Environmental Engineering

Environmental Site Assessments Buried Waste Investigations
Site Characterization Reports UST & LUST Investigations
Lead Paint Investigations Asbestos Surveys

Phase I, II & III Environmental Site Assessments
Environmental Site Assessments are conducted in three phases.
Phase I:
Phase I is a general overview assessment of the site. We assess the site's previous and current land use practices, the current site conditions, and identify the possibility of hazardous substances or soil and/or groundwater contamination. SSC provides the following services during a Phase I assessment:

  • A reconnaissance of the site and its vicinity
  • A compilation of the property history, including review of previous environmental reports for the subject property
  • A file review at relevant agencies
  • An agency list search of contaminated facilities located within the radii required by ASTM E 1527-00
  • A visual asbestos survey
  • A review of a survey and map of radon zones
  • A summary of our findings, conclusions, and recommendations

Phase II:
Phase II is a more in-depth investigation of the property. The primary purpose of Phase II is to identify the extent of damage caused by hazards discovered in Phase I. SSC provides the following services during a Phase II assessment:

  • Obtain required permits

  • Prepare a site specific health and safety plan

  • Obtain utility clearance prior to sampling

  • Collect soil, soil vapor, and/or groundwater samples using various drilling methods

  • Analyze samples for regulated chemical constituents

  • Prepare a comprehensive report of findings

  • Recommend additional investigations and/or remediation as necessary

  • Interface with regulatory agencies
Phase III:
The third phase, if needed, is the implementation of a solution or site cleanup. Many structural consulting firms only deal with Phase I and II. SSC, however, has the know-how and the experience to create solutions to any site problems you may have and see them through to completion. Services provided for Phase III of an ESA will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Buried Waste Investigations
We use nonintrusive geophysical investigation techniques to screen sites for potential buried wastes. The four techniques we use are:

  • Seismic methods

  • Electrical and electromagnetic procedures

  • Gravitational field techniques

  • Magnetic field techniques
Geophysical techniques are efficient and cost-effective methods for providing subsurface information for a site.

Site Characterization Reports
A site characterization report is required when a prior investigation has identified subsurface contamination. The purpose of the SCR is to determine the vertical and lateral extent of the contamination. SSC provides the following services with a SCR:

  • Characterization of vertical and lateral extent of contamination

  • Preparation of remedial action plan

  • Regulatory agency interface and closure negotiation

  • Discussion of alternative remediation methods

  • Implementation of remediation program

  • Monitoring of remediation activities

UST & LUST Investigations
If your home or business was ever heated with oil, it may have an underground storage tank (UST). Homes on farmland may have used an UST for fuel storage. Often, these tanks are simply abandoned. A leaking UST (LUST) can pose a potentially dangerous environmental hazard.
SSC can test the condition of the UST on your property using several methods:

  • Pressure tests

  • Ultrasonic testing

  • Soil samples under and around the tank
There are several nonintrusive methods of dealing with an intact UST, including filling the tank with an inert material. However, the safest plan, especially if the tank is leaking, is removal. SSC can direct the removal of any size or type of UST.
If a LUST has contaminated the soil or groundwater on your site, SSC can put together a remediation plan and oversee its completion.

Lead Paint Investigations
For many years, lead was used as a paint additive to provide durability. Lead can cause health problems including neurological, kidney, and other disorders. While exposure to lead is a hazard to all, children and pregnant women are at greatest risk.
Federal legislation requires that sellers disclose known information on lead paint hazards to potential buyers. Buyers will have up to 10 days to check for lead hazards.
During a lead paint inspection, representative readings are taken of the painted surfaces of the house using an x-ray fluoroscope, commonly referred to as an XRF. The objective of this non-destructive test method is to determine what the lead content (mg/cm2) is in the house's building components. Federal guidelines define lead paint as containing 1.0 mg/cm2 or greater of lead, although local standards may be tighter.
Corrective or remedial action for lead paint can range widely depending on the condition, location, and substate painted. Measures can include encapsulation, enclosure, chemical treatment or removal of the painted component. Improper lead abatement can create a serious hazard and should only be performed by trained and licensed lead professionals.
SSC recommends lead paint investigations for:

  • Homes built before 1960

  • Homes with expectant mothers and children under the age of six

  • Homes undergoing renovation and or repainting

  • Homes built between 1960 and 1978, where lead paint was less frequently used for painting exterior and some interior areas such as kitchens, doors, or windows

Asbestos Surveys
Asbestos was used in homes in a variety of building materials including insulation, mastic (floor tile adhesive), wall board, etc. The use of asbestos as a component of building materials was discontinued in the 1970s, however homes built prior to this may have asbestos containing materials (ACM).
Asbestos is known to cause lung cancer, mesothelioma (cancer of the chest and abdominal linings), and asbestosis (lung scarring). Elevated concentrations of airborne asbestos fibers can occur if ACMs are disturbed or improperly handled.
When ACMs are discovered, the corrective action will often depend on the condition of the material and the risk it poses. SSC can determine what remedial actions you should take, ranging from management in place to encapsulation or abatement (removal).