What are PFAS?

PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a large class of fluorinated manmade compounds, that do not occur naturally in the environment. They were first introduced in the early 1940’s, and were manufactured for their excellent thermal stability and resistance to water and oil. PFAS have been used in the Aerospace, Automotive, Chemical, Electronics, Metal Coatings and Plating, and Textiles industry in a myriad of products including fire-fighting foams, stain- and water-repellant textiles and carpets, non-stick products (e.g. Teflon™), food packing, and fume suppressants in metal plating operations. The PFAS class of chemicals includes, perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), the two most prominent PFAS which are no longer manufactured or imported into the United States, replacement compounds including GenX and ADONA, and many others.  

Why are PFAS an Issue?

PFAS present significant challenges in the environment because of their persistence in the environment and high mobility in groundwater and the subsurface, impacting surface water, groundwater, and soil. PFAS have been detected at many manufacturing facilities, military installation, airports, fire-fighting training facilities, landfills, and wastewater treatment plants. Before now, analytical capabilities were limited, not allowing for proper analysis. Only within the last 15 years, have commercially-available measurement techniques become available, such as liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), allowing for parts per trillion (ppt) detection levels.

How Can EEC Help?

EEC has extensive experience in dealing with emerging contaminants, such as PFAS, and the challenges they bring. Over the years, EEC has successfully helped its clients deal with emerging contaminants, such as hexavalent chromium, 1,4-dioxne, and perchlorate, and has developed comprehensive cost-effective site investigation and remedial solutions. With the evolving nature of emerging contaminant issues, EEC remains at the forefront by keeping up to date with current regulatory issues, such as the development of health advisory/notification levels and testing for PFAS in drinking water, issuance of investigative orders for corrective action and site investigation, and development of testing protocols in drinking water and groundwater.

In May 2016, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) issued a lifetime health advisory for PFOS and PFOA for drinking water of 70 parts per trillion (ppt), advising municipalities that they should notify their customers of the presence of levels over 70 ppt in community water supplies.  Since then, several states have established their own notification levels, such as the California Water Board Division of Drinking Water (DDW) which established notification levels of 13 ppt for PFOS and 14 ppt for PFOA, and a single health advisory response level of 70 ppt, for both PFOS and PFOA combined.

EEC is committed to assisting its clients with potential upcoming issues with PFAS. Whether it’s groundwater, surface water, or drinking water sampling; or developing the best treatment approach for cleanup, EEC’s team of highly experienced scientists, geologists, and engineers have the capability to address the emerging issues revolving around PFAS.

EEC’s Services for PFAS:

• Subsurface Investigation and Sampling of Soil and Groundwater
• Historical Research and Source Identification
• Plume Evaluation and Modeling
• Remedial Design and Treatment of Soil and Groundwater
• Industrial Wastewater Treatment
• Production Water Treatment
• Installation of Remediation Systems

Resources:

California State Water Resources Control Board

Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)

https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/pfas/

13267 Investigatory Orders:

https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/drinking_water/certlic/drinkingwater/documents/pfos_and_pfoa/pfas_consolidated_training_040319.pdf

https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/pfas/docs/pfas_order_faqs042919.pdf

Airports

https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/pfas/docs/airport_pfas_13267_go_03202019.pdf

Landfills

https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/pfas/docs/landfill_pfas_13267_go_03202019.pdf

Water Systems

https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/drinking_water/certlic/drinkingwater/documents/pfos_and_pfoa/pfas_watersystemorders.pdf

Sampling Guidance

https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/drinking_water/certlic/drinkingwater/documents/pfos_and_pfoa/ddw_pfas_sampling_guidance_4_8_19.pdf

United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)

https://www.epa.gov/pfas

Interstate Technology Regulatory Council

PFAS Treatment Technologies

https://pfas-1.itrcweb.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/pfas_fact_sheet_remediation_3_15_18.pdf

For more than 20 years, characterization of soil, soil vapor, and groundwater has been the cornerstone of EEC Environmental’s (EEC) environmental practice. EEC has developed a reputation for outstanding site investigation and assessment activity by providing innovative, cost-effective, and regulatory-accepted strategies tailored to our clients’ business needs.

We provide clients with a single point of contact to avoid delays or confusion, while behind the scenes, a talented and dedicated team of geologists, hydrogeologists, engineers, chemists, and health professionals are available as needed to achieve the clients’ objectives. Our firm also provides a comprehensive range of services dealing with the characterization and assessment of contaminants in bedrock, surface water, indoor air, and ambient air.

Services & Highlights:

• Experienced in All Major Drilling and Assessment Techniques
• Specialized in Assessment of Chlorinated Solvents [Tetrachloroethelene (PCE), Trichloroethelene (TCE), etc.], Metals (including Hexavalent Chromium and Lead), Pesticides, PAHs, and Petroleum Hydrocarbons, as well as many of the new, emerging chemicals of concern including Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorinated Chemicals (PFCs), and Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA).
• Vapor Intrusion Assessment
• Contaminant Transport Modeling in Soil, Soil Vapor, and Groundwater
• Numerical and Analytical Groundwater Modeling for Water Resources and Contaminant Investigations
• Human Health Risk Assessments
• State-of-the-Art Field-Testing Methods including X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF), Membrane Interface Probe (MIP), Rapid Optical Screening Tool (ROST), and Chemical Fluorescence Techniques
• Aquifer Testing
• Forensic Site Evaluation and Isotopic Analysis to Evaluate Contaminant Plume Sources
• Regulatory Negotiation and “Path to Closure” Development
• Expedited Turnaround
• Portfolio Assessments
• Nationwide and International Experience

Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs) are performed for real estate and business transactions to identify existing or potential environmental contamination at a property. EEC Environmental (EEC) conducts Phase I ESAs in accordance with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Standards and Practices for All Appropriate Inquiries (40 CFR 312) and American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standard Practice for Environmental Site Assessments: Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Process (ASTM Designation E1527-13).

