Decommissioning / Environmental Cleanup Project Management
Paint Manufacturing Industry

An operations manager of SMA was the project manager of a $1 million decommissioning/environmental cleanup of an inactive paint and specialty coating manufacturing facility. The site was redeveloped under the City of Chicago’s “Brownfields” program. Areas remediated included deteriorated pipe wrap and insulation suspected to be asbestos-containing material, floor drains and sewers that were pathways for spilled materials, dust collectors, and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)-contaminated areas. He managed removal of 54 underground storage tanks (USTs) with capacities ranging from 2,500 to 25,000 gallons, and managed the project through the State of Illinois’ Site Remediation Program to obtain a “No Further Remediation” letter from the state.

Investigation and Remediation Direction
Characterization and Remediation of an Industrial Facility in Tennessee

Recently, the principal hydrogeologist of SMA has taken over the direction of investigation and remediation activities at site in Tennessee that involves PCE releases to a fractured bedrock aquifer that serves the local residential community. Currently, the source areas of the PCE are being identified on site. Characterization of groundwater at the site indicates conditions that are highly favorable for biological treatment of the PCE in groundwater. The source areas in the low permeability silty clay residuum at the site will likely be treated by ERH.

Compliance Evaluations-Underground Storage Tanks
National Chain

A project scientist of SMA was responsible for inspection of UST protocols at several national baking company plants located in San Antonio and Houston, Texas. The goal of the compliance evaluations were to prepare and alert on-site staff members of deficiencies with regards to their Standard Operation and Maintenance protocols utilized in the daily operations of their underground vessels. Review of State Registration Documents, Material Data Inventory Sheets, Historical Records, Annual Inspection and Maintenance Contracts, and Leak Detection Systems were performed and assessed.

Soil Vapor Extraction System Installation
Oil Refinery

A principal engineer of SMA served as the project manager for remedial design and remedial action activities at an NPL site in Muskegon, Michigan. As a result of past plating activities, soil and groundwater at the site was heavily contaminated with cadmium, zinc, nickel, cyanide and trichloroethylene (TCE). He prepared planning documents and reports for the pre-design field investigation, which included collecting over 100 soil and groundwater samples on the site. He also provided project management and technical assistance support during the pre-design groundwater treatability study and building demolition. As the project manager, he led a team of six engineers during preparation of the design report, specifications and drawings for soil and groundwater remediation. The remedial alternative includes soil vapor extraction, soil excavation and treatment, groundwater extraction and groundwater treatment by air stripping and chemical precipitation.

Biosparge Remediation System Design and Installation
Petroleum Refining Corporation, Illinois

A manager of SMA was the project manager for the design and installation of a biosparge system to remediate diesel-impacted groundwater at a barge loading facility. The project consisted of a soil/groundwater investigation, development of a corrective action plan, and design, fabrication, and installation of the biosparge system.

Subsurface Investigations
Petroleum Refining Corporation, Illinois

A manager of SMA was involved with the management of more than ten separate soil and groundwater investigations for petroleum releases in and around an active refinery over the past 15 years. Investigations have included delineation of soil and groundwater plumes via geoprobes, soil borings, monitoring wells, and Rapid Optical Screening Tool (ROST) technology. The Sites were completed in various Illinois programs, including the SRP program, Emergency Response, and through consent order decrees negotiated with the Illinois Attorney General’s office. Tier 2 and Tier 3 risk assessments were completed for Sites that were in excess of the Tier 1 limits for the Illinois Tiered Approach to Cleanup Objectives (TACO). He has also managed two separate refinery projects within the Illinois RCRA program. These projects included the development and implementation of RCRA closure plans and closure reports.

SVE and AS System
International Oil and Gas Company, St. Louis, Missouri

A senior remediation specialist of SMA was responsible for design, fabrication, installation, and operation of a SVE system and AS system that successfully remediated a 325,000 gallon unleaded gasoline release. The system included a 1000 cubic feet per minute (cfm) SVE system, a 250 cfm AS system, a 1600 cfm thermal oxidizer, and Class I, Division II electrical controls.

Phase III Remediation/Owner’s Representative
Abandoned Coal-Fired Power Plant

A principal engineer of SMA provided technical support to the Village of Oak Park (VOP) as the Owner’s Representative during the remediation of an abandoned coal-fired power plant. The remediation was conducted simultaneously with construction of 34 town homes. He provided environmental inspection activities required during excavation of the building foundations. During excavation of the foundations, a significant amount of contaminated soil was found and removed or temporarily stored for on-site disposal. In addition, several industrial wells were found and abandoned and one tank was removed. He also oversaw the construction of two courtyard cells for on-site disposal of soil with low concentrations of contaminants.

Technology Evaluations
PCB-Contaminated NPL Sites

For EPA’s SITE program, a principal engineer of SMA acted as the project manager for the SoilTech Anaerobic Thermal Processor (ATP) technology demonstrations. The ATP technology is a low-temperature thermal desorption process used to remove polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) from soil and sediment at NPL sites in Brant, New York and Waukegan, Illinois. At the New York site, chemical dechlorination was used to destroy the PCBs in the soil. He provided technical assistance in preparing the demonstration plans. He also managed 3 subcontractors and coordinated sampling activities during the technology demonstrations. He also prepared two technology evaluations reports. The contract value for the two technology demonstrations was $1,600,000.

Real Estate Development
Real Estate Development – Multiple Developers - National Pharmacy Chain

A project geologist of SMA acted as project manager for multiple real estate developers in association with the redevelopment of properties for both a national pharmacy chain and other developments. He worked with the developers and construction managers to ensure both the environmental issues identified on the properties were resolved in conjunction with the completion of the project. Several of the sites are currently enrolled in the LUST or SRP programs.

Expert Testimony
Major Oil Company

A principal of SMA testified for a major oil company regarding the reasonability of the charges the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) made for the cleanup of a site in Illinois. The EPA misclassified the wastes as hazardous, resulting in excessive disposal costs. The EPA settled for a reduction of $200,000 in the disputed charges.

Environmental Liability Cost Estimation
Major Paint Manufacturer

A principal of SMA managed a project to estimate the future environmental costs at 63 facilities in the U.S. and Europe as part of a real estate due diligence process. The cost estimates were developed in 45 days.

Brownfields Project Management
Manufacturing Industry

On behalf of a responsible party under a court-ordered consent decree, a principal geologist of SMA acted as field manager for a brownfields project in Illinois. He prepared a work plan, an underground storage tank (UST) removal plan, an asbestos-containing material (ACM) removal plan, and a final remediation plan for state approval. He also prepared UST removal and Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) remediation bid specifications, conducted pre-bid meetings, and evaluated prospective contractor responses. He managed field activities consisting of sewer sediment sampling, sewer catch basin decontamination, removal of PCB and lead-contaminated sediment from a combined storm and sanitary sewer, PCB remediation and confirmatory sampling, dust collector contents sampling and disposal.

Expert Testimony
Chemical Industry

To assist with a dispute over chlorinated solvent contamination (TCE, PCE, and TCA) of soil and groundwater, the principal hydrogeologist of SMA reviewed all technical data developed for a site. Based on his evaluations of contaminant occurrence and transport, he helped attorneys develop the case for their client, a major chemical company. He advised attorneys on the likely regulatory actions and on work and testimony performed by other experts.

Expert Testimony
National Priorities List (NPL) Site

The principal hydrogeologist of SMA provided an expert opinion regarding allocation of costs consistent with the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Contingency Plan (NCP) and the occurrence and migration of chlorinated solvents (TCE, PCE, and TCA) at an NPL site in Indiana.