Contaminated Soil on an Arizona Industrial Site: What Happens Next?

A stained patch of ground beside a tank, an old manufacturing area or contaminated soil uncovered during excavation can change the direction of a project quickly. The first question is often whether the affected dirt can simply be removed. In practice, the answer depends on what is present, how far it has travelled and what the applicable environmental requirements call for.

Native Environmental lists contaminated soil removal and soil remediation among its industrial environmental services. For Arizona property owners and contractors, the important first step is understanding the problem before moving material around the site.

Contaminated Soil Can Have Many Sources

Industrial sites can be affected by spills, leaking equipment, historic operations, petroleum products, metals, chemicals or waste handling practices. Some contamination is discovered immediately after a release. Other problems remain underground for years and are first identified during redevelopment or excavation.

That history matters because soil remediation is not one standardized procedure. The contaminant, concentration, depth, quantity of affected soil and possibility of groundwater involvement can all influence what happens next.

Arizona Department of Environmental Quality programs address contaminated sites through several regulatory routes. Its Voluntary Remediation Program, for example, allows eligible parties to investigate and clean contaminated properties under ADEQ oversight.

Do Not Start Moving Soil Before the Problem Is Defined

Once potentially contaminated material is discovered, uncontrolled excavation can make the situation more complicated. Moving soil can spread contamination into clean areas, generate dust or create a waste stream that then has to be characterized and managed.

Sampling and analysis may be needed to determine what is present and whether concentrations exceed applicable standards. The investigation can also help establish the horizontal and vertical extent of the affected area.

For petroleum contaminated soil, ADEQ has specific requirements governing soil excavated for storage, treatment or disposal when contaminants meet or exceed regulatory thresholds.

That is why the material should be identified before someone treats it as ordinary excavation spoil.

Remediation Does Not Always Mean the Same Thing

Some projects involve excavation and removal. Others may use treatment, containment or another remedy based on site conditions and regulatory requirements.

The goal is not simply to make the visible soil disappear. The selected approach has to address the contaminants and meet the requirements that apply to the particular project.

ADEQ notes that site specific factors can affect investigation and cleanup decisions, including the contaminants involved, the type of release, geology and potential groundwater concerns.

A remediation contractor therefore needs to work within the project plan rather than applying the same method to every contaminated site.

Waste Handling Is Part of the Project

Excavated contaminated material needs somewhere to go. Depending on its classification, the project may require appropriate containers, transportation, documentation and an approved disposal or treatment destination.

Native Environmental provides industrial waste disposal, transportation, analysis and containment in addition to contaminated soil and sludge removal. That broader capability is useful when the cleanup creates several different waste streams rather than one pile of soil.

Planning those details before excavation can prevent material from sitting onsite while disposal arrangements are being made.

Cleanup May Be Part of Redevelopment

Environmental remediation frequently becomes part of construction, demolition or redevelopment. Identifying contamination early gives the project team more time to coordinate environmental work with excavation, utility work and subsequent construction.

It can also prevent the unpleasant discovery that material already removed from the ground cannot be handled as ordinary fill.

Schedule Soil Remediation Services in Arizona

If testing, excavation or facility work has uncovered potentially contaminated soil, call Native Environmental at 602 254 0122. Native provides soil remediation, contaminated soil and sludge removal, industrial waste management and environmental contracting services throughout Arizona and New Mexico. The team can help coordinate a site specific cleanup approach and provide the trained personnel and equipment required to manage difficult environmental projects safely and efficiently.

References

Native Environmental: Industrial Plant Cleaning Services

Arizona Department of Environmental Quality: Voluntary Remediation Program

Arizona Department of Environmental Quality: Petroleum Contaminated Soil

Arizona Department of Environmental Quality: VRP Frequently Asked Questions