the pocket consultant summer 2013
DESCRIPTION
Leveraging Environmental & Geotechnical Partnerships - Manage risk and cost to master difficult sites VOL 16, Issue 2 - Summer 2013TRANSCRIPT
Property redevelopment can be a tricky business. This is especially
true for sites with a history of industrial use that are impacted by
uncontrolled fills, construction materials, abandoned structures and
utilities, and industrial waste. Put those materials near or below the
groundwater surface and you’ve got quite a brew.
Dealing with such impacts is not cheap, but many projects incur
unnecessary costs because they aren’t coordinated from a shared
environmental and geotechnical perspective. Excess costs come from
two sources: basic site investigation rework and failure to leverage
both environmental and geotechnical expertise when evaluating site
redevelopment alternatives. Rework is generally the product of poor
logistics or inexperience and can be limited through better planning.
Leveraging environmental and geotechnical expertise requires more
experience, a solid understanding of regulations governing design
and construction, and industry savvy.
Collaboration during site investigationIn the early days of environmental remediation, environmental
professionals were faced with a multitude of large contaminant
plumes on properties where there was no thought of
redevelopment for future use. There was no need to characterize
such sites from a geotechnical standpoint. But risk-based closure
and brownfield redevelopment are no longer just concepts, and
available financing opportunities continue to drive developers to
take on difficult sites.
Environmental professionals have always done a good job
characterizing environmental site contamination and developing
and performing remediation plans. It’s what they were trained
to do. But many environmental site investigations come up short
on difficult sites. Redevelopment cannot happen at these sites
without characterizing subsurface conditions from environmental
and geotechnical perspectives. Yet site contamination is often
characterized with little or no thought regarding how the
braunintertec.com 1
V O L 1 6 , I S S U E 2 S U M M E R 2 0 1 3P R A C T I C A L A N D E N T E R T A I N I N G S I N C E 1 9 9 7
Leveraging Environmental & Geotechnical PartnershipsManage risk and cost to master difficult sites
continued on next page …
By Michael Beck, PE [email protected]
Subgrade preparation for new structures isn’t always just a geotechnical issue. Existing infrastructure, especially when it is expected to remain in place below new construction, can present a variety of geotechnical and environmental challenges. In this case, challenges included pipe integrity, soil contamination, backfill method and subgrade uniformity.
Practical and Entertaining Since 19972
contaminated material(s) can be avoided, relocated, repurposed,
etc., to support redevelopment. As a result, geotechnical
consultants often redrill sites at additional cost to obtain
geotechnical information that should have been gathered during the
environmental investigation.
Similarly, while geotechnical engineers understand what it
takes to characterize subsurface geologic conditions to support
construction of buildings and pavements, they often fail to recognize
potential impacts to projects related to environmental issues
that may be evident in surface features (abandoned fuel pumps),
borehole samples (odorous or discolored soil), or test pits (entrained
demolition debris). Whether environmental or geotechnical, such
omissions can kill a project.
Intertwined designOnce a site has been characterized, it is critical to understand
all environmental and geotechnical constraints, how they affect
each other, and how they affect the project’s bottom line and the
risk of future structural problems. Unfortunately, the traditional
environmental investigation and remediation process doesn’t do this
well on its own, nor does conventional geotechnical engineering.
For example, environmental consultants can rigorously delineate
limits and estimate the volume of uncontrolled fill impacted
with chemicals at concentrations above applicable regulatory
standards, but what are the disposal options once it’s excavated?
Are there options for on-site relocation of the fill that won’t limit
redevelopment options or prevent redevelopment from occurring
at all? And what about sites with uncontrolled fill impacted by
contaminated groundwater? Is there a ground improvement
or building support alternative available to reduce or eliminate
groundwater management costs associated with dewatering?
These questions can pose complex challenges. This is where
experience and industry savvy come into play. For instance, it may be
possible to place fill containing construction debris outside foundation
oversize planes and/or at depth below pavements to reduce potential
impacts to building or pavement performance. Many times, additional
excavation work can be performed to accommodate placement of
contaminated soils at depth below buildings or pavements to prevent
off-site disposal of contaminated soils.
For budget-sensitive projects, design of site remediation and
development plans can be an iterative process, not unlike a shell
game. Clean closure is not typically affordable for difficult sites, and
redevelopment often hinges on designing to the least of several
site “evils.” This might mean shifting building locations, expanding
green areas, thickening pavements and assuming more long-term
maintenance responsibilities.
