Remediation

Remediation and Site Clean-up

Introduction

The most significant stage of any environmental project is the remediation phase. Essentially, this phase is the remedy or the cure. Remediation represents the attempt to repair the damage to the environment caused by the release of contaminants into soil, groundwater, or surface waters.

Remediation strategies are as varied and complex as the variety of contaminated sites and may employ the use of one or many technologies that have been shown to be effective for a particular type of contamination in a specific setting. Often, several of the available technologies are applied in combination or in a sequential manner. A term used to indicate the use of multiple technologies is “treatment train.” In such cases, a technology may be used to transform the contaminant to a form that can be transformed by yet another technology until the contaminant is no longer a threat to human health and the environment. At complex sites, several technologies may be applied simultaneously, resulting in a “treatment train.” As outlined below, remediation technologies are generally classified into three categories.

Remediation Technologies

Destructive Technologies

Through the application of destructive technologies, the contaminants are actually destroyed. Generally, biological, physical or chemical processes result in the transformation of the contaminant into harmless chemicals that can reenter the carbon chain of life. Examples of destructive technologies include bioremediation, incineration, photolysis, or hydrolysis. Contaminants that generally respond well to destructive technology are organic molecules.

Transfer Technologies

The transfer technologies are used when it is not practical, cost effective, or feasible to apply destructive technologies. Transfer technologies includes the relocation of the contamination from an environmentally sensitive site to another location which is specifically designed to either store contaminants for long periods of time without risk to the environment or treat the contaminants to reduce the risk to the environment and provide for safe, long term storage. Examples of transfer technologies include the use of landfills or hazardous waste treatment and storage facilities where contaminants may be stored indefinitely. Phytoremediation is an example of an innovative transfer technology in which plants are used to assimilate the contaminant, thus facilitating the transfer process.

Sequestration Technologies

The contaminant is encapsulated or stabilized in such a manner as to render it harmless to its environment. Sequestration technologies may be applied directly at the site or at special treatment facilities. In either case, an attempt is made to render the contaminant harmless by eliminating or reducing the exposure of the contaminant to humans and to the environment. Sequestration technologies are generally applied to contaminants which do not respond favorably to destructive technologies, when the contaminants are too dangerous to transfer to a treatment facility, or when other technologies are simply too costly. Dangerous concentrations of toxic metals or recalcitrant organics are examples of the types of contaminants that are candidates for sequestration. Examples of the technology include chemical stabilization and encapsulation of contaminants in place, such as the placement of a protective clay layer (engineered barriers) over a contaminated area. Abandoned lagoons and waste dumps are often candidates for encapsulation.

Heavy metals contaminated soils that fail the TCLP test is a classic example of the advantage of the application of sequestration. Upon excavation and removal from the site the soil would become hazardous waste. By chemically reacting the contaminated soil with stabilization materials, the characteristics of the waste can be changed so that the contamination can either be safely left on site or disposed off site at a significant cost savings because the waste is no longer hazardous. In other cases, the contaminated medium can be incorporated into a mixture that not only favorably changes its TCLP characteristic but also limits the bioavailability of the contaminant. Both approaches are recognized as sensible and cost effective remedial solutions to sites that would otherwise be difficult and expensive to restore.

Innovative Technologies

Hallen Environmental recognizes that nature often provides safe and effective solutions to the elimination of contaminants from the environment. Many of these mechanisms have been enhanced in recent years by the development of ways to focus, control and accelerate natural processes. The use of microbes, and more recently plants, are being introduced in today’s most advanced treatment technologies. Hallen Environmental has experience with such innovative technologies in remedial designs and will continue to remain cognizant of scientific studies in an effort to propose the use of natural processes as efficient and cost effective alternative solutions to site remediation and rehabilitation as appropriate.

Hallen Environmental’s staff are continually seeking and evaluating new technologies that may benefit our Clients. Our personnel attend scientific meetings and trade shows and stay abreast of industry developments through review of professional journals and trade publications. Faced with a task, Hallen Environmental personnel are continually encouraged to look past the traditional paradigm and advance original alternatives to accomplish the desired result faster and at less expense.

