Environmental science, and in particular our understanding on pollution and long-term contamination, is constantly evolving.

Only recently have we been able to determine just how long certain contaminants generated from activities as seemingly benign as dry-cleaning can remain, often at dangerous levels, in mediums like soil and groundwater. Phase II Environmental Site Assessments involving soil grab, soil gas, and groundwater sampling, are a fairly non-invasive and non-destructive way to get a picture of the levels (if present) of certain contaminants within the confines of a project site.

FTG can perform ambient air, sub-slab vapor, soil gas, soil grab, and groundwater sampling, as part of our (limited) Phase II investigations, and did so at a former dry-cleaning facility in Baltimore County, MD.

Exterior contamination was quantified through several geo-probe borings, used to obtain soil grab, soil gas, and groundwater samples to determine if there was a contaminant "footprint" present around the former dry cleaner. The groundwater sample was collected using a peristaltic pump, to eliminate contact from any of the pump components and the water being drawn from ~20' below ground surface. An interior boring was made using a small coring machine, to create minimal disturbance to the business, which remained open during sampling. A soil gas, and a soil grab sample, were taken from the soil cuttings, to determine if the former dry cleaner had generated any contamination within the confines of the tenant suite. All samples were collected according to EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and/or MDE (Maryland Department of the Environment methodologies (where appropriate), transported, and submitted to a highly competent lab under strict chain-of-custody protocols. All sampling was completed over the course of a few hours, and the analysis received from the lab within 48 hours of sampling.

By comparing the analyses against threshold values from EPA and/or MDE, in this case commercial thresholds for soil gas, soil grab, and groundwater values, an evaluation was made as to whether or not this discrete sampling event showed an exceedance of those thresholds, which it did not. Based on the results of the study, mitigation was not necessary though changing site conditions and/or construction may warrant additional testing. A great deal of information regarding present and future risk (in this case lack thereof) to visitors to the project site was gained in only a small amount of time.

This was another great example of FTG delivering present and future value, as the risks of not discovering certain hazardous chemicals can be very high, in both the financial and human health context.

For more information on Environmental Site Assessments, visit our Environmental Services page.