Move construction obstacles with experienced staffNo matter how well a site is characterized, unforeseen conditions
are possible, even typical, during redevelopment of sites with
a history of industrial use. Most building contractors are not
used to thinking about environmental issues, but are focused
on the myriad of details related to construction of the new
structure and associated infrastructure. That’s why it is critical
to have experienced field staff present during construction who
understand both the environmental regulatory framework and
plans for building construction. The presence of experienced field
staff facilitates prompt resolution of minor issues and proper
assessment and communication of larger issues to appropriate
members of the project team. Whether the unforeseen condition
consists of unknown building foundations or buried debris,
forgotten underground storage tanks, an unexpected amount of
contaminated organic soils, or any other unexpected challenge,
successful resolution requires collaboration between the building
contractor, environmental and geotechnical professionals, and the
site owner. Experienced field personnel are the first line of defense
when these issues arise in the field.
It’s critical to bring environmental and geotechnical professionals
together early in the planning process for redevelopment sites.
Working together, these professionals can design field investigations
that capture as much environmental and geotechnical information as
possible to more effectively evaluate remediation and development
alternatives, produce cost-effective and practicable designs, and
help anticipate construction issues. Implementing this approach will
maximize the performance of new structures while minimizing total
project costs. ■
… Leveraging Environmental & Geotechnical Partnerships continued
Experienced field staff who understand both the environmental regulatory framework and plans for building construction is critical to the success of complex projects.
braunintertec.com 3
Regulatory NavigationSteering a course to resource preservation and risk management
Braun Intertec is involved in the
planning and execution of
construction projects
that range from simple
to very complex. Our
role is usually in the
upfront stage, defining
characteristics of
project sites that
will affect design and
performance of structures,
and then during and after
construction to verify
the structure was
constructed properly and
is performing as intended. You may
be familiar with some of the work that
Braun Intertec has been involved in over the last 56 years: soil
type, soil density, ability to withstand applied loads and predicted
settlement, concrete strength, soil correction recommendations,
and so forth. As with many things in our lives, construction is
more complicated today than it was in the past. The engineering
services Braun Intertec offers have evolved to keep up with our
more complicated world. There are numerous project requirements
that demand attention before, during, and after construction is
complete, which may fly under the radar if you are not prepared
and can jeopardize a project in many ways.
Preparing for and implementing a construction project
presents requirements on a number of fronts, whether a new
highway in rural Minnesota, a new bridge over the St. Croix
River, a 30-story tower in downtown Minneapolis, a new ballpark
in downtown St. Paul, or a commercial or industrial development
somewhere in the Twin Cities suburbs. In addition to the
engineering, planning and design, procurement, and construction,
there are a myriad of rules, regulations, and laws governing our
natural resources that require attention. Braun Intertec and the design
and construction teams that we are a part of have been planning
and responding to these issues for many years. It takes substantial
experience to gain the knowledge necessary to plan for, resolve, and
document the work required for good engineering practice and by
statute or rules when constructing projects affecting natural resources.
What are these requirements you ask? They are simple to list
but can be complicated to understand, permit, and implement. The
requirements are broken down in one way or another into the basic
building blocks of our natural world: solids, liquids and gas. Some
of the more familiar requirements that might be planned for in any
given construction project, large and small, include:
1. Ambient Air Quality – There are state and federal rules about air quality that may affect you.
2. Particulate Matter Emissions – There have been state rules on fugitive dust for years; they do affect you.
3. Noise – City rules can shut down your project in a hurry.
4. Odor – Neighboring residents can make your life difficult on this one.
5. Asbestos/Regulated Wastes – Yeh yeh yeh, but it can hit your pocketbook hard if not corrected appropriately.
6. Solid Wastes – Do you know what all is included in this?
7. Hazardous Wastes – Expensive. Did you know that there can be ways to avoid generating hazardous waste?
8. Stormwater – More important every day, the fines for not following the rules can be significant.
9. Groundwater – Are you aware of the relation between surface water and groundwater?
10. Contaminated Soil – Maybe you should reuse instead of paying to haul and dispose.
11. Lead in Construction Standard – Do you know about this? It’s important.
12. Beneficial Reuse Rules – Confusing sometimes, but can save a lot of money.
13. Waste Transportation Requirements – Can add schedule delays and costs that you need to plan for.
14. Vibration Monitoring – And you thought implications of odors were bad.
15. Buried and Overhead Utilities – Caution, the utility backfill might be a pathway for contamination.
16. Health and Safety Rules – Are you or your contractor familiar with confined space requirements?
By Chris Thompson, PE [email protected]
continued on next page …
Practical and Entertaining Since 19974
… Regulatory Navigation continued
This list is not exhaustive, although it is probably exhausting to
look at and fully understand to what degree these items might be
important to a particular project and how to efficiently plan for
them. Braun Intertec personnel are tasked with understanding these
requirements, and it is all about risk management. The planning and
work that goes into being able to start and successfully complete a
construction project, however simple, should not be taken lightly.
