Industry: Insurance Companies

The Reynolds Group provides a free initial review by a principal in the firm, of any situation, question, or technical report an insurance company may have regarding the next step in cleaning up the soil or groundwater at a property in their portfolio.

Since 1989, The Reynolds Group has conducted Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessments (ESA), as well as follow-up subsurface Phase 2 ESA investigations to further define the type and extent of contamination in the soil and/or groundwater.

The Reynolds Group has worked under the direction of the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal EPA), the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), The California State Water Resources Control Board (through the nine Regional Water Quality Control Boards), as well as a variety of county and city fire departments and environmental health care agencies.

The Reynolds Group is capable of providing turnkey services allowing environmental oversight of a project from start to finish, interacting with financial institutions, city officials, regulators, attorneys, property owners and tenants, to ensure that deals stay on track.

MTBE Remediation (6009VIII)

Client:	CHRISTEL SHEARER
Proj Mgr:	Dwayne Ziegler	Completed:	05/31/2008
Industry:	Insurance Companies	Service:	Groundwater Remediation Operations And Maintenance Of Remediation Systems
This project in Riverside, California involved an insurance company policy that was called into effect. The insurance company, American International Group (AIG), paid for the client's attorney, paid for third party oversight of The Reynolds Group's work and was in-line to provide funding to the project over a certain limit. According to the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board's (SARWQCB) Ken Williams, The Reynolds Group removed more gasoline from the ground at this site than at all but two other cases he had worked on. Site assessment was accomplished with a network of 17 groundwater monitoring wells spread over an area 800 feet by 300 feet. The gasoline plume extended 100 feet to groundwater. Up to eight feet of free phase gasoline was discovered floating on the groundwater beneath the site. Remediation was accomplished with the installation and operation of free product recovery, soil vapor extraction and air sparge systems. Closure was obtained by working closely with the SARWQCB, understanding the detailed subsurface conditions, applying the most applicable remedial technology to the case and operating it efficiently.

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.

Financial Responsibility (6687VII)

Client:	CHROMAL PLATING & GRINDING
Proj Mgr:	Al Fuan	Completed:	In Progress
Industry:	Insurance Companies	Service:	Hexavalent Chromium Clean-up
The Los Angeles Regional Water Board (LARWQCB) began searching in the early 2000's for sources of chromium that had impacted key beneficial drinking water supplies in its jurisdiction One of TRG's clients, a plating company, was asked by the LARWQCB to provide a history of its past practices and assess the subsurface. A Fortune 500 company downgradient from The Reynolds Groups client had detected elevated concentrations of chromium and believed it originated from TRG's client. Working with the law firm of Franklin, Bevins, Walsworth & McCall, TRG was able to advance work enough to demonstrate that the problem at the Fortune 500 company was more likely its own problem than TRG's clients. By creating a compilation, surveyed regional issues report, TRG was able to graphically demonstrate that its client's chromium issue was "de minimus". In this case, TRG worked through its clients insurer, Zurich Insurance North America. Zurich had very specific terminology in its insurance policies and The Reynolds Group had to work very closely with Zurich and its third party overseer, Vertex to partition what was Zurichs financial responsibility and what was the Clients.

Insurance Policy Case (7115VIII)

Client:	FULLERTON UNIVERSAL
Proj Mgr:	Al Fuan	Completed:	04/05/2007
Industry:	Real Estate Managers/owners Insurance Companies Real Estate Brokers	Service:	Regulatory Response & Negotiation
In some environmental cases, The Reynolds Group discovers issues that may be covered by insurance policies. On one case in Fullerton, California that The Reynolds Group performed, a forensic investigation of insurance policies led to finding that a Firemans Fund policy existing for a case. Once pressed, the insurance company processed the policy and paid. Although The Reynolds Group was not contracted to be the consultant of record because the insurance company had its own preferred vendors, the Client won in that the insurance company began funding the environmental work and the Clients use of its own financial resources were diminished.

Environmental Consulting & Environmental Contracting