Author: Alex Miller

First Ever Hands-on Science Workshop with Herron High School a Success

Posted on by Alex Miller

Last week, we welcomed more than a dozen knowledge-hungry Herron High School kids to our Indianapolis headquarters for our inaugural Summer Science Workshop, and we could not be more excited for the future! The two-day program introduced these young minds to the daily operations of EnviroForensics, some down-to-earth talk about real-world scientific applications, and some helpful advice on kick starting a career in environmental science. The students arrived with open minds and a willingness to learn, and we hope they came away with something that will continue to fuel that intellectual curiosity.

Getting Into the Science of What we do

Over a two-day period, our team, under the ambitious direction of Project Manager, Casey McFall, put on nine different hands-on presentations for these burgeoning young scientists. Topics included soil and groundwater basics, remediation, vapor intrusion, as well as a short explanation of the sales and marketing side of our operation. Some highlights included project manager Michele Murday’s explanation of a cross-section using a 3-layer cake as a (tasty) visual, a hands-on demo of groundwater sampling event, a trip to one of our project sites (with explanation of the remediation systems from a safe distance), and Megan Hamilton’s visual presentation of vapor intrusion using burning incense, a fish tank, and a miniature house made of Legos. The idea of this workshop was to give the students some perspective on how the lessons they’re learning inside the classroom could apply to their future lives in the working world.

Nurturing an Interest in Science

When putting this science workshop together, we had no idea what kind of response we’d get from the students. They shattered even our most generous of expectations! They were smart, attentive, engaged, and curious. We conducted an already lengthy Q&A session at the end of the second day, and it still went 10 minutes over the allotted time. We’re so heartened and appreciative that these students came with such a passion to learn.

Developing an educational outreach program, like this, was something our founder and CEO, Steve Henshaw, had in mind when we moved into our headquarters last summer. The equipment warehouse (where the workshop took place) in the back of our building doubles as a learning lab where new field personnel, interns, and now high school students can come to learn the basics of environmental field sampling, or just brush up on their skills. This type of real-world experience is so valuable, especially to young people still trying to figure out what they want to do with their lives. This is a unique educational resource that we hope enriches our community. After all, an educated society is a properly functioning one, and we hope to be, in some small part, a guiding force behind that.

About Herron High School

Herron High School is a college preparatory charter high school located on the Near North Side of Indianapolis. The school provides a classical and liberal arts education to more than 700 students of varying cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds, and has been in operation since 2006.

 

[ngg_images source=”galleries” container_ids=”246″ display_type=”photocrati-nextgen_basic_thumbnails” override_thumbnail_settings=”0″ thumbnail_width=”115″ thumbnail_height=”115″ thumbnail_crop=”1″ images_per_page=”20″ number_of_columns=”0″ ajax_pagination=”0″ show_all_in_lightbox=”0″ use_imagebrowser_effect=”0″ show_slideshow_link=”1″ slideshow_link_text=”[Show as slideshow]” order_by=”sortorder” order_direction=”ASC” returns=”included” maximum_entity_count=”500″]

EnviroForensics to Present at International Bioremediation Symposium

Posted on by Alex Miller
Hyatt Regency Miami, Florida, home to Battelle’s Fourth International Symposium on Bioremediation and Sustainable Environmental Technologies

We are excited about yet another opportunity to share our knowledge with our peers in the environmental remediation world. Chief Geologist, Keith Gaskill will present a poster at Battelle’s Fourth International Symposium on Bioremediation and Sustainable Environmental Technologies in Miami, Florida.

Gaskill’s poster is entitled Rapid Reduction of Chlorinated Solvents Using Combined Bioaugmented Enhanced Reductive Dechlorination and in-situ Chemical Reduction Approaches.

The poster, completed in conjunction with REGENESIS, outlines a successful remediation project and the value of designing cleanup strategies comprised of multiple technologies to more cost effectively remediate chlorinated solvent sites.  Gaskill will present the poster late Tuesday (May 23rd) afternoon. If you’re attending the event, please stop by to check it out!

More than a business trip

Tuesday evening in Miami will be special in more ways than one. That night we’ll be catching up with friends and colleagues at a Mojitos and Mixing event hosted by REGENESIS, who have generously offered to promote and raise funds for our partnered water charity, Water for Empowerment. With each guest who walks through the door, REGENESIS has pledged to donate in their name to Water for Empowerment, helping continue the work of bringing clean water access to women and young girls in Nicaragua.