Assuming that someone else has planned for an issue – has “got it
covered” – is not risk management.
Braun Intertec’s role on projects many times includes the initial
environmental and geotechnical investigation work, as well as
permitting, development of engineering plans and specifications,
completion of contract documents, construction period testing,
inspections, observations and reporting, soil and groundwater
remedial action implementation, and permit compliance.
Braun Intertec professionals are required to understand these
processes and provide sound and defensible cost estimates in
advance. Many construction-related issues can be planned for
and successfully integrated into projects. It’s a bit like an athlete
imagining his/her routine in advance so there are no mistakes
while performing.
There are many regulations, standards, rules, and requirements
that pertain to constructing the built environment. Many of these
are in place because they provide for a safe and healthy environment
during and after construction, and protect our natural resources.
They are also there to help keep test results consistent from one
project to the next in order to define what is considered safe levels
of chemicals in our environment, to safeguard that the project does
not create a situation that damages the adjacent building, and to
verify the foundation is not going to settle beyond set parameters.
Understanding how regulations impact your project is important, but
having a partner that can navigate the regulatory maze is essential. ■
For many construction projects, dust (or particulate) emission
control and monitoring are required. Some of the nuances and
complexities of control and monitoring are not well understood.
A lack of attention to these matters can lead to rework,
noncompliance letters, monetary fines, lawsuits, and just plain
bad relations with those that might be affected by dust emissions.
There are a number of reasons why control and monitoring of
potential particulate emissions from a project is necessary. First,
there are requirements to do so from both a legal and regulatory
standpoint. Specifically, there is the Occupational Safety and
Health Administration that has standards for certain potential
emissions in the breathing zone, as well as the Environmental
Protection Agency National Ambient Air Quality Standard
(NAAQS) for airborne particulate matter. In many cases, real-time
monitoring for dust is used as a precursor for other potential
soil and/or groundwater contaminants present, such as heavy
metals and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). These are
just a few requirements for control and monitoring that must be
undertaken depending on the project.
Secondly, controlling and monitoring potential particulate
emissions is critical to neighboring residents or adjacent
properties. If you are allowing dust to be transported off your
site, you may be buying car wash coupons or washing their
buildings, pavements, and other structures. This may help
alleviate immediate concerns but pales in comparison to proving
your emissions haven’t lead to some perceived health problem.
So, how do you make sense of all of the acronyms and
requirements: OSHA, NIOSH, permissible exposure limits
(PEL), micrograms per cubic meter (ug/m3), EPA Ambient Air
Monitoring Guidelines for Prevention of Significant Deterioration,
total suspended Solids (TSS), site-specific action levels, and
personnel protective equipment (PPE)? Call Braun Intertec’s
environmental consultants, who have the experience and
capabilities to assist with this required compliance. They can
help determine what your needs are, set up and complete any
required monitoring and reporting, and mitigate encounters with
unhappy neighbors.
A local contractor diligently applying water for dust control.
Monitoring Construction Site Emissions
braunintertec.com 5
“There’s No Asbestos in My Building!”Surveying for asbestos is still relevant despite building age
“This building was constructed in 2003. There is no asbestos in it! We
certainly don’t need to test for it!” Considering the overwhelming
amount of publicity regarding the harmful effects of asbestos
exposure, and the fact that regulations regarding asbestos have
been in place for more than 30 years, one would assume the above
statements to be true. Unfortunately, this is not the case.
Once considered the “miracle material” because of its
indestructible nature, today more than 50 countries have banned
asbestos; however, the United States isn’t one of them. According
to the U.S. Geological Survey, 1,060 metric tons (more than 2.3
million pounds) of asbestos was imported into the country in 2012,
and it’s likely to remain near the 1,000-ton level based on current
trends. The World Health Organization estimates that 107,000
people worldwide die of asbestos-related diseases each year. Yet
the global asbestos industry continues to aggressively market in
developing nations, putting millions at risk of disease. Russia is the
largest producer of asbestos in the world, with China and Brazil
following close behind.
The Environmental Protection Agency tried to ban asbestos in
1989, but the ban was struck down by an industry court challenge.
While it’s true that most domestic manufacturers and builders have
not used asbestos since the 1980s, there is no magic date when you
can say a building was constructed after, therefore, it’s asbestos free.
