Ewing - Nelson Residence

EWING-NELSON RESIDENCE, VA PC#2003-2112N
Description of Role: Primary Environmental Consultant/Contractor
Key Personnel: Andrew Alden, Christopher M. Swan, III, Chris Lalli, Carl Cirillo
Project Cost: $10,109.06
Time Period of Project Work: May 2003 to Present
Client: Mr. Thomas Ewing & Ms. Amy Nelson
Client Representative: Mr. Thomas Ewing & Ms. Amy Nelson
Regulatory Agency: Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)
Regional Office(s): West Central (1997 to 2002) and South Central (2002 to present)

Introduction:

Environmental Engineering, Inc. (EEI) is presenting this project as an example of EEI’s ability to provide initial abatement measures and site characterization at a residence impacted by a heating oil UST release in a neighborhood setting.
 

Scope of Work:

This petroleum release was discovered in May 2003 at the Ewing-Nelson Residence at 1300 Crestview Drive, Blacksburg, Virginia. A 550-gallon UST that held No. 2 fuel oil for a back-up heating system had leaked. The UST was located within inches of the foundation of the house, and following a heavy rainstorm, the owners of the house detected water and some heating oil entering the basement. The owners of the residence contacted EEI in order to perform initial abatement measures. EEI responded to the owner’s call for assistance within hours, and arrived on-site to complete mop-up operations. Several gallons of oil and water were recovered and, placed in a drum that was temporarily stored on-site.
Initial abatement measures included pumping out the UST’s contents, excavation and closure of the UST, the removal of petroleum-contaminated soil adjacent to the residence foundation, cleaning of the foundation’s outer surface, backfilling of the former UST basin, vapor monitoring, and sealing of the basement wall interior surface.
One complicating factor in the closure of the UST was its location under a deck. EEI worked with the clients and their insurance company to ensure that various activities including; the temporary removal and replacement of the deck, cleaning of the foundation’s outer surface, and sealing a portion of the basement wall, were eligible for reimbursement under the homeowner’s insurance policy.
EEI prepared a comprehensive Initial Abatement Measures / Site Characterization (IAM/SC) Report for submittal to the DEQ. Vapor monitoring conducted within the basement following the IAM/SC phase of corrective action, indicated that petroleum-vapor was greatly reduced, although remained detectable. Following its’ technical review of the IAM/SC Report, the DEQ directed that Post-Site Characterization (PSC) Monitoring take place for a period of time sufficient to demonstrate that petroleum vapor was not a hazard in the residence.
EEI performed vapor-monitoring events on a semi-monthly basis between September 19, 2003 and January 2, 2004. During this period vapor-phase petroleum was not detected on-site through the use of a Combustible Gas Indicator (CGI). In order to reduce the amount of petroleum-contaminated water that might enter the basement following heavy rain events, EEI recommend the use of a plug or plate to fill a hole in the concrete block basement, through which water might enter. During PCS Monitoring EEI designed, fabricated, and installed a plate constructed of metal and rubber that appears to have achieved the goal of reducing the amount of water that enters the basement. EEI appears to have mitigated the hazards resulting from this heating oil release, and is currently awaiting the closure of the pollution complaint by the DEQ.
 

Staff and Resource Involvement:

Mr. Alden provided engineering oversight and project management assistance throughout this project’s term. Mr. Lalli was responsible for the management and scheduling of resources used during the project. Mr. Cirillo was responsible for project management, which has included preparing the IAM/SCR and Post-SCR monitoring reports and field management of the UST pump-out and closure, as well as other petroleum vapor monitoring and abatement activities. Equipment owned and operated by EEI that was used on this project included a Caterpillar 416B backhoe, and a Freightliner 8CY capacity dump truck.