Industry: Drycleaners

Commonly, dry cleaners use a substance called PCE in their clothes-cleaning processes. PCE is a substance with known health risks which sinks when it makes contact with wet soils and groundwater. Because PCE is heavier than water, it is called a Dense Non-Aqueous Phase Liquid (DNAPL) or a "sinker" because it sinks to the bottom of water tables. Small amounts of PCE released to soil have a tendency to spread horizontally and vertically from the source area. PCE soil vapor plumes exist below many older dry cleaning sites, creating potential health risks to building occupants and may impact groundwater. TRG has assessed and/or remediated hundreds of dry cleaners.

TRG is expert in the environmental audits of dry cleaners, the performance of subsurface assessments (including soil gas surveys, soil and groundwater sampling, and groundwater well installation). If PCE is detected, TRG has extensive experience resolving the case. TRG's remediation techniques have included excavation, in-situ extraction, and chemical injection. In addition, given current regulatory trends, TRG is expert at conducting the work that is necessary to determine if health risks may exist in properties or adjoining sites using vapor intrusion model calculations.

TRG has assisted clients on a variety of legal issues associated with dry cleaners including, but not limited to: assignment of responsibility in a Federal litigation, diminution of real property value, Superfund responsible party designation, third party litigation regarding off-site impacts, and determination of most appropriate, timely, cost effective remedial solutions.

DRY CLEANER SOIL AND GROUNDWATER REMEDIATION (6597.VI)

Client:	DOUBLETREE CHEVIOT HOLDINGS, LLC
Proj Mgr:	Al Fuan	Completed:	In Progress
Industry:	Real Estate Managers/owners Drycleaners	Service:	Soil Remediation Litigation Support Regulatory Response & Negotiation Health Risk Assessments Groundwater Monitoring Groundwater Remediation
This active, contaminated dry cleaner site is found in an urban retail shopping center. Decades of dry cleaning activities at the site have impacted the soil and groundwater with PCE. The owner of the retail center is seeking reimbursement from both current and former dry cleaner operators, and there is litigation pending on payment for cleaning up the source of PCE with the dry cleaner operators. To avoid a protracted cleanup schedule and reduce litigation costs, TRG was retained by the land owner to assess and cleanup the site. Moving into the remediation phase involved coordination with a large number of permitting agencies to perform assessments, constructing a remediation system, operating the remediation system (vapor extraction and air sparging), and monitoring discharges. A major law firm is involved in overseeing The Reynolds Group's work with an eye towards efficiency and minimizing third party liability. TRG is working closely with legal counsel as they seek input into the sources of PCE and cost basis of remediation.

Drycleaner PCE Contamination (6875.VI)

Client:	STANDARD INSURANCE COMPANY
Proj Mgr:	Al Fuan	Completed:	In Progress
Industry:	Drycleaners Insurance Companies Real Estate Managers/owners	Service:	Soil Remediation Litigation Support Regulatory Response & Negotiation Soil Vapor Extraction Health Risk Assessments Site Assessment Operations And Maintenance Of Remediation Systems
Standard Insurance Corporation (Standard) is a publicly traded Fortune 500 corporation and Exxon Mobil Corporation is one of the largest oil companies in the world. In this project, The Reynolds Group is untangling the liabilities and cost responsibilities of a commingled plume. The case is being overseen by the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) and involves drafting and implementing work plans under the DTSC s stringent Quality Assurance/ Quality Control requirements. Several prominent law firms are engaged in this matter. DTSC and client interaction are critical to the effective advancement of the project. Standard is pleased with The Reynolds Group's performance. The case involves the assessment and remediation of chlorinated compounds associated with a commercial facility that are commingled with contaminants associated with the Exxon Mobil operation. The Reynolds Group completed the assessment under DTSC guidelines and is currently removing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the subsurface via soil vapor extraction. The Reynolds Group will commence remediation of the groundwater soon. Because of the sites proximity to a residential neighborhood, The Reynolds Groups Health Risk Assessment (HRA) capabilities are also utilized.

Drycleaner Assessment (6881)

Client:	HOLME ROBERTS & OWEN LLP
Proj Mgr:	Al Fuan	Completed:	11/30/2007
Industry:	Drycleaners	Service:	Soil Remediation Regulatory Response & Negotiation Health Risk Assessments Groundwater Monitoring Site Assessment
During the due diligence for a real property transaction, contamination was discovered at this site. The seller retained the liability to remediate the contamination and hired The Reynolds Group to provide turnkey environmental services to advance the project to a "No Further Action" letter. To expedite closure for the seller, The Reynolds Group was able to obtain "No Further Action" letter for the vadose zone, while continuing to remediate the groundwater at the site. The unconditional "No Further Action" letter for final closure (including groundwater) at the site was obtained only a few months later.

Major Retail Center (6013.VI)

Client:	PACIFIC SOUTHWEST GROUP
Proj Mgr:	Dwayne Ziegler	Completed:	03/01/2002
Industry:	Drycleaners	Service:	Soil Remediation
Our clients property was impacted with PCE from a dry cleaning operation on site. The contamination was limited to the soil and did not impact groundwater. TRG negotiated cleanup standards with the Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA) and submitted a workplan to remove the contaminated soil from beneath the tenant space while the dry cleaner was in operation. TRG arranged to move the dry cleaning equipment, demolish a section of the concrete floor that measured 20 feet by 15 feet and excavate the soil to a depth of four to five feet. Once the soil was removed, backfilled the hole and repaired the floor. The dry cleaner remained in operation during the entire process. Closure was obtained from the OCHCA.

Dry Cleaner Assessment (7564.VI)

Client:	PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNER
Proj Mgr:	Daniel Nunez	Completed:	09/30/2011
Industry:	Drycleaners Real Estate Managers/owners	Service:	Soil Vapor Extraction Health Risk Assessments Operations And Maintenance Of Remediation Systems Soil Remediation
The Reynolds Group recently completed a controversial assessment and remediation that involved Assessment, Health Risk Assessment and Remediation through the Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA). The controversy was that the City in Orange County where the work was conducted wanted to create a complicated chain of regulators: the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board (SARWQCB), and the OCHCA. Working through Luis Lodriguezas Voluntary Oversight Program, TRG was able to secure a No further action letter from OCHCA without DTSC or SARWQCB involvement once concentrations in the ground were shown not to pose an elevated health risk.

Environmental Consulting & Environmental Contracting