Class 3 - Lecture PDF

Contaminated Sites Instructor: Dennis Klick Class 3 Class 3 Agenda Environmental Site Investigations Phase I Environmental Site Assessments Site Profile to Site Investigation A site profile is a screening form for identifying potentially contaminated sites. This summary is created from readily avail...

Contaminated Sites Instructor: Dennis Klick Class 3 Class 3 Agenda Environmental Site Investigations Phase I Environmental Site Assessments Site Profile to Site Investigation A site profile is a screening form for identifying potentially contaminated sites. This summary is created from readily available information about a site, including a basic description and its past and present uses. The form is typically filled out by a site owner or a qualified consultant acting for the site owner. Based on the information provided, a site profile could trigger a Environmental Site Assessment/Investigation Environmental Site Assessments Site Investigation A site investigation is the key means of gathering information to determine if a site is contaminated. The ministry’s can order a site investigation, prompted by a site profile or other information received. Environmental Site Assessments There are 3 main phases of Environmental Site Assessments: Phase I Determine if there is a reasonable basis to suspect the presence or absence of an environmental risk Phase II Confirm the presence or absence of a suspected environmental risk Phase III Determine the extent of a known environmental risk & develop an a plan of action to reduce the risk Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Phase I ESA Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) is the initial research phase for assessing a property Intended to identify potential contamination visiting the property to identify visual evidence of actual or potential contamination A study conducted, consisting of investigative procedures, usually designed to uncover as much about the history of land use and operations It is were historic information and documentation is compiled and analyzed Phase I ESA In BC, Phase I ESA is known as Preliminary Site Investigation (PSI – Stage 1) A Phase I ESA report is carried out by an accredited environmental consultant This is the speculative stage in which all the information gathered may contain only piece of information that could generate questions Feelers for information are send in many directions, keeping in mind that anything and everything is possible Does not include collection or analysis of samples Phase I ESA Phase I Environmental Site Assessments typically consist of 4 tasks: 1. Gathering information about past and present uses of the site 2. Inspection of the site by an environmental professional, usually accompanied by someone familiar with the property 3. Reviewing environmental files maintained by the site owner and regulatory agencies 4. Preparing a report that identifies existing and potential sources of contamination on the property The result of a Phase I ESA determines the need for further site investigation: the need for any type of intrusive sampling and analysis or may indicate that further investigation is not warranted. What's included in a Phase I ESA? Some of the areas of investigation include: historical records of the property historical aerial photographs historical topographic maps fire insurance maps (maps showing what properties contained in the past, such as buildings, fuel tanks, etc.) A thorough review of readily available government environmental records of the property: spill releases to the environment fuel tank registrations hazardous material manifests environmental records What's included in a Phase I ESA? Interviews with current and past property occupants who might be able to shed light onto past or present uses of the property Thorough site inspection, including all building interiors as well as all exterior property & grounds This site inspection would include a visual inspection of the presence of features such as] fuel or chemical storage tanks presence of stained soils site activities Phase I ESA Phase I ESA is commonly done on: Real estate due diligence for a buyer Assisting a vendor in expediting a sale Property Insurance renewals Financing and Re-financing Commencement of a lease to establish a baseline condition Lease termination to assess if contamination has arisen/increased during the lease ESA Phase I Limitations Comprehensive Phase I ESA is limited to: – – – – – Availability and completeness of historical data Physical obstructions that mark visual clues Eyewitnesses may not want to disclose info or difficult to track Inability to interpret collected data Records become lost or destroyed Phase 1 ESA Standardization Although ESAs are not a legal requirement in Canada, the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) standards has become accepted in Canada In Canada, the latest version of the CSA Z768 standard is what is used as starting point for conducting Phase I ESA’s Intended to provide a consistent framework and minimum requirements for conducting Phase I ESA Majority of financial institutions require Phase I ESAs completed in accordance with the CSA Standard Phase I Environmental Assessment Components ESA Phase 1 Components The 4 principal components of a Phase 1 ESA include: 1. Site History / Records review 2. Site Visit 3. Interviews 4. Report Phase I ESA Records Review Begin the paper Shuffle…. Phase I ESA Site History Research / Records Review The first step in an ESA is a review of the records associated with a site to reconstruct the history of its ownership and current use. The purpose of the records review is to obtain & review records that will help identify recognize environmental conditions. Research should produce documented information about past activities that could have contributed to site contamination. Research on the property in question is essential! The information it collects contributes to subsequent steps. If the ESA goes beyond Phase I to sampling and testing, valuable time, effort and