Spills of hazardous materials, such as chemicals or petroleum products, can happen on any property at any time. The property may or may not be aware of the spill and may not have caused the spill. However, the property owner will typically be responsible for the spill. Spills can be the result of one large catastrophic discharge or slow leaks over many years.
Tier II Report Card – Did You Make the Grade?
Congratulations, you’ve submitted your Tier II report, but are you sure you reported everything? There are some common misconceptions about Tier II reporting that could mean you are not reporting correctly
Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plan Requirement: Integrity Testing
If your organization is in the oil industry, you are required to follow SPCC regulations. There are very specific rules that you should be aware of and following.
How To Hire an Environmental Consulting Firm for Your Company to Ensure You Follow Protection Laws and Regulations
Hiring an environmental consulting firm is an important decision that can greatly affect your company. The fact that there are thousands of environmental consulting firms can make the elimination process seem overwhelming. To begin omitting unqualified firms, you must first determine what it is that you need. If you have never used an environmental consulting firm, it is a good idea to get referrals from other trusted professionals, the local regulatory agency, or online.
Permitting & Compliance Basics for Your Organization’s Facility: What You Need to Know
One of the most important aspects of any business facility is making sure you have the create permits, and that your daily operations are compliant with state and federal laws. If this process is new to you, it may seem somewhat daunting. We’ve broken down the basics for you to educate your organization on the dos and don’ts of permitting and compliance.
Lowering Risk with a Higher Quality Phase 1 ESA
Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs) are visual assessments used to determine if environmental concerns exist for a property and are performed by an Environmental Professional (EP) as defined by 40 CFR Part 312.10(b). The concerns associated with a property are further characterized as Recognized Environmental Conditions (RECs), and are defined by ASTM E1527-13 as the following: The presence or likely presence of any hazardous substances or petroleum products in, on, or at a property: (1) due to any release to the environment; (2) under conditions indicative of a release to the environment; or (3) under conditions that pose a material threat of a future release to the environment.
Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessments: Vapor Encroachment vs. Vapor Intrusion
The current standard (E1527-13) for Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs) requires vapor to be assessed as a form of movement for hazardous substances or petroleum substances in the subsurface. This current standard for Phase 1 ESA was published in November 2013, by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).
Aren’t Controlled Recognized Environmental Conditions (RECs) Just Historical RECs?
An important component regarding legal protection during a property transaction is a Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) [link to Phase 1 ESA blog]. The current industry standard for Phase 1 ESAs is the American Society for Testing and Material (ASTM) E1527-2013. The purpose of the Phase 1 ESA is to identify Recognized Environmental Conditions (RECs). A REC is the presence or likely presence of any hazardous substances or petroleum products in, on, or at a property.