Experience – The Key to Successful Remedial Action

Hallen Environmental personnel have successfully implemented each of the three basic technological remediation approaches on behalf of our Clients. Hallen Environmental personnel carefully analyze the site and the data concerning the character of the contamination. Hallen Environmental also takes into account the economics, the time frame and the risk involved when implementing remediation technologies. Some technologies may carry minimal risk but be costly to implement. Some of the newer technologies may carry a relatively high level of risk but offer significant potential cost savings. Some approaches may be short term while others may require years to complete.

Hallen Environmental considers each of these important factors in the selection and recommendation process and routinely develops reasonable and feasible options to propose for Client review and evaluation if applicable. The advantages and disadvantages of each approach are presented. These factors are used to determine remediation clean-up goals based upon new risk based cleanup models. Ultimately, both the Client and the regulatory agency may benefit from Hallen Environmental’s analysis and recommended alternate approach to traditional methods in a process that considers both feasibility and cost.

The final measure of success is the implementation of the technologies and the remediation of the contaminated site. Hallen Environmental personnel have successfully remediated numerous contaminated sites for our Clients. With many of our Clients, multiple sites have been involved. In each case, Hallen Environmental personnel have successfully brought the site to closure and have obtained the closure letter from the regulatory agency. Unlike many environmental firms, Hallen Environmental’s approach is direct and complete. We address the problem, develop the solution, propose it to the Client for review, evaluation and acceptance, implement the remedy and complete the process. All of this occurs within Hallen Environmental: a fully integrated, single-source company with the capability to approach an environmentally compromised site and provide all of the requirements for the remedy from inception to completion.

Hallen Environmental is comprised of a team of environmental professionals that includes, but is not limited to field technicians, field engineers, superintendents, cost / schedule engineers and project managers who collectively strive to provide our customer clientele with superior service. Our technical capabilities allow us to provide comprehensive environmental analysis management and proactive solutions that are both time and cost sensitive; thus the ability to maintain original construction schedules without compromising the project or causing project delays.

Remediation and Site Clean-up Services

Philosophy

Remediation and site clean up is the business Hallen Environmental is in. As such, unless required by contract, we look to self perform to the maximum extent as many of the activities associated with completing a Clients project.

This philosophy, garnered from experience, allows Hallen Environmental the maximum control to ensure the project is done right the first time, limits liability to HES and the Client and keeps costs down by avoiding mark-ups on subcontractors who already have overhead and profit built into their prices.

With the significant numbers in trained, experienced multi-trade personnel and large owned inventory of equipment, Hallen Environmental has at its disposal through its affiliate Hallen the necessary resources to do the job. There are very few activities on most remediation and site clean-up Projects that Hallen Environmental cannot self perform to meet the quality and cost objectives of our Clients.

ENVIRONMENTAL AND SAFETY WORK PLAN PREPARATION

To avoid delays and successfully execute construction projects on contaminated sites, contractors must have established methods and procedures in place that will promote the timely and accurate implementation of construction activities.  Hallen Environmental employees are experienced in preparing various work plans to support construction projects.  The following is a sample of representative plans and documents that we have developed as well as implemented activities against:

• Contaminated Material Management Plans
• Health and Safety Plans
• Quality Assurance Project Plans

SITE PROTECTION

Hallen Environmental personnel have completed over 160 field projects that in almost every case required some form of site protection activities be performed. These include protection for personnel, equipment, site security, water run-on/run-off, soil erosion and sediment controls, traffic safety both on and off site, pedestrian and local population safety, utility clearance, protection of above grade and below grade utilities, buildings and structures, wetlands, drainage ways and catch basins etc.

Federal, State and most often local ordinances as well as project specific needs regulate the types of protection required. Subject to Client requirements, Hallen Environmental has used expeditors as well as self performed the preparation, negotiations and procurement of Project related permits and is fastidious in ensuring compliance with the protection requirements throughout the completion of the project.

