Service: Site Assessment

The Reynolds Group uses many tools to assess sites. These include geophysical surveys, soil gas sampling, soil borings, physical testing, groundwater well construction, groundwater well monitoring, and other methodologies.

Hexavalent Chromium (6687.IV)

Client: CHROMAL PLATING & GRINDING
Proj Mgr: Al Fuan
 Completed: In Progress
Industry: Metal Finishers
Manufacturers
 Service: Regulatory Response & Negotiation
Site Assessment
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 the Los Angeles area. One of TRG's clients, a plating company, was asked to look into its past practices and assess the subsurface because another Fortune 500 company downgradient had detected highly elevated concentrations of chromium and believed it to originate 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.

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.

Brownfield Redevelopment (5946.III)

Client: LAW OFFICE OF STAN RALLS
Proj Mgr: Al Fuan
 Completed: In Progress
Industry: Attorneys
Manufacturers
 Service: Soil Remediation
Regulatory Response & Negotiation
Health Risk Assessments
Groundwater Monitoring
Site Assessment
Groundwater Remediation
This site had lain fallow for a decade. It had contained a mechanical manufacturing business, a dry cleaner and a gas station at one time. TRG worked with the clients counsel to enable the client to sell the property to a new owner for redevelopment. In order to facilitate the sale, TRG identified the environmental liabilities associated with the past uses of the property, negotiated with the Voluntary Oversight Program at the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board to separate soil and groundwater contamination into two issues, and addressed the soil contamination based on health risk standards. The Reynolds Group obtained a no further action letter for the soils issue which was key to allowing the real estate transaction to proceed. The seller provided a discount on the market value of the property to the buyer to accept the risk and liability of future costs associated with further groundwater assessment and remediation. Both parties were ultimately satisfied. The client was able to sell the property for cash and transfer liability to the seller. The buyer was able to buy the property at a risk appropriate discount for future development. The City of Long Beach benefited by having a formerly blighted property developed as a major grocery center.

Major Retail Shopping Center DeMinimus Status (6782.XIV)

Client: MAJOR CONFIDENTIAL RETAIL CENTER OWNER
Proj Mgr: Ed Reynolds Jr.
 Completed: 06/07/2008
Industry: Real Estate Developers
 Service: Usepa Superfund -- Responsible Party Representation
Litigation Support
Regulatory Response & Negotiation
Health Risk Assessments
Site Assessment
This Regional Shopping Center lies in an area that is being considered for Superfund status because of its location relative to a regional groundwater contamination issue. The client has been designated as a potential Responsible Party (PRP). The site also lies near a major stream tributary and soil conditions are very rocky. The Reynolds Group was able to bring the client back into the good graces of the regulatory agency by negotiating a reasonable scope of work for additional site assessment. The Reynolds Group also performed a detailed review of adjacent potential cases that highlighted the possibility of off-site contamination. The investigation including installing "semi-permanent" soil vapor probes to a depth greater than 150 feet below ground surface and sampling them. Based on the results of the sampling The Reynolds Group prepared an expert's consulting report that detailed why the client should be considered at most a "de minimis" contributor to any regional groundwater issue. TRG noted that there is a neighboring large contributor to the contamination that seems to have caused most of the problems. The Reynolds Group is currently working to minimize the clients PRP liability and is working closely with legal counsel to craft strategies regarding coordinating work with the off-site PRP.

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.

Relocation of Food Production/Unwindiing of Tenant Lease (6924.IV)