 

 

EnviroForensics® Announces Acquisition of Vapor Protection Services®

Posted on by Alex Miller

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind – The environmental consulting experts at Indianapolis-based EnviroForensics®, announced that they are adding even more experience and knowledge to their already established and nationally respected vapor intrusion (VI) mitigation service team. The industry-leading environmental consulting firm has acquired Vapor Protection Services® (VPS), a VI mitigation company, in a move that now allows them to provide turn-key, premier VI services through a wholly owned subsidiary.

VPS is a highly acclaimed and recommended, healthy indoor air company, specializing in the design and implementation of mitigation systems for volatile organic compounds, radon and other contaminants that, through a vapor intrusion pathway, can present a threat to human health. For years, VPS, has provided its certified mitigation solutions to environmental consultants, businesses, and building owners throughout the region. By bringing the VPS certified mitigation experts in to work side-by-side with their team, EnviroForensics’ respected VI consultants and engineers will be able to more efficiently and responsively serve their clients. “The vapor intrusion mitigation approaches designed and installed by VPS have always been exactly what we’ve needed for our sites with VI concerns. When dealing with VI at hazardous waste sites like we do, a regular radon-style system just isn’t good enough, and VPS has understood that. I am extremely excited to have that expertise on our team”, says Megan Hamilton, Director of Vapor Intrusion and Risk Assessment at EnviroForensics.

This is the latest development in what has been a banner year for EnviroForensics®. The environmental consultant marked its 20th anniversary, created more than a dozen new positions, and posted record revenues in 2016. The company also celebrated the grand opening of a brand new headquarter building; a refurbished industrial structure boasting 23,000 square-feet of open-concept work space, state-of-the-art field training labs, and unique works of art from some of the Indiana’s most beloved artists.

“We are thrilled to welcome VPS to the EnviroForensics family,” said Nancy Shields, EnviroForensics President. “We value the longstanding success and expertise of VPS and are committed to providing their team of VI Mitigation specialists the resources they need to continue their success. This investment also illustrates our confidence in the continuing future needs for appropriately designed and installed VI mitigation systems. Both existing and new clients will see the benefits of our subsidiaries’ efforts as they continue to make indoor air healthier for everyone.”

With the acquisition of VPS, EnviroForensics® executives have their eyes forward to another year of improved customer service and growth. The addition of VPS’ certified mitigation services solidifies EnviroForensics’® commitment to providing top-notch services and solutions to its clients, and increases the probability of gaining a foothold in new markets.

EnviroForensics to Present at AEHS Conference

Posted on by Alex Miller

In a crucial time, when the need for innovative methods to protect the environment is at an all-time high, some of the top scientific authorities in the world will be gathering in Southern California to share their ideas. We are honored to be counted among the trusted names presenting at this year’s Annual International Conference on Soil, Water, Energy, and Air put on by the Association for Environmental Health and Sciences (AEHS).

As many as 600 participants are expected in San Diego for this week’s conference. Attendees are drawn from a variety of professions including state and federal regulatory agencies, environmental engineering and consulting firms, the petroleum and chemical industries, military, and academia.

This conference carries significance for those in the Vapor Intrusion industry because it hosts the U.S. EPA’s Vapor Intrusion Work Shop every year. The workshop is the ideal forum for the country’s chief regulators to bring consultants and engineers up to speed on the latest guidance for Vapor Intrusion detection and mitigation, and consequently draws some of the national leaders in this field of science. You’ll be able to watch this on a live-stream that is sponsored, in part, by EnviroForenics. Follow this link to register. 

The same people who will be attending this workshop will likely be in attendance for our presentation. Our Director of Vapor Intrusion and Risk Assessment, Megan Hamilton, and Project Manager, Casey McFall CHMM, will provide their expertise about Vapor Migration immediately following the EPA VI Work Shop on Tuesday, March 21st.

The presentation, entitled “New Insights into Exposure through Preferential Pathway Vapor Migration,” takes a deep dive into vapor intrusion migration and exposure and how some regulatory guidance on testing techniques may be lacking in their capability to elicit reliable results. The talk will also include an analysis of atypical preferential pathways, that if gone unchecked, could present exposure hazards. We will be presenting our findings based on real-world case studies we’ve gathered from 14 different project sites. We’re looking forward to unpacking those results and engaging with our fellow environmental professionals.

