Environmental
Case Study #1

Earth Data’s Confidential Client is an industry leading producer of cleaners, lubricants, and coatings for both business-to-business and consumer applications and is recognized as a leader in aerosol technology. The Confidential Client serves more than 6,000 manufacturers, service businesses, government agencies, and universities across the United States and internationally.

Earth Data is currently conducting an investigation of our client’s former manufacturing facility that was destroyed by a fire in 1985. At the time of the initial cleanup, it was believed there was no impact to site media as a result of the fire. However, contaminants related to the fire were discovered during an investigation by a neighboring facility in 2002. Earth Data was contracted by the Confidential Client to undergo a soil and groundwater investigation to determine the extent of contamination and remediate the site under the Pennsylvania Land Recycling and Environmental Remediation Standards Act (Act 2).

To date, the investigation conducted by Earth Data has consisted of the following tasks:

• Soil sampling for VOC’s and semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOC’s) via Geoprobe direct push sampling methodology to determine the extent of contamination;
• Installation of monitoring wells based upon the results of the soil investigation;
• Quarterly groundwater sampling via bladder pump low flow sampling methodology, and analysis for VOC’s and SVOC’s;
• Soil vapor sampling and analysis for VOC’s and SVOC’s;
• Separate Phase Liquid (SPL) removal.

SPL removal is currently being conducted at the site in order to enhance the selected groundwater treatment alternative. The site is currently being evaluated for the applicability of in-situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) to remediate site media. Earth Data has successfully implemented this technology on another site with a similar suite of contaminants and feels that the cleanup at the site can be accomplished in a timely and cost-effective manner.

Environmental Case Study #2

Earth Data has served as the Project Coordinator for the Spectron Superfund Site since January 2001. The Spectron Superfund Site was historically operated as a solvent recovery facility from 1961 through 1988. In 1989, at the request of the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) initiated a Removal Action, including overpacking and removing drums, decanting storage tanks, and treatment and disposal of contaminated water from secondary containment structures.

It was determined that onsite soil, onsite groundwater, offsite groundwater, and surface water were contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) as a result of chemical handling and waste management activities. For the remediation of the site, the impacted areas were divided into Operable Unit 1 (OU-1), comprised of the site overburden and shallow groundwater, and Operable Unit 2 (OU-2), comprised of bedrock groundwater.

The EPA identified certain parties as potentially responsible parties (PRP’s) with respect to the Spectron Superfund site. In 1991, without admitting any liability to any of EPA’s allegations, some of the PRP’s indicated their intention to perform response activities required by an Administrative Order by Consent, issued by the EPA. The Spectron PRP Group (the Group) has performed a variety of response activities related to the site.

Earth Data’s responsibilities as Project Coordinator for the Spectron Superfund Site include:

• Management of day-to-day activities at the site;
• Ensuring that the Group remains in compliance with all requirements of agreements between the EPA and MDE;
• General oversight and management of the site remedial investigations and selected remedies.

Currently, Earth Data is working with the Group, MDE, and EPA toward the implementation of the OU-1 remedy and the completion of the OU-2 remedial investigation.