Cleanups

(1) Sudden Release of 200 Gallons of Kerosene Near a Wetlands Area, Ipswich, MA

A sudden release of 200 gallons of kerosene was discovered and reported to the Department of Environmental Protection. The release impacted soil, groundwater and surface water at the site. Another contractor responded (i.e., conducted an Emergency Response Action) to the release and removed contaminated soil and groundwater until the owner ran out of funds. Therefore, the site remained on the Department of Environmental Protection’s Locations To Be Investigated List. CSE was hired six years later, and focused on removing the remedial waste generated by the initial response, and determining the effectiveness of the initial response actions. CSE’s findings indicated that no further response actions had been conducted and the case was closed by CSE with the Department of Environmental Protection with a Class A-2 Response Action Outcome Statement.

(2) Historical Release in a Zone II Water Resource Area, Burlington, MA

Contamination was discovered upon the removal of an Underground Storage Tank at a commercial property. Response actions (i.e., Emergency Response Actions) were conducted to remove the accessible petroleum contaminated soil. Further investigation (i.e., soil and groundwater sampling and testing) was conducted to determine the extent of the residual soil and groundwater contamination. CSE used new innovative testing methods to characterize the levels of residual contamination at the site. With this data, CSE proposed conducting a Risk Characterization to determine if further response actions must be conducted to achieve a condition of "No Significant Risk." The Risk Characterization determined that the site could be closed with the implementation of a deed restriction (i.e., implementation of an Activity and Use Limitation). CSE prepared and submitted the closure report (i.e., Response Action Outcome Statement Class A-3) to the Department of Environmental Protection.

(3) Sudden Release and Cleanup in a Drinking Water Resource Area, Essex, MA

A sudden release of approximately 100 gallons of #2 Fuel Oil from an abandoned Aboveground Storage Tank at a residential site impacted soil, groundwater and surface water in a Department of Environmental Protection designated groundwater resource area (i.e., area with private drinking water wells) and surface water resource area (i.e., Class A Surface Water Body). The Department of Environmental Protection approved response actions (i.e., Emergency/Immediate Response Actions) which included assessing the extent of the contamination; the removal of petroleum contaminated soil, surface water, groundwater and debris; and the installation and operation of a groundwater treatment system. These response actions reduced the contamination to levels that existed (e.g., Background Levels) prior to the release. Therefore, a permanent solution was achieved and a Class A-1 Response Action Outcome Statement was submitted to the Department of Environmental Protection, which closed the case.

(4) Sudden Release of 200 Gallons of Fuel Oil Beneath a Residence, Melrose, MA

A leaky #2 Fuel Oil line caused a sudden release to soil and groundwater beneath the entire footprint of a residential dwelling. The dwelling was determined to be structurally unsound by a structural engineer. The insurance company wanted to remove the contaminated soil and groundwater as soon as possible before the problem worsened. Therefore, with the property owner’s authorization and the insurance company’s support, the dwelling was demolished and removed from the site. This allowed CSE to move quickly, with no accessibility problems, to remove the contaminated soil and groundwater under a Department of Environmental Protection approved response action (i.e., Immediate Response Action). The response actions included the installation of a groundwater treatment system, which was used to depress the water table, further allowing access to remove the petroleum contaminated soil at the site. The response action was conducted quickly and the site was closed with the Department of Environmental Protection by preparing and submitting a closure report (i.e., Response Action Outcome Statement Class A-2).

(5) Release of Fuel Oil in a Residential Neighborhood Impacted Wetlands, Beverly, MA

Approximately 50 - 75 gallons of #2 Fuel Oil leaked from a fuel oil line, impacting indoor air of a residence as well as soil, groundwater and surface water in a wetlands. Another consultant conducted an Emergency Response Action, however, the site remained on DEP’s Locations To Be Investigated List. CSE was then retained to determine the extent of the release, to determine if the response action had properly addressed the wetlands, continue removal of contaminated media and close the case with Department of Environmental Protection. CSE conducted the above work under a Department of Environmental Protection Immediate Response Action. Approximately 70,000 gallons of contaminated water was treated and discharged, and 60.23 tons of petroleum contaminated soil was removed from the site. During the soil removal, it was necessary to underpin the foundation of the residence to maintain the structural integrity of the dwelling. A Response Action Outcome Statement Class A-2 with a Method 2 Risk Characterization was submitted to close this case.

(6) Release of Fuel Oil at a Commercial Property Discovered During a Tank Removal, Cambridge, MA

Soil and groundwater were impacted and a 2 hour reporting condition existed at the site. CSE determined the extent of the release under an Immediate Response Action, and then arranged for the removal and disposal of a total of 215.78 tons of petroleum contaminated soil and 120 gallons of contaminated groundwater. This case was closed by CSE under a Response Action Outcome Statement Class A-2 with a Method 1 Risk Characterization.