State & Local Government

Hazardous Waste Experience

Hazardous wastes present an unusually high risk to site workers and the public due to the reactive, chemical, radiological, or explosive nature of contaminants. These items pose a clear danger to the health and safety of all personnel that may come in contact with them. WESTON offers site-specific solutions and innovations to respond to your challenges.

Carefully planned and implemented safety programs—based on tested and documented procedures, trained and experienced personnel, and high-hazard infrastructure—coupled with the timely distribution of information, are the cornerstones of our commitment to the safe remediation of hazardous sites.

Site Investigation and Remediation Design/Oversight Services at Petroleum and Hazardous Waste Sites, New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, Concord, NH. WESTON was retained to provide Site Investigation and Remediation Design/Oversight services to NHDES at petroleum and hazardous waste sites in accordance with New Hampshire Code of Administrative Rules Env-Ws 410 (now Env-Wm 1403); Env-Ws 412; Env-Wm 100-1000; and NHDES Risk Characterization Management Policy (RCMP). Sites included those where potentially responsible parties were unknown, recalcitrant, bankrupt, or municipalities who may be lacking funds or capabilities to complete the required site activities.

Nearly 40 assignments have been completed by WESTON from 1998 to 2002, ranging from initial site characterizations and site investigations, to feasibility studies, preparation of a generic quality assurance project plan, preparation of an Access database to assist the ODD Fund program, and attendance/presentation at a small spills conference in California.

WESTON completed numerous multi-task projects—several conducted simultaneously—with multiple deadlines and milestones in accordance with NHDES requirements. WESTON’s value-added approach to projects resulted in cost savings to NHDES. WESTON was able to respond quickly to quick turnaround requests. This resulted in a letter of commendation from the Waste Management Division Commissioner.

Hazardous Site Response Act (HSRA) Site Assessment Program, Various Locations, Georgia Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Division (EPD), Hazardous Waste Management Branch, Atlanta, GA. Since 1997, WESTON has been awarded 13 assignments under this contract. We conducted planning and execution of 13 site assessments. WESTON provides management of the site investigation, feasibility study, and remedial design of hazardous waste sites listed as Georgia Hazardous Site inventory sites across the State of Georgia under the Georgia HSRA. The sites were abandoned with no PRPs on record, but still required assessment under the authority of Georgia EPD.

WESTON also prepared Site Investigation Work Plans that describe the history of the sites, reduced existing analytical and hydrogeologic data, provided a detailed sampling and analytical program for soil and groundwater, developed appropriate health and safety programs, and performed regulatory interface with the Georgia EPD. In addition, WESTON prepared site investigation reports which describe the source and extent of soil and groundwater contamination, a description of any receptors, and a description of the compliance with the Georgia Risk Reduction Standards. WESTON also assists in negotiation of compliance in the State of Georgia as required on Hazardous Site Response Compliance Status Reports.

Interim Response and Remediation Services Contract (IRRSC-4), Pennsylavania Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Land and Waste Management, Harrisburg, PA. WESTON is providing remediation services at hazardous substance and underground storage tank sites in the Commonwealth pursuant to the Pennsylvania Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act (HSCA, Act 108 of October 18, 1988) and the Storage Tank and Spill Prevention Act (STSPA, Act 32 of August 5, 1989). The contract has required supporting activities such as site investigations including monitor well installation, groundwater sampling, soil sampling, and waste profiling. WESTON has performed remediation services including soil and drum removal, innovative groundwater treatment, and landfill O&M at sites such as Strasburg, Clements, Algonquin, and Furlong. WESTON is also conducting an EE/CA at Tobyhanna for UXO, working closely with PADEP and USACE.

Remediation services have included soil and waste profiling and removal, UST removal, installation of alternative water supplies, and long-term operation and maintenance.  Although it is a remediation contract, other support services have been requested by PADEP including site investigations, confirmatory sampling, remedial design, and cost estimating.

Emergency Response Services, Hazardous Waste Management, Multiple Sites Contract, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources, Harrisburg, PA. WESTON provided technical support services to this Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources (PADER) program under basic ordering agreements (BOAs). The contract required the provision of emergency response teams on a statewide basis to PADER. The response teams provided assistance in emergency response to environmental incidents, site assessments, and remedial and removal actions. WESTON responded to more than 12 environmental incidents, providing comprehensive incident mitigation and both short- and long-term remedial actions (RAs), including:

• Investigation of an Abandoned Hazardous Waste Site

• Environmental Impact Assessment of Waste Emanating from Abandoned Gas Well

• Sampling of Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) Drums

• Emergency Response and Field Sampling at the Site of Alleged Disposal of Infectious (Red Bag) Wastes

• Removal of Buried Drums in a Strip Mine

Technical Assistance for Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management and Disposal, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Multiple Sites, PA. WESTON has been the technical assistance support contractor for the Pennsylvania low-level radioactive waste (LLRW) program since 1987. WESTON provides PADEP consulting and technical support services in implementing the state’s duties and responsibilities as established under the federal Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Amendments Act. WESTON currently supports the LLRW program in 10 separate task areas: program administration, regulatory program development, siting, licensing, agreement state acquisition, LLRW generator permitting, QA, resource support, contractor oversight, and public involvement.

Statewide Waste Assessment Investigations, Studies, and Design, Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) Environmental Program. WESTON is working on its 4th consecutive contract since 1990 and has conducted over 150 project assignments to date. The scope of work includes: Preliminary Site Investigations (PSIs), DSIs, Risk Assessments, Geophysical surveys, RD/Construction Oversight, Emergency Response Oversight, Operations Facility Audits, Environmental Management Systems (EMS) development and implementation, Analytical Services, Drilling, and Surveying.

This work is done in support of roadway/right of way improvements during the planning stages. Work from the 9 IDOT District offices are channeled through the central office. In addition, Environmental Compliance Audits (ECAs), and development and implementation of EMS are performed to support IDOT's Maintenance Yards.

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