Case Study - Former Wood Treatment Facility
Project Overview
This site formerly contained a wood treatment facility, which was active from the mid-1950s to 1970. Investigations of this site, which began in 1985 as part of a nationwide US EPA survey of the wood treatment industry, resulted in the discovery of historic releases of wood treatment products, including creosote and pentachlorophenol, at several discrete areas of the site. Recent investigations conducted by EnviroSense have also indicated the presence of dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans in soil, presumably associated with the virgin pentachlorophenol solution used in wood treatment. Impacted materials include soil, river sediment and ground water, including a section of soil exposed along a river bank. After approximately 12 years of assorted investigations conducted by other consulting firms, EnviroSense was hired to complete a Site Investigation, per New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) guidelines. Following successful completion of the Site Investigation, EnviroSense was retained to assist in supplemental data collection requested by the NHDES, including supplemental soil sampling and the installation and sampling of two additional monitoring wells. EnviroSense submitted a Remedial Action Plan (RAP) to the NHDES, to address soil and ground water contamination at the site. Components of the RAP include soil excavation and off-site disposal, construction of an erosion barrier at the river bank, and implementation of a Ground Water Management Permit.
EnviroSense Role
- Reviewed, compiled, and analyzed 12 years of consulting reports for inclusion in the Site Investigation Report.
- Determined the nature and extent of contamination in soil and ground water for wood treatment-related compounds and dioxins/dibenzofurans, as applicable, originating from two different historic point sources and one historic non-point source.
- Conducted soil, sediment, surface water and ground water sampling to supplement a Site Investigation and support a Remedial Action Plan.
- Designed and implemented periodic compliance monitoring at a network of overburden monitoring wells.
- Worked with the client and the NHDES to develop a reasonable approach for the remediation of site contaminants, given site-specific exposure characteristics, within a program that was manageable and affordable for our client.