Client: FRESH START BAKERIES
Proj Mgr: Dwayne Ziegler
Ed Reynolds Jr.
 Completed: 12/30/2007
Industry: Manufacturers
 Service: Soil Remediation
Site Assessment
Regulatory Response & Negotiation
Asbestos/ Lead/ Mold Consulting
One of the largest national suppliers of baked products to McDonalds Restaurants needed to assess and mitigate soil contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons (hydraulic oil) inside of their leased Southern California production site. In addition, TRG was requested to provide asbestos related pre-demolition consulting advice. Approximately two years before its lease expired, Fresh Start Bakeries began the process of evaluating potential environmental impairment caused during its operation of an industrial bakery at the site. Fresh Start engaged The Reynolds Group because of our prudent approach to assessing and dealing with environmental liabilities. After performing a complete assessment, TRG quantified and budgeted the cost of remediation. To ensure there would be no issues with the landlord/property owner upon the expiration of it lease, Fresh Start Bakeries asked The Reynolds Group to proactively engage the regulatory agency, the County of Los Angeles Fire Department, to approve an expedited Remedial Action Plan. The Reynolds Group demolished the concrete floor and excavated approximately 400 tons of soil from the interior of the production building in confined conditions. Excavation was advanced until on-site laboratory analysis of the soils confirmed that levels of hydraulic oil met the cleanup levels pre-established by the Fire Department. In the end, Fresh Start Bakeries received a "No Further Action" letter with no restrictions on the sites future use. The Reynolds Group arranged for the safe transportation and disposal of the contaminated soils and restored the floor inside the building to its original condition. All of the work was completed under a tight timeline over a Thanksgiving Holiday. During decommissioning and demolition of the manufacturing equipment and tenant improvement, issues related to potential asbestos containing materials in building products and kilns arose. The Reynolds Group was engaged to assess the issues, provide solutions and engage and manage a contractor to abate the issues as required for Fresh Start Bakeries to move out of the premises with no residual liability.

Brownfield Development (6805.III)

Client: PRIMESTOR DEVELOPMENT
Proj Mgr: Ed Reynolds Jr.
 Completed: 01/23/2009
Industry: Real Estate Developers
Metal Finishers
 Service: Soil Remediation
Site Assessment
Brownfields/redevelopment
In a unique government-private partnership, TRGs client developed a major regional retail center on a brownfield property in an unincorporated area of Los Angeles County, CA, that contained a former glass manufacturing facility and other former industrial uses. TRG provided forensic services during demolition of the property to identify environmental concerns associated with historic uses and to locate specific areas requiring assessment. During the course of work, TRG encountered and remediated arsenic and chromium-impacted kiln brick, volatile organic compounds, numerous underground storage tanks and clarifiers, pesticides, and PCBs. TRG conducted assessment and cleanup activities as the site was being developed. By coordinating assessment and cleanup work with the general contractor, TRG had minimal impact on the scheduling and timing of the project. TRG provided further value to the project by negotiating cleanup levels based upon potential health risk in future occupied areas with lesser standards applied to parking areas.

Gasoline Plume (6961.VII)

Client: CITY OF COACHELLA
Proj Mgr: Daniel Nunez
 Completed: In Progress
Industry: Gas Station/ Underground Storage Tank Owners
 Service: Soil Remediation
Regulatory Response & Negotiation
Soil Vapor Extraction
Site Assessment
Groundwater Remediation
California Cleanup Fund
This project is ongoing and funded by the Emergency, Abandoned, and Recalcitrant (EAR) Account which is administered by the Cleanup Fund. TRG has assessed the gasoline plumes in soil and groundwater (which extends off-site across a city street and beneath neighboring properties), installed soil vapor extraction and air sparge systems and begun active remediation. The core of the groundwater and soil plumes have been cleaned up. Semi-annual groundwater monitoring takes place through a network of 11 groundwater monitoring wells. An MTBE cut off plume remains to be cleaned up. The next phase of the project envisions the installation of six off-site ozone sparge wells to address the plume in the groundwater that has traveled off-site.

Additionally, to ensure an even greater impact on the overall project, TRG has coordinated efforts between the regulator on the case and the Clean-up Fund contact to lay out project plans and budgets on an annual basis thereby compressing the typical time-line of a project like this. Our client is kept up to date with every aspect of the project. Closure is expected from the Colorado River Basin Regional Water Quality Control Board within two years.

Due Diligence (7474.XII)

Client: THE DEWEY GROUP
Proj Mgr: Al Fuan
 Completed: 11/25/2009
Industry: Real Estate Developers
Real Estate Brokers
 Service: Soil Remediation
Site Assessment
The Dewey Group was considering a real estate transaction in Long Beach. The deal involved a property that had been redeveloped prior to current regulatory statutes so, it was unknown if past activities had impacted the site. TRG developed a limited scope of work based on historic aerial photographs to screen the soil and groundwater at the site for chemicals associated with the past uses of the property. The results of the investigation allowed The Dewey Group to consider purchasing the property at a risk reduced price or to pass on the purchase. The work TRG performed in one day helped The Dewey Group avoid acquiring an environmental liability over half a million dollars.