You can learn more about our Vapor Intrusion credentials and services by clicking here.

Mechanical Remediation Logistics Check List

Posted on by Alex Miller

We have seen, in the past, that mechanical remediation can be very effective at reducing large concentrations of contaminants in a relatively short period of time. It’s one of the many reasons we utilize this type of cleanup so often. But, before we draw up a closure strategy that includes a mechanical application, there are a few logistical components we need to consider on our client’s behalf, and on behalf of the surrounding community and regulators.

1.     “Can I keep my business open during remediation?”

This a concern we hear voiced by our friends and partners in the dry-cleaning industry all the time. Customers are creatures of habit, and the fear of losing them for good is very real. Even if the business is shut down for just a few days. We understand this, and do what we can to work around our client’s schedule. Fortunately, with mechanical remediation, the most invasive work is done upfront, and we have ways to minimize that impact. Construction can be scheduled during off-peak business hours, to affect as little customer traffic as possible. We can also employ different drilling techniques to avoid work inside the client’s building. You can read more about this in past blog: Minimizing the impact of cleanup.

2.     “Are there any land use restrictions at or near our project Site?”

Aside from excavation, mechanical remediation applications generally require storage of a shed or trailer to house motors, hoses, and other applicable components for a certain period of time. This can make things difficult if the Site has an existing building or is surrounded by other structures. Mechanical applications can also get noisy, so that’s another factor that must be considered, especially if the Site is in or near a residential area. Read about our solutions to minimize noise.

Mechanical Remediation System - PVC for Sparge System
(Above) One of our mechanical applications in the process of being installed. This particular application is a combination Air Sparge and Soil Vapor Extraction System.

3.     “What is this going to cost?”

We are steadfast in our mission to make sure our clients pay as little out of pocket as possible. We focus on finding cost-effective solutions that that meet the objectives of our clients, with technologies that are reasonable and necessary to get the job done.

4.     “Does this strategy help satisfy our regulatory commitments?”

First and foremost, it is our obligation to our client that we do everything in our power to make sure they no longer have an environmental liability hanging over their head. That comes in the form of a “No Further Action” letter from the state regulator. We submit the most thorough cleanup strategy, which many times necessitate mechanical remediation applications, to the IDEM (Indiana Department of Environmental Management) in order to meet or exceed the criteria required to obtain a “No Further Action” letter from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) or other applicable state regulatory agencies, and to meet our clients’ objectives.

 

U.S. EPA Finalizes Vapor Intrusion Rule for Superfund Sites

Posted on by Alex Miller

A major development in the Environmental Consulting industry. The United State Environmental Protection Agency has published a final rule which effectively adds a vapor intrusion component to CERCLA’sHazard Ranking System (HRS) for Superfund sites. This move finalizes the draft rule from earlier this year, after the incorporation of some public comments. This final rule paves that way for EPA involvement at sites with no known responsible party to address immediate vapor intrusion exposure concerns. Given the fact that vapor intrusion has not previously been considered during the Superfund ranking system, it is likely that a higher percentage of new sites being added to the program will have a vapor intrusion component.

Our Executive Vice President, Jeff Carnahan, LPG spoke with Bloomberg BNA earlier this year, and thinks this will create a need for new advancements in vapor intrusion research and remediation.

“This [regulatory development] is not likely to be the last one. With each additional incremental step in the regulation and highlighting of the exposure pathway, you’re going to see more and more developments in the science and technology,VIStamp

EnviroForensics Vapor Intrusion experts will continue to monitor this development as the new presidential administration and EPA commissioner take office early next year.

EnviroForensics presenting at international waste management conference this week

Posted on by Alex Miller

We are humbled to have some of the foremost minds in the Environmental Consulting industry right under our roof! Our staff boasts decades of experience, and the knowledge and wisdom to help move environmental science forward in a profound way. Our Director of Vapor Intrusion Services, Megan Hamilton, is one those individuals keeping us on the cutting edge, and she’ll be imparting some of that wisdom on an international stage this week!

