Site Assessments

TCEQ Dry Cleaner Remediation Program

Ecology and Environment (E&E)

Texas

Contact: Mr. Paul James, 368 Pleasant View Drive, Lancaster, New York 14086, 214-245-1007

With E&E as a prime, dse is one of only three consultants chosen to work on the TCEQ DCRP contract. The DCRP is a "State Lead" program in which all assessment and remediation of environmental impacts at eligible dry cleaner sites becomes the responsibility of the TCEQ contractor(s). Dry cleaner operators or property owners are eligible for the DCRP after meeting a $5,000 deductible requirement and submitting an Application for Ranking. The DCRP is funded by dry cleaner registration fees and a tax on dry cleaning solvents. To date, dse has worked on 12 projects in Houston, Cypress, Missouri City, Austin, Spring, Fort Worth, Lubbock and Arlington. dse’s responsibilities have included designing, installing and developing groundwater monitor wells and soil borings and collecting soil and groundwater samples. dse has directed the assessment of several facilities including the selection of soil boring and monitor well locations. dse has prepared Health and Safety Plans for all sites worked on within the DCRP. In addition to field work, dse has completed soil and groundwater sampling, oversight of installation of monitor wells by Professional Geoscientists and report completions as directed by TCEQ personnel.

TCEQ Compliance

Craig's Cleaners

Houston, Texas

This site is an operating dry cleaner that used PCE for approximately 20 years. A site assessment at an adjacent property indicated that PCE had been released and the client was instructed to perform an assessment by the TCEQ. dse performed an extensive assessment of the affected soil and groundwater that included the installation of more than 20 groundwater monitoring wells located both on-site and off-site. dse prepared and submitted the required documents to the TCEQ and performed extensive quarterly groundwater sampling using low-flow techniques. The sampling results enabled dse to provide groundwater modeling and predict the migration of the contaminant plume. A soil vapor extraction system was designed and installed followed by injections of Regenesis HRC and HRC-X into the groundwater to reduce the amount of impact at the site.

Site Closure for Chlorinated Solvent Contamination

1 Hour Martinizing

Hurst, Texas

In this project, chlorinated hydrocarbon impacts were discovered in the soil and shallow surface infiltration water which were attributed to the on-site dry cleaning operations. Remedial design included excavation of impacted soils (>10 feet below grade) located beneath the building’s slab and installation of a single 10” SVE well and system (shown above) which reduced contaminant levels in remaining impacted soil by more than 60% in the first three months. dse also designed the SVE system and had it manufactured to design specifications, resulting in at 50% savings versus using commercially available systems.

Former St. Stephens Cleaners (Vallwood Village)

Weston Solutions, Inc. and Koos & Associates

Farmers Branch, Texas

The former dry cleaning operation of St. Stephens Cleaners was suspected to be the cause of impacted soil and perched groundwater on the site and neighboring properties. The former cleaner conducted dry cleaning operations between 1960 and 1992. The suspected contamination source was attributed to releases of PCE from equipment used and storage and handling of PCE in the dry cleaning operations. Immediate remedial actions for source soils and groundwater were warranted due to the off-site migration of groundwater and impacts to a storm water outfall. dse proposed interim response actions which included: 1) Source soils reduction; 2) off-site groundwater mitigation; and 3) DNAPL Capture. 4) Installation of a SVE and emissions treatment systems.

Initial Lead Exposure Assessment (IEA) and Abatement of Equipment

Texas National Guard

Dallas, Texas

dse performed an ILEA of an inactive IFR. Wipe and air samples were collected from representative types of the stored equipment in various locations and conditions to assess the potential for workers to disturb dust within the IFR. The wipe samples exceeded the HUD and TDSHS standard for lead wipe clearance sampling. During abatement, dse collected air and wipe samples during the abatement of lead dust from the equipment stored in the IFR facility to ensure that the containment area and worker protection measures were effective. Samples were also taken to ensure that the results of the equipment cleaning performed by the abatement contractor were effective.

Long-Term Monitoring and Operations and Maintenance

Department of the Navy

McGregor, Texas

NWIRP, McGregor, TX, was 9,700-acre, government-owned/contractor-operated facility with a 50-year history of Naval weapons manufacturing and chemical usage. dse was contracted in June 2009 to provide the annual Long-Term Biological Monitoring and Maintenance services at NWIRP McGregor. dse is currently providing the personnel, materials, equipment, and transportation necessary to maintain, operate, repair, modify, test, and monitor the fluidized-bed reactor (FBR) groundwater treatment system, maintain landfill caps and monitor the permeable reactive barrier walls. Investigation data were compiled and interpreted in a series of clear and concise reports. This includes 15 active biowalls (permeable reactive barriers); five onsite capped landfills, a fluidized bed reactor ground water treatment system with includes over 2 million gallons of onsite storage lagoons and 175 ground water monitoring wells. dse with EnSafe as a subcontractor is current the contractor for operations and maintenance of this facility and compliance with Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TPDES) discharge permit limits and regulatory interface.