money can be saved if the follow-up can draw on a complete, accurate history Phase I ESA Records Review Land Title Search Provides information on the chronology ownership of the property. Aerial Photographs Aerial Photos maybe useful for evaluating historic land use and general site usage, structures, improvements, tank farms, poor drainage areas, adjacent land use. Aerial Photos maybe available from libraries, universities, municipalities, municipal archives, federal government agencies. Property Use Records Property Use Information may provide insight into potential presence of contamination. Property use information includes – Insurance records – Property-use directories Phase I ESA Records Review Regulatory Agency Records It maybe appropriate to contact regulatory agencies such as Federal & Provincial environmental agencies including local municipalities to obtain info: Permits – operating permits, certificates Past, pending outstanding and on-going prosecutions, work orders, complaints and environmental compliance records Violations of environmental statues, regulations, bylaws, approvals and permits. Other Records for Review Previous Phase ESA 1 reports Geological & Geotechnical Reports Soil Maps Phase I ESA Records Review Site plans Property Tax records Zoning Records Building plans Permit records Landowner lease agreements Production & maintenance records (e.g. process control diagrams) Spill reports Site Utility drawings Emergency response plans Inventories of chemicals and their use (e.g. WHMIS, MSDS) Environmental Monitoring Reports Current & previous land use Waste management records Phase I ESA Records Review Public Health Concerns Utility Company Records Land Use Documents (demolition permits, zoning, development, etc.) Topographic Maps Phase I ESA Review 4 main elements to an Phase I ESA: Site History / Records Review – COMPLETE – Site Inspection – Interviews – Report Site Inspection Aka. Property & Area Reconnaissance Property & Area Reconnaissance The next step in a Phase I assessment is a visit to the site. The purpose of this visit is to observe and document environmental conditions on the property. It provides an opportunity to follow up on clues uncovered by the initial research. The site visit should include an inspection of all aspects of the property, including not only the exterior site conditions, but conditions inside any buildings as well. The investigator attempts to find potential sources of environmental contamination. If something appears out of place, it probably is Site Inspections Site visits involve passive observation Researchers concentrate on any details that may suggest environmental contamination, while also noting the natural features that complete the physical profile of the site Photographs should also be taken of adjacent sites to support the conclusions of the report Researchers should take photographs of items of interest: storage drums pools of liquid disconnected transformers Planning a Site Inspection Plan the visit – special equipment maybe required Question: If you had a walk 8 hours through densely vegetated 200acre lot on a hot day, what would you need to bring? Always carry a clip board and writing elements. Notes will get wet & dirty. Use permanent markers that will not bleed Prior to departing for the site – contact the people designated as the property contact Prior to departing for the site – review collected info. – Site History, Building records, etc. Conducting the Site Inspection Once on site, the investigator must be aware of all possibilities (and then some). The investigator should attempt to visually evaluate every square foot of the property. At minimum, the investigator should cover the following: – Around the perimeter of the property – All surface water routes, including dry creek beds – All roads, including paved & unpaved – All areas that are reasonably accessible While on site, note the following: Topographic Conditions Chemical Storage / drums General Description of Structures, Soil Mounds Stained Soil Dead Wildlife Poor Vegetation Evidence of Surface Water Roads & Fences Inside Structural Observations Septic System Sanitary Sewers Water Wells Drinking Water Sources Debris Contamination Odours Site Inspection General observation Current uses of the property that may involve hazardous materials. Details about hazardous materials and unidentified substances observed on the site. Evidence of present or former underground or above-ground storage tanks. These indicate a high probability of environmental contamination. The condition of any storage areas and bins. These can suggest the presence of hazardous materials such as solvents and other chemicals. General Description of Structured, Roads & Fences All structures on the property should be described & identified on a map. The size & number of the buildings should be estimated, along with estimated construction dates, # of stories and use. Record dirt roads, foot paths, streets & parking lots. Note Fences & walls as they may have designed purposes. Site Inspection General observation The presence of special attention items, such as items containing asbestos, ozone-depleting substances and lead. Transformers and old light ballasts suggest the presence of PCBs, which may have leaked or spilled onto surface soils. Site Inspection General observation Radon, mold, noise, electric and magnetic fields and vibration should also be assessed. Unusual odours at the site. Housekeeping practices, indicated by the general maintenance and appearance of a site, and by the condition and tidiness of any buildings, storage or waste-disposal areas. The potable water supply for the site. Site Inspection Interior observations Type of fuel used in heating and cooling systems. Stains on floors, walls or ceilings. The location and condition of floor drains and sumps. Interior finishes of buildings, which may include hazardous materials such as asbestos. Mechanical equipment present on the site, which may include hydraulic elevators and hoists. Inside Structural Observations An effort should