Advancing Remediation at a Dry Cleaner (7489.I)

Client: ENVIRONMENTAL ATTORNEY
Proj Mgr: Al Fuan
 Completed: In Progress
Industry: Attorneys
 Service: Soil Remediation
Site Assessment
Health Risk Assessments
The Reynolds Group has worked with an environmental attorney to assist a retail center owner in advancing remediation of a dry cleaner Riverside County under a voluntary program. The case involves a number of factors including financial distress, Human Health Risk, Assessment, and Remediation. Timing and sequencing of work activities are coordinated with the attorney.

Phase I ESA at Die Casting Company (7134.X)

Client: DYNACAST INTERNATIONAL
Proj Mgr: Ed Reynolds Jr.
 Completed: 03/01/2007
Industry: Metal Finishers
 Service: Site Assessment
The Reynolds Group was contracted by the worlds largest die casting company to perform a subsurface investigation at their property. The Reynolds Group performed a physical inspection on the property during the process of performing due diligence for a pending financial transaction. A soil vapor survey was performed and it detected a variety of volatile organic compounds (VOC).

Soils Removal (5520.X)

Client: Centre City Development Corporation
Proj Mgr: Ed Reynolds Jr.
 Completed: 12/01/1999
Industry: Metal Finishers
 Service: Site Assessment
Soil Remediation
As part of the redevelopment of downtown San Diego during the creation of the Petco Baseball Park, TRG was awarded a contract by the Centre City Development Corporation in 1999 for the removal of approximately 1,600 tons of metal-contaminated soils.

TRG was the low bidder for removal and disposal of lead contaminated soils in downtown San Diego. The work required significant coordination for traffic planning in this dense downtown area as trucks were immediately loaded and transported out. TRG performed the work for City Centre Development Corporation, a quasi-private/government developer charged with the revitalization of downtown San Diego.

Environmental Oversight Review (7372.13)

Client: CBA PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
Proj Mgr: Ed Reynolds Jr.
 Completed: 06/05/2009
Industry: Real Estate Brokers
 Service: Groundwater Monitoring
Site Assessment
In some environmental oversight cases, The Reynolds Group provides oversight for characterization, cleanup and monitoring to its client to assure they are in the right tract in cleaning up their site. In the case of a former quality cleaners in Los Angeles, The Reynolds Group consulting with its client in regards to the soil and groundwater monitoring related to the site.

Case Closure in San Diego (7306.VII)

Client: SWALL FINANCIAL SERVICES
Proj Mgr: Al Fuan
 Completed: 05/16/2011
Industry: Gas Station/ Underground Storage Tank Owners
 Service: California Cleanup Fund
Regulatory Response & Negotiation
Site Assessment
TRGs client had an open case at the San Diego Site Assessment/Mitigation Unit since 1991. When TRG was contracted as the environmental consultant of record in 2008, the case had already been transferred to the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board (SDRWQCB). We helped our client gain access to the Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Fund (USTCF) which reimbursed them for previous costs associated with assessment and source removal. TRG then completed the assessment of the contamination at the site and aggressively pursued case closure from the SDRWQCB arguing there was no need for active cleanup at the site.

In less than two and a half years, TRG was able to obtain funding and close a case that had lingered for well over a decade. All work performed by TRG was within USTCF cost guidelines and was fully reimbursed by the USTCF.

In less than two and a half years, TRG was able to obtain funding and close a case that had lingered for well over a decade.

Phase II Environmental Site Assessment (7663.IV)

Client: METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY
Proj Mgr: Daniel Nunez
 Completed: 03/17/2011
Industry: City, County, State And Federal Agencies
 Service: Real Estate Due Diligence And Transaction Support
Site Assessment
The Reynolds Group just successfully completed an environmental screening project with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). MTA is expanding light rail service to Santa Monica from Culver City with the Exposition Phase 2 Light Rail Transit Project (Expo Phase II LRT Project). Part of the project involves acquiring properties along the route. MTA was concerned about possible liabilties associated with the past and present uses of these properties. TRG won the project in a competitive bid process and performed subsurface soil sampling and analyses. The work was coordinated with the businesses operating at the sites and was performed with no interruption to their operations. MTA is completely satisfied with the work, and we are pleased to have them as our client.
Environmental Consulting & Environmental Contracting
Environmental Consulting & Environmental Contracting
Environmental Consulting & Environmental Contracting
Environmental Consulting & Environmental Contracting