Assessment

Experience and Capabilities in providing Assessment, Remediation, and Closure of Hydrocarbon and Chlorinated Sites

ELM's staff has conducted soil and groundwater assessments and has implemented remedial measures at over 50 sites. These involved a variety of sites ranging from retail service stations to more complex facilities such as bulk terminals, refineries and military installations. Chemicals included volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds, PAHs, pesticides, and metals. The subsequent sections outline our approach and capabilities for conducting contamination assessments, design, remediation and operation and maintenance at these facilities.

Contamination Assessments

ELM's approach to conducting site assessment is to rapidly collect the necessary information for characterization and remediation (if necessary) in one or two phases of work, using rapid assessment tools such as direct-push, soil-gas surveys and a mobile laboratory.

The delineation of a chlorinated solvent plume which normally would have taken several weeks to complete was accomplished within two days using direct push technology combined with on-site analytical capabilities (mobile laboratory).

Engineering Design

ELM believes one of the most critical factors in the design process is to match the level of design to the complexity of the problem. We provide simple, reliable and cost-effective designs that meet the needs of the project. During the initial steps of the design process, we develop specific design goals and cleanup objectives, which are constructible and cost effective. We have designed systems for the treatment, destruction, containment, and stabilization of many different compounds. Examples of systems are:

Capping/containment

Groundwater recovery

Soil vapor extraction

Air stripping

Liquid and vapor phase carbon absorption

Air sparging

Low temperature thermal desorption

Vacuum enhanced recovery

Free product recovery

Soil stabilization

Bioremediation cells

Remediation

ELM's approach to site cleanup is to match the site's condition and associated environmental and health risks to the appropriate remedial strategy. We have implemented cleanup strategies ranging from underground storage tanks through complex hazardous waste sites. Our specialty is the closure of sites. Some of the systems installed are:

Pump and treat

Soil vapor extraction (SVE)

Enhanced SVE

Bioremediation

Drum characterization and disposal

Air sparging

Free product recovery

Excavation

Low temperature thermal desorption

Operation and Maintenance

Unique to the industry is our use of value engineering to close sites. During the design phase, a specialized team (made up of hydrogeologists, engineers, construction personnel and toxicologists) is assembled to optimize the design operation to achieve the remedial objectives within the shortest timeframe and most cost-effective methods. During the operation and maintenance (O&M) phase, the team performs value engineering on the system and groundwater concentrations. Using this method, site closure is achieved with substantial long-term O&M cost savings.