Displaying items by tag: Public Agencies
You’re reading this because you are looking for an honest and reliable environmental consultant who will save you money, give you the answers you need, and provide reassurance. When confronted with an environmental issue, one of the most important questions you’ll have is, who are the best consultants in my area?
RRM wants to help prospective clients find the best company to meet their needs. We’ve been in business since 1992 providing cost-effective solutions to environmental challenges, and we understand the necessity for exploring other options. We compiled a list of local companies to help you narrow your search.
Here are our top picks:
Weber, Hayes, & Associates
Located in Watsonville, WHA has been providing environmental and geotechnical services since 1988. They have extensive experience providing services to the agricultural industry, including guidance on stormwater conveyance and detention, and waste discharge for composting operations.
(831) 722-3580
www.weber-hayes.com
Aero-Environmental Consulting
This company operates from Monterey and offers a wide range of environmental testing and inspection services in areas such as industrial hygiene, building science, and specialty construction. Their industrial hygienist provides consulting in indoor air quality testing, indoor environmental services, and environmental analysis.
(831) 277-5831
www.aero-enviro.com
Trinity Source Group, Inc.
Established in 2005, Trinity is located in downtown Santa Cruz. They offer a broad range of environmental consulting, management, and construction services with a turn-key approach to environmental challenges. This includes providing drilling services in addition to environmental services.
(831) 426-5600
www.trinitysourcegroup.com
Red Hills Environmental
Based in Los Gatos, RHE offers a full range of professional and technical services for the investigation, remediation, and management of difficult environmental conditions. They are great at helping people understand tricky compliance situations.
(408) 455-9300
www.redhillslg.com
While cost is always one of the first topics you might discuss, you might also want to hear about their experience in dealing with your particular problem, about their relationship with the relveant county and state agencies involved, project timing, and what potential contract arrangements look like.
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We hope this post has provided you with information that helps you make the best choice. No matter which consultant you choose, we are here to answer any questions. Click the button below to schedule a free consultation or call us today at (831) 475-8141.
For many of those managing investigation and cleanup of property contaminated with tetrachloroethylene (PCE) and other solvents in California, low threat solvent case closure is the best but least understood option. This lack of clarity leads to frustration and mistrust. Let’s get familiar with low threat solvent case closure and develop some general criteria beginning with the cleanup goal.
Cleanup Goal
California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) policy does not require that contamination is completely gone at the time of case closure; it specifies compliance with cleanup goals and objectives within a reasonable timeframe. This means that case closure can occur with contamination left in place as long as cleanup goals, such as relevant environmental screening levels (ESLs) or maximum contaminant levels (MCLs), are met in a reasonable timeframe. What defines a reasonable timeframe is ultimately decided by the regulatory oversight agency, but the decision considers the pace of natural cleanup mechanisms such as biodegradation. SWRCB closure orders for low-threat petroleum hydrocarbon sites state a reasonable time frame for plumes of limited extent is multiple decades or longer, but expect more restrictions because PCE is less susceptible to natural cleanup mechanisms and has much lower ESLs. The general criteria for achieving cleanup goals are:
Criteria: Establish that natural mechanisms can reduce levels to cleanup goals and that contamination levels are at a point where natural mechanisms can reduce levels within a reasonable time frame.
The City of San Jose Redevelopment Agency retained RRM to provide environmental engineering, geology consulting, and related construction and hazardous materials removal services for the North First Street Tank Pull Project. The site is a City of San Jose Parking lot that was formerly occupied by a gasoline service station on the lower third of the parcel. The Redevelopment Agency, the owner of the site, had performed Phase I and II environmental site assessments and a detailed geophysical survey to prepare the property for sale. The prospective buyer, a developer, plans to construct a raised parking structure and underground parking garage over the entire footprint of the parcel. Results of the Phase I and II site assessment and geophysical survey identified one underground storage tank (UST) of unknown size, sporadic piping runs, and other magnetic anomalies that needed to be excavated and removed before the property could be sold.
RRM broke ground on schedule and during the first day of work discovered two additional USTs, a hydraulic car hoist, several hundred linear feet of product piping, and a buried drum, in addition to the single UST previously identified. RRM immediately informed the client that two USTs were filled with concrete, one with oily water, and the buried drum was half full of oily soil and sludge. After obtaining approval from the client, RRM proceeded to successfully perform all sampling, profiling, excavation, removal, transportation, disposal, and backfill activities to complete site work. Throughout the course of the project, RRM effectively communicated with nearby property owners and residences to allay concerns about the potentially hazardous nature of work at the site. During very inclement weather, RRM staff worked efficiently alongside the City of San Jose project engineer, the developer’s consulting firm, and multiple City agencies. The project was completed on schedule and to the full satisfaction of the client.
The City of San Jose had been monitoring groundwater conditions at Singleton Landfill for decades. When the San Francisco Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) asked for a more detailed analysis of some recent and historical data, the request was beyond the City’s resources. The City retained RRM to help comply with the RWQCB’s request. To address the RWQCB request, we completed an in-depth statistical analysis of historical groundwater data. In addition, we provided groundwater sampling and monitoring services for the landfill. With our understanding of the site, we were able to reduce operating costs by achieving modifications to the sampling, monitoring, and reporting requirements mandated by the RWQCB.
A sizable groundwater plume consisting of methyl tertiary butyl ether (MtBE) was discovered while investigation a gasoline release at the Pajaro Valley School District’s maintenance yard. We assisted the district by delineating the MtBE in shallow and deep groundwater bearing zones, and by installing and operating a groundwater extraction and treatment system. The treatment system consisted of a bioreactor and series-connected carbon units. Treated groundwater was discharged to the storm drain under a National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. Importantly, we were able to secure funding for the school district from the California Underground Storage Tank (UST) Insurance Fund so that the district was reimbursed for past and current work.