The Phase I ESA is intended to support landowner liability protections pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). The objective of the Phase I ESA is to assess the environmental condition of a property and identify recognized environmental conditions (RECs), as defined by ASTM.

The main components of a Phase I ESA are site reconnaissance, review of regulatory records, review of historical records, interviews, review of client-provided information, and report preparation. EEC prides itself on its proficiency and thorough approach when performing Phase I ESAs. EEC’s environmental professionals have between 12 and 30 years of experience performing Phase I ESAs for the public and private sectors at industrial, commercial, residential, and municipal properties throughout the United States.

Environmental fate and transport analysis and modeling at EEC Environmental (EEC) go far beyond computer databases and models. For more than 20 years, EEC has utilized our multidisciplinary talents including engineers, geologists, hydrogeologists, and chemists to formulate strategic approaches to providing technically based, cost-effective remedies to properties impacted by a wide variety of contaminants.

Our professionals have demonstrated experience with contaminant fate and transport modeling in soil, soil vapor, groundwater, and air. This experience combines the latest computer software solutions with a thorough understanding of the chemical and biological properties of the contaminants and the physical and background properties of the impacted media (soil, soil vapor, groundwater, or air). Fate and transport modeling is used by EEC’s professionals to locate data gaps in site investigations data, identify remedial design and closure strategies, and assist the client in making sound management decisions.

Environmental fate and transport modeling include, but is not limited to:

• Vapor intrusion from soil and groundwater into buildings
• Contaminant migration through the soil column and into groundwater
• Groundwater movement, flow velocity, and direction
• Groundwater, soil, and soil vapor plume distribution evaluation
• Chemical fingerprinting and isotopic analysis
• In situ hydraulic testing
• Monitored natural attenuation analysis
• Remedial system optimization
• Forensic and litigation support
• Analytical and numeric fate and transport modeling

EEC’s forward-thinking approach to remediation combined with our turnkey construction services allows us to move seamlessly from assessment to remediation. In many situations, this results in a remedial strategy that begins during the investigation stage, even before remediation is officially ordered by an oversight agency. Selection of an appropriate remedial technology for a site is critical to the success of cleanup efforts and reaching the ultimate goal of regulatory site closure.

EEC’s experts have successfully implemented and closed multiple sites through expert analysis, remedial design, implementation, and operation. EEC has always been on the forefront of new remedial techniques, while also relying on many proven approaches. Our geologists, hydrogeologists, and engineers have experience with a wide range of remedial approaches and the development of the accompanying remedial action plans (RAPs). In fact, EEC has been the chief remedial engineer for the Stringfellow Superfund site for the past seven years.

Services & Highlights:

• Soil Vapor Extraction (SVE)
• In Situ Chemical Oxidation (ISCO)
• Dual Phase Extraction (DPE)
• Pump and Treat
• Monitor Nature Attenuation (MNA)
• In Situ Anaerobic Bio-Augmentation
• Air Sparging
• Excavation
• Deed Restrictions
• Institutional Controls
• Agency Negotiations

EEC Environmental (EEC) has been on the forefront of vapor intrusion evaluation and remediation and has been providing services at high-profile vapor-intrusion-impacted properties throughout the United States for more than 15 years. For many years, site assessment and remediation were limited to addressing two primary matrices: soil and groundwater. In the last decade, however, issues related to subsurface vapors and indoor air have come to the forefront of the environmental consulting industry.

This third media of concern, which has become the leading-edge and primary risk driver, is at the center of the regulatory debate and has been documented to be a serious health concern. EEC’s geologists, engineers, and scientists are leading the way to a greater understanding of vapor intrusion concerns and how to support our clients in mitigating these issues. EEC has been involved in projects ranging from the installation of sub-slab vapor depressurization systems to the assessment of soil vapor and indoor air for a residential development of more than 200 homes.

Services & Highlights:

• Human Health Risk Assessments (HHRAs)
• Soil Vapor Sampling
• Sub-Slab Sampling
• Indoor Air Sampling
• Vapor Modeling
• Risk Assessment
• Proposition 65 Analysis
• Installation of Sub-Slab Depressurization (SSD) Systems

EEC Environmental (EEC) is the preferred consultant in supporting both the public and private sector clients in negotiating with oversight environmental regulatory agencies and developing closure strategy and risk-based “paths to regulatory closure” solutions. Coupled with the development of high-level assessment and remediation design, EEC has expertise in preparing comprehensive plans to achieve the ultimate project goal of regulatory site closure.

Our unique strategy development is founded on relationship building and communication with oversight agencies, human health risk assessments, detailed historical research, and an up-to-date understanding of federal, state and local regulatory requirement, clean-up standard, and limits. Certainly negotiating closure is of paramount importance; however, EEC has successfully negotiated many other important changes including reductions in sampling frequency, required analysis, and eliminating unnecessary over reporting.

EEC Environmental (EEC) has significant experience supporting all stakeholders (developers, property owners, and attorneys) as they work to redevelop brownfields into economically viable properties. We handle all phases of the environmental brownfield redevelopment, which include initial due diligence and a precise site characterization; critical initial coordination with the applicable state agency to include negotiation of potential “no further action” status; preparation, if needed, of an appropriate remedial action plan; and finally, securing of the certificate of completion and all the associated liability protections.

EEC’s goal with every brownfield project is to maximize the potential return for our client while minimizing any potential liabilities.