Hamilton is headed to the Air and Waste Management Association’s Vapor Intrusion, Remediation, and Site Closure Conference in San Diego, California. This is the 8th specialty conference hosted by AWMA focused on the critical and changing area of Vapor Intrusion, and one of the few conferences in the world to focus on this particular exposure pathway.

Director of VI Services, Megan Hamilton, is presenting this week at the AWMA Vapor Intrusion, Remediation, and Site Closure Conference in San Diego, California.
Director of VI Services, Megan Hamilton, is presenting this week at the AWMA Vapor Intrusion, Remediation, and Site Closure Conference in San Diego, California.

Hamilton will be presenting a poster in the exhibit hall entitled, “The Cost and Liability of Evolving VI Technical Guidance.” The research for her presentation was a team effort with EnviroForensics Executive Vice President, Jeff Carnahan, LPG, and Professional Staff members Grace Randall and Kathleen Nazareth pitching in. This presentation evaluates how high levels of uncertainty and conservatism during the early years of VI regulation may have affected the exposure assumptions and costs associated with the investigation and mitigation of the VI pathway at remediation sites. In this study, a portfolio of sites consisting of nearly 40 subsurface releases of PCE or TCE have been reevaluated based on a series of guidance milestones since 2002.  Actual assessment and mitigation costs have been compared with those that would have been occurred if performed under older state and federal VI guidance, and the latest version of the Final U.S. EPA VI Guidance.

This week’s event is expected to draw internationally-recognized scientists, engineers, regulators, and attorneys with experience in getting sites to closure and focuses on the critical sustainability and technical issues that need to be considered in doing so.

Hamilton is no stranger to this kind of attention. She has presented at several national and international Environmental conferences, is a member of the National EPA VI Science Advisory Committee, and was just awarded a second term on the Board of Directors for the Midwestern States Environmental Consultants Association (MSECA). Her credentials in the area of VI speak for themselves; she oversees VI investigations and mitigations for all EnviroForensics projects, and she was the main author of the current Indiana Vapor Intrusion Guidance during her time at the Indiana Department of Environmental Management’s (IDEM) Office of Land Quality.

 

What it takes to keep our remediation systems running

Posted on by Alex Miller

Remediation is a calculated, and deliberate process. One that takes months and sometimes years, depending on how large the volume of contaminant is. Luckily, we have high-tech solutions that help us with the day-to-day monitoring of the cleanup process. We regularly install remediation systems that work autonomously and without the need for constant supervision, which saves our clients time and money. But, in order to reap those benefits, we must make sure we’re properly maintaining the mechanical components of remediation systems.

Whether it’s a Soil Vapor Extraction (SVE), Dual Phase Extraction (DPE), Air Sparge, or Ozone Sparge System, we enact a regularly scheduled preventative maintenance program. The idea is to keep the system running efficiently, and catch any potential problem before it turns into a real problem. The focus, during our maintenance visits, is on keeping the system clean, lubricating bearings and other moving parts, correcting deficiencies (i.e. worn or broken belts, rusted hardware, dirty filters), and operating safety devices. We also pay close attention to hazard controls like machine guards, exhaust ventilation, silencers, control technology, and other devices important to the operation of the machine.

There are two obvious advantages to Preventative Maintenance. First and foremost, it preserves and enhances the reliability of our equipment and ensures optimal efficiency. A broken component that goes unrepaired could lead to bigger issues down the road, costing the client both time and money. And when we offer our services, we make promises to our client, and we don’t like to break them. Maintaining a working remediation system that will operate either at or underneath the quoted costs goes a long way in helping us keep those promises.

Another distinct advantage to Preventative Maintenance is that it helps us reach our health and safety goals. Proactive repairs protect us from possible injuries caused by malfunctioning equipment. Thorough record-keeping allows for more seamless automation and upkeep, and gives us more transparency with our regulatory partners. As we mentioned earlier, it also improves the efficiency of the system in removing contaminants, and the ultimate goal is to root out the human health risks anyway.

We appreciate the technology that we have at our disposal. Active remediation systems allow us to conduct the meticulous process of remediation without continuous human supervision and oversight. The caveat is maintaining these systems, making sure they’re running at optimal efficiency, and uncovering any problems before they cost the client time or money. A properly executed preventative maintenance plan allows us to stay one step ahead.

 

What we look for during a preventative maintenance check of our remediation systems

 

Above are three good examples of things we look out for during maintenance of our remediation systems. Dirty filters, signs of wear, and rust are things that could impact the efficiency of our systems.

