Environmental Site Assessment Phase I: A Basic Guide, Third Edition

314 Pages·2007·11.934 MB·\314

by  Kathleen Hess-Kosa (Author)

Third Edition
ENVIRONMENTAL
SITE ASSESSMENT
PHASE 1
Fundamentals, Guidelines,
and Regulations
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Third Edition
ENVIRONMENTAL
SITE ASSESSMENT
PHASE 1
Fundamentals, Guidelines,
and Regulations
Kathleen Hess
Boca Raton London New York
CRC Press is an imprint of the
Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
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CRC Press
Taylor & Francis Group
6000 Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300
Boca Raton, FL 33487‑2742
© 2008 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
CRC Press is an imprint of Taylor & Francis Group, an Informa business
No claim to original U.S. Government works
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International Standard Book Number‑13: 978‑0‑8493‑7966‑6 (Hardcover)
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Library of Congress Cataloging‑in‑Publication Data
Hess, Kathleen.
Environmental site assessment phase I : fundamentals, guidelines, and
regulations / Kathleen Hess. ‑‑ 3rd ed.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978‑0‑8493‑7966‑6 (alk. paper)
1. Hazardous wastes‑‑Risk assessment. 2. Hazardous waste sites. 3.
Environmental monitoring. I. Title.
TD1050.R57H47 2008
363.73’6‑‑dc22 2007024344
Visit the Taylor & Francis Web site at
http://www.taylorandfrancis.com
and the CRC Press Web site at
http://www.crcpress.com
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Contents
Preface...................................................................................................................xiii
Acknowledgments................................................................................................xv
About.the.Author...............................................................................................xvii
Chapter.1. .Environmental.Pollution.Liability................................................1
Introduction....................................................................................................1
All Appropriate Inquiries Rule ...................................................................2
Environmental Pollutant .........................................................................3
Environmental Professional ....................................................................4
ASTM Standard .............................................................................................4
Legal Terms ....................................................................................................5
Potentially Responsible Parties ...................................................................7
Sellers .........................................................................................................7
Buyers .........................................................................................................8
Lenders .......................................................................................................9
Lessors and Lessees ...............................................................................10
Brokers ......................................................................................................10
Corporate Officers, Directors, Shareholders, and Successors ..........10
Previous Trends Toward the Reduction of Environmental
Liability .........................................................................................................11
Brownfields Amendment ...........................................................................12
Costly Concerns, Not Considered Environmental Pollutants ..............12
Summary ......................................................................................................13
References .....................................................................................................14
Chapter.2. .An.Historic.Overview....................................................................15
Introduction..................................................................................................15
Evolution of the Toxic Scare .......................................................................16
The Toxic Wastelands: Media Coverage ..............................................18
Love Canal ...............................................................................................27
The Bhopal Incident ...............................................................................28
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vi Contents
Other Hazardous Substances ....................................................................28
Asbestos ...................................................................................................29
Lead ..........................................................................................................31
Polychlorinated Biphenyls .....................................................................31
Dioxins .....................................................................................................32
DDT ...........................................................................................................33
Mold/Fungi .............................................................................................34
Environmental Crimes/Criminals ............................................................35
Illegal Hazardous Waste Site Management ........................................36
Illegal Dumping ......................................................................................37
Officials Accused of Criminal Negligence..........................................37
Costs and Damages .....................................................................................38
Summary ......................................................................................................40
References .....................................................................................................41
Chapter.3. .A.Proper.Beginning........................................................................45
Introduction..................................................................................................45
Interview the Client ....................................................................................46
Purpose of the Site Assessment ............................................................46
Scope of Work ..........................................................................................47
Clarification ........................................................................................47
Different Phases .................................................................................51
Limitations ..........................................................................................52
Details about the Property ...............................................................53
Plan and Organize ......................................................................................54
A Tailored Checklist ...............................................................................54
An Organized Management Plan ........................................................54
Begin the Paper Shuffle ..............................................................................55
A Title Search ..........................................................................................55
FOIA Requests .........................................................................................56
Documents ...............................................................................................56
Develop a Sketch of the Site .......................................................................57
Maps .........................................................................................................57
Sketch the Area .......................................................................................58
Summary ......................................................................................................59
Chapter.4. .Physical.Setting...............................................................................61
Introduction..................................................................................................61
Geographic Description..............................................................................62
Topographic Characteristics ......................................................................62
Surface Soils and Subsurface Geologic Characteristics .........................64
Surface Soils .............................................................................................65
Subsurface Geology ................................................................................68
Surface Water Hydrologic Characteristics ...............................................68
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Contents vii
Hydrogeologic Characteristics ..................................................................71
Private Wells ............................................................................................74
Aquifers ....................................................................................................74
100‑Year Floodplain .....................................................................................77
Influences and Relationships .....................................................................77
Summary ......................................................................................................82
References .....................................................................................................83
Chapter.5. .Historic.Usage.of.the.Property.and.Surrounding.Area..........85
Introduction..................................................................................................85
Title Records .................................................................................................86
Aerial Photographs .....................................................................................87
Fire Insurance Maps ....................................................................................90
Historic Topographic Maps ........................................................................96
Local Street Directories ..............................................................................96
Property Tax Records ..................................................................................96
Zoning Records ............................................................................................98
Building Permits ..........................................................................................98
Certificates of Occupancy...........................................................................99