The USGS says about 57 percent of domestic asbestos consumption
went into making chlorine and sodium hydroxide, 41 percent into
roofing products and the rest into “unknown applications.” Most of
the unknown applications result from the import of building products
and materials from foreign manufacturers. Every year, new cases arise
documenting asbestos found in newly installed building products
– materials such as wallboard, tile, grout, mastics, adhesives, and
coatings, just to name a few.
A recent Braun Intertec project involved the redevelopment of
a former athletic club facility. The outdoor tennis courts had been
milled in place a few years prior. It was discovered that the green
paint used on the tennis courts contained asbestos. As a result, the
milled asphalt and gravel had to be disposed off-site as asbestos
waste, adding substantial cost to the project.
In the case of building renovation or demolition, we are often
asked, “The building was constructed 10-15 years ago, why do I
have to survey for asbestos?” The answer: all buildings, regardless
of age, are subject to regulatory requirements to identify the
presence of asbestos-containing materials and the proper handling
of those materials.
Gregg Kruse provides hazardous materials support to the
Braun Intertec environmental, engineering and building sciences
groups, helping clients navigate the “stuff that comes up.” Kruse has
spent 25 years providing hazardous materials expertise across the
country on a wide range of project sites from residential
developments to complex military facilities. ■
By Gregg Kruse [email protected]
©2013 Braun Intertec Corporation
Practical and Entertaining Since 19976
Aptitude shows silver but attitude strikes goldDear Graduate:“I saw you in the school yard today …” No, scratch that, I was
distracted by one of those heartbreak-type country songs playing
on the radio. From the sound of your letter I definitely don’t see you
losing your gal, dog and pickup truck as a result of poor planning. But
I will still offer you some information on a career as a civil technician
and, if you don’t mind, a little advice on approaching the path and
people that will help guide you.
A technology program at a technical college is a great way for
someone who doesn’t want to pursue a four-year degree to get solid
experience in a variety of engineering-related disciplines. You will
gain skills that are marketable to government agencies like city and
county engineering and public works departments, state Department
of Natural Resources branches, watershed districts, etc., as well as
private consultants working in the civil, geotechnical, environmental,
water resources, and other engineering disciplines. You will learn
field and office skills associated with soil, aggregate, bituminous
and concrete testing, surveying, computer aided design (CAD), and
geographic information systems (GIS).
The work is intended to be laboratory intensive and hands-on.
Your role is generally one of collecting, organizing, and presenting
data, not evaluating and making judgments on it. You’ll need to
maintain or reacquaint yourself with your inner math genie as a lot
of the lab work involves crunching numbers (this seems to be more
problematic with those who come back to school after a number
of years working other jobs, but can still be challenging to recent
high school grads). More importantly, the attitude you bring to the
classroom each day will likely outweigh the skills and experience you
will learn from the coursework.
As an instructor, my job is to convey a fundamental understanding
and build basic competencies in the skills that civil technology students
will need to succeed in the field. Of course, it helps if your level of
understanding and skill proficiency is higher than others in your class
(those you will potentially be competing with for a job). It’s also accepted
that you can only gain so much experience through the course of a few
semesters, and you will learn a lot more on the job. That being the case,
what then will help tip the scale in your favor? Attitude.
Now, I’m not just an instructor – I am a prospective employer as
a geotechnical engineer for Braun Intertec. I receive reference calls
seasonally from my students’ prospective employers, and what I’m
asked about most often and also stress to those considering hiring
one of my students is their attitude: Do they show up on time? Are
they prepared? Do they complete their work on time? How do they
communicate? Do they ask for help? These questions reflect more on
one’s interest, willingness, and desire than they do on one’s knowledge
or grades. Keep in mind that you will have a lot to learn no matter how
good you are at taking tests, and prospective employers will be willing
to invest in you if they know you are willing to do the work.
A good friend of mine holds the theory that, on a basic level, each
job you complete is nothing more than your interview for the next job.
This applies not only to the clients you work for but also those within
your organization and, even before that, those who instruct you.
– Maybe I’ll see you in class! ■
Ask The Professor
By Charles Hubbard, PE, [email protected]
Dear Professor:
I attended a presentation you gave at my high school this spring on engineering, and I am hoping that you can offer more advice on pursuing an engineering-related career. You talked about the traditional four-year university programs, but I understand you also teach at Dakota County Technical College in Rosemount, Minn., and I’m actually interested in a two-year program that will allow me to support engineers from the field doing some kind of testing, surveying, etc. Can you tell me more about what such a program includes, and what I can do as a student to prepare to learn and look forward to employment?
– 2013: The Class with Class!
