closure of the existing underground storage tanks. Following the property transaction, the new owner proceeded with an extensive environmental investigation and remedial excavation, and submitted work plans to FDEP for a groundwater monitoring network in the shallow and deep aquifers. Following completion of these activities, the new owner demanded reimbursement of past expenditures and projected future costs in excess of $1,000,000.
SOLUTION EarthCon personnel were retained to evaluate the remedial investigation and hazardous waste disposal activities conducted at the facility by the new owner. Our activities included a site visit, evaluation of different disposal options, and thorough review of investigation data collected at the facility since the property transfer. Through careful reconstruction of the different phases of the environmental investigation, it was determined that at several key decision points, the new owner had elected to install additional boreholes, or conduct unnecessary soil removal that were not warranted for site closure. In addition, we were able to identify alternative disposal facilities, which resulted in significantly lower costs. Finally, we were able to negotiate a greatly reduced scope of work with the (FDEP) for the groundwater investigations, which reduced the number of permanent monitoring wells from eleven to five.
RESULTS After submittal of several technical reports and the subsequent negotiations, the purchaser agreed to a negotiated settlement and release of liability. These activities resulted in the client saving in excess of $600,000.
Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) Compliance 
SITUATION An international energy company was operating numerous natural gas facilities in Alabama, Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas and ramping up construction efforts at newly acquired properties. With no in-house Environmental resources, the company turned to EarthCon for Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) inspection and training resources.
CHALLENGE Located on one of the country’s largest natural gas pipelines, the underground storage facilities required a stellar health and safety team to identify and avoid hazards. EarthCon’s EHS professionals conducted walk-through inspections of fire and safety equipment as well as noise monitoring. Monthly employee EHS seminars were conducted at multiple sites and based upon conditions, EarthCon developed customized safety curriculum, including quizzes to provide proactive steps to avoid accidents and mishaps. As part of the drilling operation inspections activities, safety violations were observed and EarthCon immediately shut down operations until the situation was remedied.
RESULTS EarthCon’s integrated EHS programs have helped the client identify real hazards, as well as avoid catastrophic hazards and EHS violations. The customized EHS programs and facility visits have instilled a culture of safety at the various sites. On many occasions, the client has asked EarthCon to repeat lessons-learned sessions. One example is when an EarthCon professional noticed that grating and railing were missing from a mud-mixing container on a 16-wheel drilling rig, and he halted drilling. Another incident was when a contractor drilling water had a kickback that sent 1,200 feet of pipe into the air. No one was injured, but EarthCon’s EHS professional was on site to take photos at the time of the incident. He documented the hazards that occurred as a result of a drilling contractor’s mishap. The client used these photos as evidence and documentation in court proceedings. Due to our successful EHS performance on this contract, the client invites EarthCon to its annual EHS workshop, where we are the only consulting firm to offer EHS input to leading executives.
Site Characterization — NPL Site Under CERCLA Superfund Program
SITUATON A former industrial manufacturing facility in the southeastern United States had been placed on the National Priorities List (NPL) under the Federal Superfund program. During the course of completing the Remedial Investigation (RI), four inorganic analytes (metals) and chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs) were detected in groundwater above groundwater cleanup standards. In response, USEPA issued a Record of Decision (ROD) requiring a site-wide groundwater remedy for the metals at an estimated cost of over $20,000,000 and implementation of a separate remedy to address CVOCs in an isolated area of the property at an estimated cost of $3,000,000.
SOLUTION EarthCon personnel were retained by the PRP to evaluate alternatives to the remedy for metals in groundwater. After bifurcation of the Remedial Design process to allow the CVOC and metals remedies to track separately, a focused investigation of metals concentrations was conducted to determine representative metals concentrations in groundwater. The focused investigation included the design of refined purging and sampling protocols to reduce artificial entrainment of soil particles that might contain naturally-occurring metals. Additionally, the groundwater recovery and treatment program for CVOCs specified in the ROD was reevaluated in order to determine whether treatment of groundwater was necessary prior to discharge to the publicly-owned treatment works (POTW).
