Properties that may have historically had dry cleaning operations located onsite may have soil and groundwater contamination as a result of the storage and onsite use of dry cleaning chemicals. Dry cleaning chemicals have specific physical and chemical properties that require an advanced knowledge of the compounds of concern and the results of their impact to the environment. Investigations associated with former dry cleaning facilities are often initiated by discoveries as revealed during Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments activities. Point to Point Environmental examines the history of the property and will prepare a site investigation work plan that is specific to your property.
When conducting an environmental investigation for suspected soil and groundwater contamination, an experienced P2P Environmental scientist will categorize the dry cleaning solvents and the applicable contaminants of concern and design a site specific sampling strategy. Only the necessary soil and groundwater samples will be collected, and the samples will be analyzed for only the identified contaminants of concern.
A site assessment for dry cleaning chemicals is designed to first identify the potential source area(s) of the environmental impact to the soil and groundwater. The source can be the dry cleaning solvent storage tank, piping, or the exterior chemical handling area. Soil and groundwater assessment begins with the installation of soil test borings and groundwater monitoring wells in the suspected source area. Soil borings are installed based on site specific requirements, and soil samples are collected at specified locations and depth intervals, screened in the field, and containerized in laboratory prepared sample containers. In a dry cleaning operation, the areas where dry cleaning solvents were used and stored was very often located indoors; soil borings can be installed through the building slab or foundation within a building using specialized drilling technologies.
When environmental contaminants may have reached the groundwater, groundwater monitoring wells are installed within soil borings. Properly constructed groundwater monitoring wells are designed and installed to meet site conditions and the specifics of the contaminants of concern associated with the dry cleaning solvents. Groundwater samples are subsequently collected for laboratory analysis, and analytical results of the soil and groundwater samples are compared with the applicable standards. The locations of groundwater monitoring wells are added to the site plan and vertically surveyed so that the depth to groundwater can be used to calculate the direction of groundwater flow.
When soil and groundwater contamination is discovered showing impact from dry cleaning solvents, subsequent site investigations will be required to properly define the horizontal and vertical extents of the soil and groundwater contamination. Several phases of site investigation may be required to properly delineate the extents of the contamination, and results are often summarized within interim reporting to the regulatory authority. Once the environmental site investigation phases of assessment are completed, and if contaminant concentrations exceed the established regulatory thresholds and require site remediation, a remedial action plan will be prepared.
Remedial action plans (also called Phase III ESAs, Corrective Action Plans), etc. are intended to present a comprehensive outlook of the environmental impacts on a property, an evaluation of the potential risks to human health and the environment, and a proposal for either a long term groundwater monitoring plan (Monitored Natural Attenuation) or active remediation. If the site conditions warrant active remediation, an evaluation of the remedial alternatives is completed, and a selection of the best remedial alternative is made to meet site objectives within established time-frames and monetary budgets.
Properties that are contaminated with dry cleaning solvents can be addressed via Brownfields Assessments and the Voluntary Remediation Program. If a property has significant concentrations of soil and groundwater contamination present, the site can be listed on the Hazardous Sites Inventory (HSI) list. A HSI designation typically means that the state regulators will require significant assessment and long term groundwater monitoring to be completed. Additionally, some amount of site remediation may be required by the environmental regulators. Properties that have been listed on the HSI records are difficult to sell and to secure funding from lending institutions. However, these tasks are not insurmountable and P2P Environmental staff have successfully worked to delist sites from the HSI.
P2P Environmental staff are experienced in regulatory interface and correspondence, and have successfully negotiated the terms of compliance and site closure stipulations with regulatory authorities. Though the challenges of a property contaminated by a former dry cleaning operations and the hazardous material contaminant cleanup can be very costly, Point to Point Environmental is committed to achieving site objectives in the most cost effective manner available. The ultimate goal is removal of this negative environmental connotation so that a property can be sold and used for different purposes in the future.
Point to Point Environmental can be your resource for assessment of a former dry cleaning facility, and we will focus on a plan to meet our clients’ needs with a lookout on the objectives of all interested parties. If you have questions about the assessment and remediation process for former dry cleaner properties please contact Point to Point at 678-565-4435.