Non-Regulatory Projects

Defense Contractor, Orange County, California: This industrial facility had PCE, TCE, TCA and other solvents in soil and groundwater. The site had been undergoing remediation using dual phase extraction for several years.  Using chemical fingerprinting and quantitative visualizations of the data, we were able to show that a large fraction of the solvent plume in groundwater was from offsite sources. Further, much of the mass of TCE in soils had been adequately remediated.

Industrial Facility, S. California: Soil and groundwater beneath property was impacted by TCE, TCA, Methylene chloride, Vinyl chloride, PCBs, chromium and lead: Chemical fingerprinting and fate and transport considerations were used to quantify the mass of solvents remaining in onsite soils.  Impacts to groundwater were shown to be discrete “hot spots” as opposed to one large plume because of the subsurface geology.  Elevated PCBs in soil were shown to be distributed as discrete “hot spots” close to where transformers containing PCBs were formerly located.

Industrial Facility, S. California: Developed approach to delineation of PCE in soils using multi-depth soil gas sampling:  Demonstrated that impacts from the site could not reach groundwater because of presence of a thick clay layer in the subsurface.  Furthermore, demonstrated that PCE reported in groundwater had a distinct offsite source.

Natural Gas Pipeline, S. America:  Developed risk-based action levels for range of petroleum-based chemicals as a basis for decision making in the event of petroleum spillage in an ecologically sensitive area slated for oil and gas exploration and construction of a 600 kilometer pipeline.

Industrial Property, Los Angeles, California:  Performed multi-depth soil gas sampling to delineate areas of property impacted by PCE, TCE and vinyl chloride (VC).  The data were evaluated using a risk-based approach to due diligence to enable our client to discount their acquisition based on the contamination uncovered by our sampling. 

Landfill, Los Angeles, California:  Assisted client in evaluating and communicating potential health risks from emissions from a 200-acre plus landfill to neighboring community.

Municipal Landfill, Central California:  Developed a risk-based approach to quantify potential impacts to human health and the environment from chlorinated solvents (PCE, TCE, VC, TCA, etc.) and metals at a 100-acre landfill.   This risk-based evaluation was then used to identify areas where additional site characterization might better define contamination and, consequently, risk.

Property Acquisition, N. California: Developed and implemented a strategy of risk-based characterization of a 200-plus acre pesticide impacted facility:  Delineated areas of potential concern due to contamination and areas that were not contaminated.  This analysis was used to negotiate an appropriate price for purchase of the property.

Gasoline Station and Warehouse, Central Coast, California:  Evaluated potential liability for property close to ocean with soil and groundwater contamination from gasoline.  Assisted property owner reach a settlement with tenant on costs for remediation of contamination and protection of ecologically-sensitive areas adjoining the property.

Property Acquisition, Central Coast, California:  As part of the acquisition of an industrial site, assisted client in quantifying environmental liabilities associated with PCE, TCE, and other compounds in groundwater beneath property to be acquired.  Performed multi-depth soil gas and grab groundwater sampling.  Estimated contribution from offsite sources versus onsite sources.

Property Acquisition, Central Valley, California:  Assisted client in transfer of industrial property.  Previous project consultants had proposed significant investigation and remediation.  However, our evaluation of the operational history of the site and previous sampling data indicated that chemicals capable of resulting in environmental impacts to soil or groundwater had not been used at the site and the already available sampling data confirmed this conclusion. Thus, our evaluation facilitated the smooth transfer of the subject property.

Defense Contractor, S. California: We were retained by a city to oversee and advise them and their citizens on the remediation of a defense contractor’s facility, with soil and groundwater impacted by potentially toxic metals and chlorinated solvents.  The project involved working with numerous stakeholders and with communication of risks to the community and to city council.

Industrial Facility, Florida: Developed a risk-based soil and groundwater sampling plan to facilitate the transfer of a 10-acre parcel:  The results were used to assess potential environmental liabilities and the entire transaction was accomplished at a substantial cost savings relative to what had been proposed by other consultants.

Industrial Complex, Bay Area, California:  Performed a risk-based evaluation of a property slated for acquisition and re-development as a multi-unit office complex:  Discovered that remediation of petroleum constituents in groundwater had been misdirected and was incomplete as a consequence of an incomplete understanding of site-specific hydrogeology.  Also identified a previously unknown PCE/TCE plume from offsite sources coming onto the property.

For more information about Risk-Based Decisions, Inc. call (916) 923-0570, send email or complete our online information request form.