Soil and Ground-Water Remediation

Service Station

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Flagler, Colorado

Site Investigations

USTs

Remedial Design/Remedial Action

Construction Observation

Remedial O&M

Regulatory Compliance

Air Monitoring/

Permitting

Data Management

Client: Flagler Farmer's Co-Operative

Completion: Ongoing

Cost: $210,000

The Flagler Farmer's Co-Operative (Co-Op) operated a service station, which they had closed. The underground storage tank (UST) was removed in 1995, and contamination detected. Subsequent subsurface investigations indicated that ground water had been impacted, and that the plume has migrated off-site. Groundwater at the site is approximately 80 feet below ground surface.

Pinyon conducted the subsurface investigation and completed a Corrective Action Plan, as required by Colorado. The plan evaluated several remedial options, and identified the positive and negative considerations for each. The selected remedial option at the site involved installation of a combined soil vapor extraction (SVE) and air sparging (AS) system. This system is highly efficient in removing petroleum hydrocarbons from soil and ground water.

Pinyon assisted the Co-Op in evaluating their eligibility for the State reimbursement program, and in their application.

A pilot study was conducted in the winter of 1995 to evaluate the feasibility of using SVE and AS at the site and to determine the number of wells necessary to remediate the site. Pinyon prepared the design and provided construction management for the system installation.

Pinyon obtained an air pollution emission notice (APEN) for the discharge of extracted soil vapors. Continuous operation of the system began in November of 1997. Due to the systems's ability to effectively extract vapors from the subsurface, the system reached the APEN limit in both 1998 and 1999, and had to be shut down until the beginning of the next operating year.

Pinyon routinely conducts site visits to monitor system operating parameters, perform system maintenance activities, conduct ground-water monitoring, and obtain water level and soil vacuum measurements. This data is utilized to evaluate the effectiveness of the remediation system.

In addition, Pinyon submits quarterly ground-water monitoring reports as required by the state.






Denver Zoological Gardens

Denver, Colorado

Site Investigations

USTs

Remedial Design/Remedial Action

Construction Observation

Remedial O&M

Regulatory Compliance

Waste Water

Data Management

Project Management

Client: City & County of Denver and The Denver Zoological Foundation

Completion: Ongoing

Cost: $175,000

A vendor at the Denver Zoological Gardens operated a small train ride at the Children's Zoo for numerous years. Fuel for the train was stored in an underground storage tank (UST). Used oil generated during the operations was stored in a separate UST. Both tanks were removed in 1994 during demolition activities. The site was then developed as a state-of-the-art primate exhibit. During removal of both tanks contamination was detected. Subsequent subsurface investigations indicated that ground water had been impacted.

Ground-water contamination was detected in the alluvial sands and clay. The plume has migrated from the immediate area.

In order to not delay construction of the primate exhibit, Pinyon utilized a "geo-probe" sampling system with an on-site laboratory to delineate the extent of soil contamination. After two days of field work, the contamination had been defined within the areas of planned construction. In addition, ground-water monitoring wells were installed and sampled to evaluate ground-water quality. Ground water had been impacted by the release and appeared to be migrating off-site towards the northwest.

Pinyon prepared a Corrective Action Plan (CAP) recommending that additional soil be removed from the former tank excavations and that ground-water monitoring be conducted. During the course of monitoring, Pinyon discovered that the ground-water flow direction had been reversed. This was a result of the construction of a deep moat and associated

dewatering system. In addition, free product was observed in one of the wells.

Pinyon responded immediately to mitigate potential hazards and to implement a remediation system. The remediation system involved the collection and treatment of free product, and the installation of an air sparging/soil vapor extraction system. Pinyon obtained the appropriate discharge permits. This system is currently operating.

Pinyon has revised the CAP to reflect the new conditions. Quarterly ground-water monitoring is being conducted. Discharge monitoring was conducted; however, due to the effectiveness of the remediation system, monitoring is no longer required by the state.

The SVE and sparging portions of the remediation system continue to reduce contaminant concentrations in the local ground water.

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