WORK ZONE DELINEATION AND SEQUENCING

In almost every project involving the handling of hazardous waste, critical components to the success of the project are a) Clearly defining the support, contamination reduction and exclusion zones, and b) logically planning and executing the work in sequence to minimize risks for cross contamination, re-contamination, traffic routing / access and to expedite the project completion.

Defining the support (clean) zone for workers, support staff, authorized site visitors, material and equipment deliveries / pick-ups and support facilities (office trailers etc.), the contamination reduction zone (buffer) for egress to the work area and equipment and personnel decontamination, and exclusion zone (work) where the physical activities to complete the project occur, may be completed in a single occurrence or more often based on the type and order of magnitude of the project.

Hallen Environmental project managers and superintendents work with the site plans, specifications, Client, engineer and assigned Health & Safety representative to establish the proper types and extent of the site delineation controls required that are then rigorously enforced during the execution of the project.

Many factors may influence the sequencing in the way a project is completed that include but are not limited to the following:

• Access to the work area,
• Physical constraints, i.e. equipment removal before building dismantlement,
• Traffic and local road conditions,
• On-site traffic constraints,
• Property access agreements,
• Active facility operations,
• Client or other agency requirements,
• Local community issues,
• Utility relocations / shutdowns,
• Weather,
• Site and waste characterization results, and;
• Project financial concerns.

Using industry accepted cost estimating and scheduling software where the sequencing and schedule for a project is not already defined, Hallen Environmental project managers and superintendents work with the site plans, specifications, Client, engineer and assigned Health & Safety representative to establish and implement a logical work sequence that often incorporates the work of others to execute the best approach to safely and cost effectively meet the project and Client goals.

FACILITY DECONTAMINATION AND DEMOLITION

 Hallen Environmental has the proven capability to support facility decontamination and demolition projects.  HES personnel have orchestrated and served as environmental project managers on sites that have involved asbestos and lead paint abatement, structure demolition, and Brownfield redevelopment.  Our ability to effectively self perform, as well as integrate various specialty subcontractor personnel, ensures that projects are successfully executed.

SITE CLEARANCE EXCAVATION

Our employees have managed and self performed an array of activities in support of preparing sites for construction or remediation.  These activities have included oversight, management of material excavation, grading, utility clearance, as well as surveying and pre-construction environmental sampling and contamination delineation. 

Hallen Environmental personnel have worked expertly with general contractors and leading construction firms during pre-construction activities including the siting and permitting phases of the process.  We have worked to blend knowledge of regulatory policies, reporting procedures and permitting requirements to capably serve Clients through multiple phases of a construction or remediation project life cycle and meet aggressive project schedules.

REMEDIAL CONSTRUCTION AND SITE CLEAN UP

 Hallen Environmental personnel have managed and worked or projects involving almost every technology used in the environmental field to complete projects in accordance with the Client’s wishes.

From pressure washing a concrete loading dock to constructing and operating a contaminated water treatment system, from excavating a single drum containing unknown hazardous wastes to constructing and operating a bio-pile installed to reduce petroleum hydrocarbons in contaminated soils. The breadth and depth of our personnel’s experience is expansive. However, the core competencies of Hallen Environmental are in the following areas:

• Local Permitting,
• Site Clearing and Grubbing / Soil Erosion and Sediment Control,
• Road/Paving removal, Dismantling & Demolition,
• Excavation, staging, load-out,
• UST/AST cleaning, cutting, sizing and removals,
• Screening / Sizing / Crushing / Recycling,
• Backfill, Compaction, paving, road repairs and site restoration,
• Transportation and Disposal of Haz, Non-Haz, Recyclables, Beneficial re-use materials,
• System construction, repair and start-up,
• Process system set-up and operations,
• Horizontal/directional drilling,
• Dewatering and water treatment, and;
• Sub-surface utility installation, cut & cap, relocation, rehabilitation.

With the exception of the physical transportation and disposal of hazardous waste, Hallen Environmental stands as a rare contractor in the Tri-State area able to self perform all of the listed core competencies above.

If you or your company are interested in these services please contact us at: info@hallenenvironmental.com