Site Assessment & Investigation Projects

Holly Street Power Plant

In preparation for decommissioning the Holly Street Power Plant, INTERA conducted investigation, remediation, and closure activities under the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s (TCEQ) Voluntary Cleanup Program (VCP).  We have collected soil and groundwater samples from several areas around the plant and surface water and sediment from the adjacent lake. Identified contaminants of concern (COCs) at the site include PCBs, petroleum hydrocarbons, arsenic, barium, cadmium, lead, selenium, and benzo(a)pyrene. We also helped coordinate the results of investigations performed by previous consultants and used this data to prepare an Affected Property Assessment Report (APAR). INTERA provided remedial planning assistance to address affected soil and groundwater in the former oil tank farm area of the plant and we helped negotiate a groundwater monitoring program with the TCEQ. 

Albuquerque Landfill Sites

INTERA is characterizing landfill gas (LFG) contamination at seven former landfills located throughout the City of Albuquerque. Our scope of work includes characterization of the nature and extent of LFG contamination through the drilling, installation, and sampling of monitoring wells. LFG monitoring well design and completion for each of the monitoring wells consists of multi-level gas sampling probes. Each of these probes is sampled to monitor LFG for methane, carbon dioxide, oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen sulfide. Following well installation and monitoring activities at each site, INTERA is developing LFG Management Plans for the former landfills. These plans include a utility plan, a LFG monitoring plan, a LFG control plan, and a long term maintenance plan, and address potential development on former landfills and within former landfill buffer zones (1,000 feet). We also support the City in the review and approval of documents for development projects near the landfills and interface with contractors, architects, developers, and City department representatives, as required, to complete the review process. INTERA also attends planning meetings and design review sessions on behalf of the City.

Gugert Service Center

INTERA performed an affected property assessment to define the aerial extent of impacted media in accordance with Texas Risk Reduction Program (TRRP) guidelines. To accomplish this, we developed site-specific health and safety and sampling and analysis plans, conducted site research, and performed field sampling. Since PCBs were detected at concentrations greater than 50 mg/kg, these samples fall under the jurisdiction of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) regulations in 40 CFR 761 in addition to the TRRP requirements. Based on our analysis of the data, seven contaminants of concern (COCs) exceeded the critical protective concentration levels (PCLs) at the site, including PCBs and total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH).  These areas comprised the affected property and were remediated by removing the contaminated soil until verification samples confirmed that remaining COC concentrations in soil were below the action levels. Contaminated soils were segregated into TSCA (i.e., PCBs > 50 mg/kg) and non-TSCA (i.e., <50 mg/kg) areas and disposed of in the appropriate permitted landfills. The waste segregation efforts resulted in significant cost savings. INTERAs role on the project included planning and performing the affected property assessment, planning the remedial action, drafting the Self Implementation Notice that was submitted to the TCEQ, preparing a remediation work plan according to TSCA requirements, performing remediation oversight, and preparing reports to regulatory agencies. 

City of Albuquerque Brownfield Sites

Over the past several years, INTERA has conducted a variety of site investigation activities for several brownfield sites in Albuquerque that include the Bell Trading Post Property, Hyder Property, and Plaza del Sol site. The Bell Trading Post Property is the location of a former jewelry manufacturing facility and photograph processing facility.  The City of Albuquerque (COA) Brownfields Coordinator appealed to the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) Ground Water Quality Bureau for assistance to fund site characterization actitivities at the facility.  NMED authorized INTERA to perform site characterization efforts that included subsurface soil sampling, groundwater sampling, and soil gas sample collection.  Soil gas sample results indicated that chlorinated solvents were present in soil gas located in the area of the site.  This site is currently under application for inclusion to the New Mexico Voluntary Remediation Program (VRP).

The Hyder Property is the site of a former dry cleaning facility and gasoline service station located in downtown Albuquerque. Based on the results of a Phase I environmental site assessment (ESA), INTERA conducted a geophysical survey that identified six anomalies at the site.  INTERA subsequently performed investigative excavations and determined that five underground storage tanks (USTs) were located on the Hyder Property.  This property is currently under litigation between the owner and the COA.  The Plaza Del Sol site is located in downtown Albuquerque and is currently occupied by the Plaza Del Sol Building and adjacent parking lot.  INTERA performed a detailed Phase I ESA at this facility, as well as a limited Phase II site characterization investigation consisting of subsurface soil sampling, monitoring well construction, and groundwater sampling.  Phase II investigation results indicated that while petroleum hydrocarbons are present in groundwater beneath the site, this contamination originates from an off-site location.