REMEDIAL REMOVAL OVERSIGHT

Smith-Emery GeoServices provides supervision and regulatory interaction for environmental site remediation. When a project requires remediation, Smith-Emery GeoServices manages the project, which typically involves writing bid specifications, reviewing bids and methods, writing reports and workplans, regulatory negotiations, and determining that the work is conducted safely and correctly. Our clients have found that this combination of professional expertise facilitates a cost-effective and efficient remediation. This approach provides us with a unique pool of professional talents and capabilities which enables us to supply the right people and experience for a remediation project. We have supervised remediation for a broad range of sites, including industrial facilities, military bases, gas stations, commercial properties, construction discoveries, and underground tank removals.

REMEDIAL BUSINESS PLANS

As a business begins consideration of restoring a site to its proper condition and value, there is often more than one approach to consider. To meet our client's needs during such a time, Smith-Emery GeoServices provides the service of outlining these options by considering methods, costs and associated time lines in a Remedial Business Plan. The information is based on experience and meetings with proven remedial contractors and experts. This type of report is beneficial as a reference during lengthy property transactions, negotiations and contract preparations. The main purpose of this document is to define the remediation process and provide a valuation method for contaminated real estate.

RISK ASSESSMENTS

The field of human health risk assessment attempts to answer such questions as “How clean is clean?” and “What is the actual risk to people posed by contamination at this site?”. A formal Risk Assessment attempts to determine these answers by examining the nature and distribution of contaminants at a site, researching the potential health effects from these chemicals, identifying potential receptors, and delineating migration pathways from the contaminant to the receptor. The synthesis of all this information is a comprehensive risk model that can be used to quantitatively measure the actual risks posed by a release of a hazardous substance.

ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING

Environmental technicians with OSHA 40-hour hazardous waste operation (HAZWOPER) training are available for monitoring, logging, and sampling on job sites that involve the potential to encounter hazardous substances. Smith-Emery GeoServices’ monitoring equipment includes a portable organic vapor analyzer, photoionization detector and colormetric detector tubes. Our technicians are often hired to assist or supervise contractors that are working in areas of environmental hazards.

UST REMOVAL AND MANAGEMENT

Federal and state regulations detail precise methods for underground storage tank (UST) removals that must be followed in order to obtain an agency closure on the tanks. Smith-Emery’s project managers have extensive experience and training in dealing with all of these issues as well handling issues unique to each individual site. To comply with the tank removal regulations, it is typically necessary to obtain a permit from the local enforcement agency, hire a licensed tank removal
contractor, properly manifest and dispose of all hazardous waste generated during the work, obtain and analyze soil samples, and have a closure report prepared by a registered professional for review by the enforcement agency.

Smith-Emery can offer a wide range of services necessary for UST compliance. Our scope of service can be as simple as having an experienced and properly equipped technician on site to obtain samples for shipment to a laboratory, or as complicated as having a registered professional handle all project management and remediation details.

In the event that evidence is discovered which indicates that a release from the tank has occurred, the site would enter into the state’s Leaking Underground Storage Tank program. The lead agency would require that the extent of the contamination be determined and that the contamination be mitigated. Smith-Emery has provided consultation services for a variety of UST sites throughout California and is highly experienced in the complicated process of negotiating reasonable remedial methods and goals with the lead agencies. We are capable of managing the entire remedial process, including preparation of the initial workplan, conducting the field investigation, preparing a report of findings, feasibility studies, permitting, obtaining and evaluating contractor bids, oversight of the remedial design process, and preparation of the final closure report. Smith-Emery has established a team of professionals who can handle remedial design and management of the project in association with proven, successful remediation contractors.

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