In preparation to sell the property, in 2012, the owner of a small commercial property consisting of an operating dry cleaner retained Genesis Engineering & Redevelopment, Inc. (“Genesis”) to comply with a North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) requirement to investigate a dry-cleaning solvent release that was identified a few years earlier. Elderly and on a fixed income with no means to fund an environmental investigation and associated cleanup, Genesis researched and identified the client’s historical insurance assets that (to date) were used to fund over $3.5M of investigative, remedial, regulatory oversight, and legal costs for the project.
Initially, Genesis conducted a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (Phase I ESA) recommending submittal/implementing a work plan to characterize the soil vapor conditions of the site and to evaluate sensitive receptors that may be impacted by the release. As a result of the significant chlorinated Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) concentrations identified during the investigation, Genesis recommended a vapor intrusion assessment to evaluate the indoor air quality of the Site and surrounding buildings. In addition, between 2012 and 2015, Genesis further recommended additional site characterization activities to complete the delineation of the VOCs release into underlying soil and groundwater and provide data for the Site Conceptual model that was developed for the Remediation Action Plan (RAP).
Concerned about human health and safety, with the elevated chlorinated VOCs concentrations in the millions of ug/m 3 in the soil vapor, coupled with the concern of significant impacts to indoor air quality, in 2015 Genesis recommended and subsequently designed and immediately implemented an interim remedial measure (IRM) consisting of a robust soil vapor extraction system (SVE) engineering controls reduce indoor air concentration. Remedial activities included the design and installation a SVE pilot test to ensure an adequate radius of influent (ROI) and provide final remedial system design
parameters needed to capture the entire plume. Situated less than 26 feet above a thick and fractured bedrock unit, VOCs from the Site also impacted groundwater. As a result of the Site Conceptual Modal complex hydrogeology at the Site, the State has accepted Genesis’ monitored natural attention (MNA) plan for the remediation of the groundwater. After running the SVE system since 2017, Site Closure was anticipated in late 2023, however, the final rebound test showed that hotspot locations rebounded to VOC levels that precluded closure. Even though VOC concentrations have been reduced by several orders of magnitude, additional SVE remediation is required before the RWQCB will grant closure.