Health/Safety and Environmental Compliance Records ......................99
Safety and Health Records ....................................................................99
State and Federal Environmental Records ........................................100
Waste Management Permits ....................................................................100
Sanitary Sewage Discharge Permits ..................................................101
Storm Water Discharge Permits .........................................................101
Solid Waste and Landfill Facilities .....................................................101
Stream and Lake Discharge Permits .................................................102
Air Emission Permits ...........................................................................102
On‑Site Paper Detective ............................................................................102
Chemical Inventory Records ...............................................................103
Material Safety Data Sheets ................................................................103
Transport Manifests .............................................................................106
Process Flow Charts .............................................................................106
Safety and Health Audits ....................................................................106
Purchasing Records ..............................................................................106
Corporate Management Records ........................................................106
Reference Manuals/Documents ..............................................................107
Commercial Directories .......................................................................107
Newspapers ...........................................................................................108
Industrial Process References .............................................................108
Mining and Natural Resource Records..................................................108
Mining ....................................................................................................109
Oil and Gas Wells .................................................................................109
Water Wells ............................................................................................110
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viii Contents
Summary ....................................................................................................111
References ...................................................................................................111
Chapter.6. .Regulatory.Agency.Listings.......................................................113
Introduction................................................................................................113
Federal Listings and Databases ...............................................................113
National Priorities List .........................................................................115
CERCLA Information List ...................................................................119
RCRA Databases ...................................................................................119
RCRA Information System ..................................................................121
Biennial Reporting System ..................................................................122
Federal Tracking System ......................................................................122
State, Tribal, and Local Listings and Databases ....................................123
State Priority Lists.................................................................................123
Underground Storage Tanks ...............................................................124
Registered Storage Tank Listings .......................................................125
Leaking Storage Tank Listings ...........................................................126
Community Right‑to‑Know Records .................................................127
Landfills and Solid Waste Disposal Sites ..........................................128
Air Emissions Records .........................................................................129
Federal and State Spill Listings ...............................................................130
Emergency Response Notification System ........................................130
Toxic Release Inventory System ..........................................................130
State Spill Databases .............................................................................130
Database Mapping.....................................................................................130
Summary ....................................................................................................131
References ...................................................................................................135
Chapter.7. .Property.and.Area.Reconnaissance..........................................137
Introduction................................................................................................137
Reconnaissance of the Property ..............................................................138
Topographic Conditions ......................................................................140
General Description of Structures, Roads, and Fences ...................140
Inside Structural Observations ...........................................................141
Septic Systems .......................................................................................142
Sanitary Sewers .....................................................................................142
Water Wells ............................................................................................142
Drinking Water Sources and Quantity .............................................144
Debris .....................................................................................................144
Chemical Storage Containers/Drums ...............................................146
Soil Mounds ...........................................................................................146
Ground Depressions ............................................................................147
Distressed, Stained Soil .......................................................................148
Poor or No Growth of Vegetation .......................................................148
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Contents ix
Dead Wildlife ........................................................................................149
Evidence of Surface Water Contamination .......................................150
Surface Impoundments........................................................................152
Aboveground Structures Other than Buildings ..............................152
Signs of Subsurface Structures ...........................................................153
Odors ......................................................................................................155
Effluence from Buildings .....................................................................156
Air Emissions ........................................................................................156
Signs of Mining/Quarry Activities ....................................................157
Electrical Supply System ......................................................................158
Cemeteries .............................................................................................159
Other .......................................................................................................161
Reconnaissance of Adjacent Properties .................................................162
Property Usage ......................................................................................162
Storage Tanks and Drums ...................................................................163
Effluent and Air Emissions .................................................................163
Reconnaissance of the Surrounding Areas ...........................................164
Summary ....................................................................................................164
References ...................................................................................................166
Chapter.8. .Interviews.......................................................................................167
Introduction................................................................................................167
Owners ........................................................................................................168
Present ....................................................................................................170
Past ..........................................................................................................170
Site Residents ..............................................................................................170
Site Personnel .............................................................................................171
Local Government Officials .....................................................................171
Neighbors ...................................................................................................172
Historians/Local Historical Societies .....................................................172
Others ..........................................................................................................173
Summary ....................................................................................................173
Chapter.9. .Building.Materials........................................................................175
Introduction................................................................................................175
Building Records .......................................................................................175
Date of Construction ............................................................................176
Blueprints/Special Drawings ..............................................................176
Architectural Records ..........................................................................177
Hazardous Substance Building Materials .............................................177
Asbestos‑Containing Material ............................................................178
Asbestos‑Containing Material: >1% Asbestos .............................178
Uses of Asbestos in Buildings ........................................................179
Health Hazards Associated with Asbestos Exposures ..............180
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