be made to observe in-structure impacts that may indicate soil contamination. Industrial buildings generally pose a greater concerns vs residential – unless resident was used for illegal drug labs. Review heating & cooling systems (e.g. gas, oil, electricity). If gas or oil were used, locate the storage tank. Look for stains & corrosions – Look for possible sources Drains & sumps – If you see drains or sumps (pit fro draining, collecting or storing liquids) you need to question their intend & use. Inside Structural Observations Site Inspection Exterior observations The exterior condition of buildings on the property. The presence of wells on the site. Those that are not used as sources of water may have been used for disposal of wastes; those that are still in use are potential sources of contaminated water. Waste disposal practices, such as disposal of sewage and solid waste. liquid Site Inspection Exterior observations Pits and lagoons used for waste disposal or waste treatment, surface water drainage systems, and wastewater discharge systems. Surface staining, which can suggest the discharge of waste materials or other causes of soil contamination. Topographic Conditions Check the site topographic conditions Topographic maps are not frequently updated – changes on the property could have occurred Why is checking the Topography important? Before After Septic Tanks In rural environments, waste is managed by some form of ground waste management system Septic system failures are a major source of groundwater pollution. Layers of soil act as a natural filter, removing microbes and other particles as water seeps through. Improperly treated water can carry bacteria and viruses Sanitary Sewers The location of all sanitary sewers should be noted. These paths whereby runoffs of surface water may contain hazardous substances & petroleum products may depart the property. Underground Sewer pipes can also break or crack resulting in ground and groundwater contamination. Industrial Debris Many unused properties become a dumping ground. Industrial dumping comes in all sizes, shapes and forms Containers are generally not labeled nor traceable Chemical Storage All chemicals shipped form the manufacturer or distributor must be labeled with the tradename, manufacturer, and specific hazards. Labels provide information as to chemicals on site. being stored Soil Mounds Backfill is identified by obvious disturbances in the surface of the soil In a field vegetation, newly placed backfill will have nothing growing on it Within weeks, grass will grow and the site may be recognizable only by a mound Look for mounds that seem out of place – i.e. a 10 ft. wide mount un the center of a flat field with no explanation or rationale would be suspicious Ground Depressions Concave surfaces may be found where the contents of a drum have seeped into the ground and the containers have collapsed under the pressure of the soil The depression can a small 5ft diameter or 100ft across With ground depressions, there be signs of cracked asphalt or concrete surfaces Stained Soil Mishandled chemicals may result in contaminated grounds and involves spills, container leaks or intentional dumping. Some signs of surface soil contamination include: – Extreme dryness – Cracking – Soil discoloration – Distinct wet spot next to a chemical storage container – Noticeable sheen – Residue rink Poor or no Vegetation Growth Lack of vegetation in an area typically vegetated may indicate soil contamination Wildlife Indications Deceased animals around a water source can indicate contaminated or poisoned waters. HOWEVER… Do not assume that the water is contaminated with chemicals Animals including fish deaths maybe due to disease or other environmental factors – requires Phase II Investigation Generally fish in a stream of contaminated water will die before other wildlife are affected. Electrical Supply Systems Electrical supply systems use transformers to increase or decrease the electricity delivered to a site. These transformers may contain trace amounts (5ppm) of PCBs in the oil PCB-containing oil does not pose a risk unless it gets into the groundwater, is inhaled or absorbed by the skin. PCB-containing oil is not a concern unless it is 50ppm or greater. Electrical Transformers There are several types of transformers 1. Pole-mounted 2. Pad-mounted 3. Underground Leaks generally occur around the seals. The oil is under pressure The electric company that owns the transformer may have records of the PCB content Cemeteries Potential pollutants from deteriorated caskets, embalming chemicals, metals & salts. For each body buried, there is an average of 8 quarts of formalin. Formalin is 38% formaldehyde % 15 methanol. As it is water soluble, the formaldehyde may easily migrate to the groundwater Reported cases in Germany, people living near cemeteries were reported to have a higher incident of typhoid fever. The investigator should be alerted if a water well is installed adjacent to a cemetery. A new water well may provide a conduit for the migrated contaminant to enter the groundwater. Class 3 Quiz Question 1 What are the 4 principal components of a Phase 1 ESA? 1. 2. 3. 4. Question 1 What are the 4 principal components of a Phase 1 ESA: 1. Site History / Records review 2. Site Visit 3. Interviews 4. Report Question 2 Indicate whether the following statement is True or False ‘ESA Phase I involve the collection of environmental samples’ Question 2 Indicate whether the following statement is True or False ‘ESA Phase I involve the collection of environmental samples’ FALSE Question 3 When conducting an ESA Phase I Site inspection, at minimum, the investigator should inspect the following 4 aspects on a property: 1. 2. 3. 4. Question 3 When conducting an ESA Phase I Site inspection, at minimum, the investigator should inspect the following 4 aspects on a property: 1. Inspect the perimeter of the property 2. Inspect surface water routes, including dry creek beds 3. Inspect roads, including paved & unpaved 4. Inspect areas that are reasonably accessible