RESULTS The $250,000 focused study resulted in the determination that metals were not present in groundwater and that remediation was not necessary. After significant negotiations, USEPA and the state agency concurred and the $20,000,000 remedy was vacated. In addition, an Explanation of Significant Difference (ESD) was developed to eliminate the treatment of recovered groundwater impacted by CVOCs. As a result of direct discharge of the recovered groundwater, the portion of the groundwater remedy for the CVOCs was cut in half (approximately $1,500,000).
Corrective Action Plan & Site Closure 
SITUATON A paper and packaging products company formerly owned a property comprised of several hundred acres which were listed on the State’s Hazardous Site Inventory. EarthCon was selected to help the client evaluate the data and develop a closure strategy.
CHALLENGE The property contained an unregulated, unlined abandoned landfill with outstanding compliance issues. The new owner wanted to expand their site redevelopment, but was not able to proceed until the site compliance issues were addressed.
RESULTS EarthCon developed and negotiated a closure strategy that resulted in the elimination of 90% of the site’s compliance issues, saving the client hundreds of thousands of dollars. No active remediation was required. The remaining 10% of the site was placed under a five-year monitoring program. The client was able to walk away from the site and the new owner was able to proceed with redevelopment. Project highlights included evaluations of key existing data, the development of cleanup criteria and limited datBa collection to verify compliance. Based upon those findings, EarthCon developed a Corrective Action Plan and entered into negotiations with the State agency.
Soil & Groundwater Investigation
SITUATON A year-round multi-track middle school in a major school district was located across the street from an abandoned plating facility. As part of a Phase II Soil and Groundwater Investigation, EarthCon was contracted to characterize the extent of hexavalent chromium and volatile organic compounds present in soil and in both shallow and deep groundwater beneath the middle school and former plating properties. The California Environmental Protection Agency Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) provided regulatory oversight. The Scope of Work included the installation of six shallow monitoring wells and three deep groundwater monitoring wells; a geophysical survey of the three deep groundwater monitoring wells and the abandonment of a pre-existing shallow groundwater monitoring well at the middle school. At the plating facility, the scope included the installation of two shallow groundwater monitoring wells. In addition, the scope included the collection and analytical testing of soil, groundwater, and quality assurance/quality control samples.
CHALLENGE Drilling activities at the school had to be conducted when students and staff were not present. In addition, all the deep wells had to be installed using mud rotary techniques, which were further complicated by the shortened drilling hours.
RESULTS All activities were coordinated with the school district, DTSC, and appropriate agencies from the City of Los Angeles to conduct the drilling and sampling activities on weekends and during holidays. Extended hour work permits for weekends were obtained from the City of Los Angeles and Los Angeles Police Department so that the work activities could be continued late into the weekend evenings. Noise abatement panels were erected to minimize noise impacts to nearby residential areas. The shallow and deep monitoring wells were installed without disruption to student learning activities.
Brownfields — Assessment & Remediation
SITUATON A developer wanted to purchase a three-acre parcel in downtown Atlanta, Georgia for mixed-use redevelopment. To obtain a Limitation of Liability (LOL) under the Brownfield’s program, the client hired EarthCon to prepare a Brownfield corrective action plan (CAP).
CHALLENGE Due to delays in the sales and financing negotiations, the property closing was moved towards the end of the approved CAP’s site assessment/remediation activities schedule. This delay placed the project on a fast track schedule to have all assessment/remediation activities completed and obtain the Limitation of Liability (LOL) before scheduled construction activities could begin.
RESULTS By understanding the regulatory process and providing technically complete documents, EarthCon was able to complete the entire project from inception to receipt of the Brownfields limitation of liability letter, within 90 days. Because the approved CAP included site-specific clean-up criteria, EarthCon was able to pin-point areas of the site requiring soil remediation, and expedite delineation and excavation. To demonstrate that contaminated soils at depth were actually related to existing groundwater contamination, EarthCon prepared additional data submittals and met with Georgia EPD personnel to obtain same-day approval. This agreement allowed deeper soils to remain in place resulting in significant cost savings and kept the project on schedule.
Further coordination took place between EarthCon and the client’s demolition contractor to conduct asbestos and TCLP testing of onsite materials and schedule assessment and remediation activities around ongoing demolition. The compliance status report was prepared for submittal and agency approval was received within two weeks. GA EPD featured this project in their 2009 State of the Environment report. Project highlights included close coordination of activities between the regulatory agency and the developer.