Open House Reflects Heart and Soul of EnviroForensics

Posted on by Alex Miller

It was the continuation of what has been a very exciting year in the history of EnviroForensics. Thursday night, we welcomed more than 200 people through our doors at 825 North Capitol to get an up-close look at our brand new headquarters; the culmination of more than a year’s long effort to bring new life to an old costume warehouse and transmissions garage. True to form, EnviroForensics combined the celebratory activities with an opportunity to convey an important message of environmental and human rights awareness.

The event began with an important discussion about clean water accessibility. Our partners with Water for Empowerment are working towards bringing clean water and hygienic education to women in the developing world, and tapped two like-minded individuals to speak on the subject in front of a large crowd gathered in the Community Room.

State Rep. & Candidate for Lt. Governor, Christina Hale (D) speaks at EnviroForensics and Water for Empowerment Open House
State Rep. & Candidate for Lt. Governor, Christina Hale (D) speaks at EnviroForensics and Water for Empowerment Open House

State Representative and Democratic Candidate for Lt. Governor, Christina Hale, has spent a good portion of her career in politics fighting for women’s rights. She talked about the widespread effects of water poverty, and emphasized the value of a proper education, especially for women in the developing world. The main speaker, Wateraid’s Vincent Casey, took over the discussion to detail what happens on the ground in water impoverished areas and how his group is combatting those obstacles. It’s a multi-faceted effort focused on the delivery of technology to cultivate clean water and the educational resources to achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle long after Wateraid has left.

Wateraid's Vincent Casey presents at EnviroForensics and Water for Empowerment Open House
Wateraid’s Vincent Casey presents at EnviroForensics and Water for Empowerment Open House

Following the presentation, the building itself took center stage.  Friends, family, and colleagues passed through the halls on guided tours and impromptu jaunts; beverages and finger foods in hand as they heard the stories of the 13 Hoosier artists whose work dots the walls of the newly refurbished structure. The Community Room lived up to its name, becoming the epicenter of the celebration and serving as a space for people from all walks of life to gather in friendship, enjoy a tasty snack, and take in a slideshow of the building’s construction from start to finish. It was a night to remember, a night to cherish, and truly one that embodies the heart and soul of EnviroForensics.

 

Take Virtual Tour of Our Building:

ERD Delivering Effective Remediation to Indiana Drycleaner Site

Posted on by Alex Miller

ERD injectionsEnviroForensics is excited to report yet another Enhanced Reductive Dechlorination (ERD) success story. Our staff has been employing this technique for more than a decade at sites across the state and the Midwest, and it has, once again, delivered the desired effect to an impacted drycleaning property in Lafayette, Indiana.

Contamination consisting of the chlorinated solvent, PCE, was discovered in the subsurface at the Vogue Cleaners property, in an interbedded sand and clay formation. Per the Remedial Work Plan approved by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM), we conducted an excavation on the side of the building, digging as deep as 21-feet below ground level to remove impacted soil.

In order to address groundwater impacts, we used an ERD application augmented with zero-valent iron (ZVI – an in-situ chemical reduction [ISCR] agent) to address those problem areas.  Naturally occurring bacteria called dehalococcoides (DHC) were present in the groundwater onsite and in the area of the property. As we’ve explained in past blogs, these microorganisms naturally break down chlorinated solvents by cleaving off chlorine molecules and replacing them with hydrogen particles. In order to maximize the use of these microorganisms, we injected a substrate called Lecithin mixed with ZVI ®, developed by Peroxychem, as the carbon source. Additionally, a substrate called Provect IR (produced by Provectus), which also had ZVI as an ISCR agent, was used in a different part of the site because it was determined to be more effective for the subsurface conditions found in that area.

The addition of the substrates immediately began the reduction of the PCE concentrations followed by sustained contaminant destruction over time.  The first round of ERD injections proved to be very successful. PCE concentrations, which in some spots were as high as 4,000 micrograms per liter, were knocked down to less than laboratory detection limits. These results show the typical success of ERD technologies when implemented by experienced professionals.  The remediation at the site has progressed quickly and effectively, and closure procedures are now being discussed with IDEM.  With this effective and efficient remediation we anticipate our client will receive a “covenant not to sue” from the State of Indiana shortly after site closure.