Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs) are an integral part of the property acquisition process. A Phase I ESA is designed to discover activities or conditions, past or present, which may represent a potential environmental risk. The EPA passed new regulations governing ESAs called "All Appropriate Inquiry" (AAI) rules and the ASTM also revised its ESA standards. There are strict requirements on the experience and education of persons performing ESAs and the amount of effort and information that must be included in the assessment report. GeoSci personnel are all fully trained in these requirements.

Should a Phase I ESA reveal potential environmental risks, a Phase II investigation may be warranted. A Phase II usually involves sampling and/or testing of soil and/or groundwater based on information discovered during Phase I research, such as historical UST use or proximity to other waste sources.

GeoSci personnel have performed hundreds of ESAs in the North Carolina Piedmont. This experience, and an accumulated knowledge of potentially adverse conditions, allows the firm to provide quality reports in a relatively short period of time. The firm's expertise in field sampling and investigations means potential savings of both time and money - critical factors in most real estate transactions.

GeoSci operates a trailer-mounted Simco 2400 Drill Team Probe drilling unit capable of both direct push sampling and conventional hollow-stem augering. This versatile drill can be used with augers, standard drill rods and split spoons to conduct geotechnical investigations with standard penetration testing (SPT), collect soil samples for environmental assessments, or install 2-inch or smaller diameter monitoring wells. In direct push mode, the rig allows for soil sampling (with 0.9" or 1.5" I.D. tubes), probing for rock or shallow water, or obtaining in-situ soil vapor or groundwater samples at discrete depths by using slotted probe rods and small diameter sampling tubes. Another benefit to the direct push unit is its ability to quickly drill through existing asphalt or concrete to access underlying soils.
The Environmental Services group benefits greatly from the flexibility of the combination probe/auger in planning and performance of subsurface investigations. The combination unit provides the ability to quickly switch from auger drilling to direct push sampling (or vice versa), saving not only the cost of additional mobilization and drilling, but also valuable time. This in-house capability gives GeoSci another tool to provide its clients with more comprehensive services in a timely fashion while maintaining more control over project costs.

With the advent of the CFR 280 regulations governing Underground Storage Tanks (USTs), UST management became the most prolific environmental issue in the United States. Environmental assessments at UST sites have revealed that leaks from many such systems have contaminated underlying soils and, in many cases, groundwater.

GeoSci personnel are knowledgeable of county, state and federal regulations governing UST management, assisting UST owner/operators in UST closures, assessments, clean-ups and upgrades, including rules developed for Risk-Based Corrective Action (RBCA). GeoSci personnel have worked at hundreds of UST sites, from large industrial facilities to commercial gasoline stations to home heating oil tanks. GeoSci works closely with clients to assess the tank status, counseling on the most expedient course of action to comply with UST regulations and North Carolina State UST Trust Fund guidelines.

For more info on Home Heating Oil USTs and the Non-commercial Leaking Petroleum UST Cleanup Fund, click here.

GeoSci staff members are trained and experienced in assessments of indoor air quality for residential and commercial buildings. The two items of most concern are mold and radon gas. We can test the air and any surfaces for mold to determine if mold is present, what levels exist and what type of mold it is. It is also very important to test moisture levels, for mold can only grow if moisture levels are high. GeoSci can assess the cause of the high moisture levels and design remedies to correct it. Once the moisture problem is solved we can design a remediation protocol to remove the existing mold and restore the structure to its previous condition.

Radon is an odorless, colorless gas that seeps from the ground and is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. The EPA recommends that every home be tested for radon, but most homeowners are unaware it may be a health concern. GeoSci has personnel that have undergone EPA-Certified training for radon testing and assessment.

Other IAQ concerns may be strange odors, particulate matter or asbestos and lead paint concerns. GeoSci can assist building and homeowners with these problems and design a testing program that achieves the clients objectives.

Federal regulations have expanded over the last two decades to cover everything from the disposal of household refuse to radioactive wastes; however, technology and public education still lag behind in the race to meet these regulatory requirements. GeoSci puts its knowledge of these regulations to work to achieve and maintain compliance for its clients.

GeoSci personnel have worked at numerous solid waste landfills in North Carolina, assisting in permitting, design of groundwater and methane monitoring systems and sampling of groundwater and methane. The firm's personnel have also provided complete environmental services at RCRA facilities, including investigations, Part B permitting, development of remedial action plans, performing air quality inventories, and assisting stormwater management issues. OSHA training certification is maintained on all personnel working at these facilities.

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) regulations are far-reaching laws requiring permitting, control and testing of stormwater run-off from industrial/commercial and residential/urbanized sites. These regulations are designed to protect surface waters from contamination emanating from run-off, and require existing facilities, municipalities and, in some cases, housing developments to be permitted.

GeoSci can provide all the services necessary to obtain a stormwater permit, including determination of discharge points, calculation of run-off volumes, design of stormwater conveyances, testing of stormwater, and preparing and submitting monitoring reports. Our Civil Engineering group can provide design for stormwater detention areas for your new or existing development.

GeoSci personnel have performed annual air emission inventories to satisfy permit requirements and prepared SARA Title III reporting documents for a number of industrial Facilities. GeoSci personnel are experienced in the methodologies and calculations required to determine a facility's status under the Clean Air Act, including preparation of air quality permit applications, permit modification application (for Title V as well as smaller sources), and filing required forms and reports.

Federal and state laws restrict development of areas determined to be wetlands, limit impacts to streams, and require mitigation of developmental impacts to wetlands and streams. GeoSci can assess a property prior to purchase or development to determine if it contains jurisdictional wetlands and can render assistance in the design phase to minimize wetland and stream impacts.

GeoSci has considerable wetland delineation experience in the Piedmont and has established a working relationship with the Army Corps of Engineers, the government agency charged with wetland management. GeoSci also has experience with design and implementation of wetland mitigation and stream restoration.

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