Civil technicians perform many important roles on construction projects – surveying, excavation observations and materials testing, and record keeping, among others.
braunintertec.com 7
Groundwater CheckupUsing groundwater monitoring wells to examine site wellbeing
Most people are familiar with getting regular dental or health
checkups, but another type of “checkup” often associated with
construction sites is the installation of groundwater monitoring
wells and regular monitoring. When conducting environmental
site investigations, it’s all too common for an unknown source of
contamination to be discovered on a site. And when there are
multiple property owners involved, investigations and remediation
can get complicated very quickly. Finger pointing often results as
those involved try to limit their own liability and cost. The installation
of monitoring wells along with groundwater sampling and the
appropriate analysis is a common way to mitigate risk associated with
a given site or operation.
Oftentimes, businesses that have operations with a potential
to release a hazardous substance into the environment choose to
install monitoring wells both as a
preventative measure and in order
to help document the conditions at
their site for future reference. Some
examples of these types of businesses
include oil and gas operations, landfill
operations, and wastewater disposal
and soil treatment facilities. A small
spill or release of oil or other material
can turn into a large and potentially
expensive liability if it’s undiscovered
over a period of months or years.
To minimize risk and exposure, such
operations commonly install wells
and collect regular water samples
to monitor site conditions. Ideally,
sampling efforts would begin prior to
any site development or operations
to provide baseline data or a
“before” picture reflecting the site’s
environmental health.
With a minimum of three
monitoring wells, the groundwater
flow direction can be identified. If contamination is discovered,
the direction of groundwater flow across a site becomes critical
to identifying potential contaminant sources, which may be an
adjacent site or some other off-site source. Regularly scheduled
monitoring events are a vital piece of the puzzle. This data helps
a property owner identify a problem and quickly deal with a
potential release. Addressing contamination in a small area, before
it spreads, is usually much more manageable and less expensive.
In addition, early identification of a release may be the key to
preventing the spread of contamination to an adjacent property. To
do this, facilities typically conduct two monitoring events each year,
one in the spring and one in the fall.
In a typical monitoring event, static groundwater levels are
measured to assess flow direction and recorded prior to sampling
activities. Although each sampling event is generally tailored to
address a specific site and its contamination of concern, common
sampling might include volatile organic compounds, total petroleum
hydrocarbons or chloride.
As Benjamin Franklin said, “An ounce of prevention is worth
a pound of cure.” Franklin understood that the effort necessary
to prevent a problem is far less than what would be required
to fix it. Relating his insight to groundwater contamination, the
installation of monitoring wells and regular monitoring can be far
more cost effective than a complex groundwater investigation after
contamination is identified. ■
By Tom Maertens, LEED Green Associate [email protected]
Precise groundwater sampling and analysis is critical for good planning and risk management.
Questions, requests and comments
Charles Hubbard, PE, PGBraun Intertec Corporation11001 Hampshire Ave SMinneapolis, MN 55438Phone: [email protected]
©2013 Braun Intertec Corporation
This newsletter contains only general information. For specific applications, please consult your engineering or environmental consultants and legal counsel.
Detect a Leak in a Ground Heat Exchanger with 90% Less ExcavationOperational problems due to pressure drop or fluid loss within ground source heat pump piping systems can occur for many reasons. Often, the problem is located within the building and results from an interior leak or trapped/recently released air in the system. But if the interior has been ruled out as the culprit, there can only be one other place to look – the ground heat exchanger.
The leaking circuit(s) has been isolated and it’s time to start digging, right? Not necessarily. Narrowing down the location(s) of the leak prior to any excavation can greatly reduce site disruption, operational downtime, and unnecessary rehabilitation expenses. With Braun Intertec’s proprietary leak detection process, we can help achieve this goal. The process uses an environmentally-safe gas that is introduced into the affected portion of the system. Due to the lighter than air properties of the gas, sensitive detection equipment is utilized to identify the gas as it naturally travels upward through the soils at the leak point. The end result is isolation of the problem area(s) and a greatly reduced excavation area, approximately 90 percent less than would otherwise be required.
For more information about this leak detection service or other geothermal consulting services contact Braun Intertec Geothermal at 952.995.2414.
11001 Hampshire Ave. SMinneapolis, MN 55438
braunintertec.com
Minneapolis 800.279.6100Bismarck 701.255.7180Cedar Rapids 319.365.0961Dickinson 701.255.7180Duluth 218.624.4967Fargo 800.756.5955Hibbing 800.828.7313La Crosse 800.856.2098Mankato 800.539.0472 Milwaukee 262.513.2995 Minot 701.420.2738Rochester 800.279.1576Saint Cloud 800.828.7344Saint Paul 800.779.1196