Projects › County of Santa Cruz
Project Background
Under our ongoing general environmental services contract to perform Phase I and II Environmental Site Assessments (ESA) for the County of Santa Cruz Redevelopment Agency, RRM was hired to perform a standard Phase I ESA in accordance with the American Society For Testing and Materials (ASTM) Practice E 1527 and Agency requirements for a former agricultural property to be redeveloped into a county park. The Agency requested an expedited turn around time for the Phase I ESA to meet the stringent project schedule for the property transaction.
Solutions Provided by RRM
RRM completed the Phase I ESA within the required time period. Historical recognized environmental conditions were identified in the Phase I ESA report, including the former presence of a gasoline UST, former auto and tractor service in a service building at the property, and the reported use and storage of pesticides for the growth of row crops and orchard and vineyard areas on the property.
At the request of the Agency, RRM performed a limited soil assessment at the property to evaluate the presence of residual hydrocarbon compounds near the former UST and service shop. RRM also performed soil assessment activities to evaluate the presence of compounds related to the former pesticide use at the property. RRM developed a random sampling program for former row crop, orchard, and vineyard areas including sampling of shallow soils for metals associated with pesticide use. Laboratory results indicated the presence of heavy metals in soils at the property that exceeded state standards. Further research indicated that the metals detected were the likely result of naturally occurring elements in soils in Santa Cruz County.
Following the submittal of the results of soil sampling, RRM worked with the local oversight agency and negotiated requirements for the planned use of the property, resulting in the continuation of the planned park development.