Category: Environmental

Using Old Insurance to Cover Investigation and Clean-Up Costs

Posted on by shenshaw

Written by Steve Henshaw, P.G., President & CEO, EnviroForensics
As seen in the September 2009 issue of Cleaner & Launderer

PDF Version

I heard from some readers that my last few articles were a little too technical and in addressing those comments, I’ve decided to go back to basics. That is to say, what are basic concerns that dry cleaners have? Since this is the Environmental Corner and staying with that topic, it is my experience that one of those basic concerns that dry cleaners might have deals with the questions,“How am I going to pay for an environmental investigation and clean-up?” Old insurance policies may be an answer.

For years I’ve espoused that business owners need to find their old comprehensive general liability (CGL) policies and store them in a safe, dry and fireproof place. CGL policies were purchased by business owners to cover them against all liability exposures of a business unless specifically excluded. Coverage includes products, completed operations, premises and operations, elevators, independent contractors, to name a few. Note the key words, “unless specifically excluded.” These words are very important in determining whether an individual or businesses old insurance policies can be used to pay for environmental investigations and clean-ups.

Continue reading “Using Old Insurance to Cover Investigation and Clean-Up Costs”

In Situ Bio-Remediation of Perc From Syrup to Cheese Whey

Posted on by shenshaw

Written By Steve Henshaw, P.G., President & CEO of EnviroForensics
As seen in the August 2009 issue of Western Cleaner & Launderer

PDF Version

For years, environmental scientists and engineers have been promoting the notion of using microorganisms to degrade chlorinated volatile organic compounds (e.g. Perc and associated breakdown products) and petroleum hydrocarbons (e.g. gas, diesel, oil, etc.)  This technology falls under a general term called bio-remediation.  One may recall video of the Valdez oil spill in Alaska, when cleanup crews sprayed microorganisms onto the oil laden shoreline.  The idea was that the microorganisms would literally consume the oil as their food source.  This same phenomenon has been observed in aquifers contaminated with gasoline and oil, whereby the leading edge of the contamination plume is often consumed by naturally occurring microorganisms, while the center of the contamination plume does not have sufficient oxygen for the microorganisms to grow.  The breakdown of petroleum hydrocarbons can be summed up as needing an oxygen rich environment, also known as an aerobic environment, where oxygen is needed to aid in the consumption of the petroleum hydrocarbons.  The result is that gasoline and diesel contaminated plumes are relatively small in length.  As the concentration of gasoline and diesel compounds decrease from the source area, the amount of oxygen increases and the bugs population, in turn, adjusts to the lower concentration food source. Continue reading “In Situ Bio-Remediation of Perc From Syrup to Cheese Whey”

Vapor Intrusion is on the Rise!

Posted on by shenshaw

Written by Steve Henshaw, President and CEO of EnviroForensics.

As seen in the July 2009 Issue of Western Cleaner & Launderer.

PDF Version

Last month the California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA) hosted two Vapor Intrusion Workshops.  While we recognize that not all of the readers care about more strict California regulations being handed out, in the environmental world regulations and technology coming from California usually creeps across the country to other states like ivy on a tree.  The workshops were held for Cal/EPA staff and other stakeholders, which were predominately environmental consultants.  John Bird, Vice President of EnviroForensics’, and one of the foremost leaders on vapor intrusion issues with over 12 years of hands on experience, was there to report on pending issues and new developments.  Not so ironically, out of the seven (7) projects that were presented by Cal/EPA during the workshops, two (2) were projects that John served as lead scientist. Continue reading “Vapor Intrusion is on the Rise!”

Camp Lejeune

Posted on by Alex Miller

Written by John C Bird, P.G., Vice President, EnviroForensics

Over twenty years, the contaminated water supply at Camp Lejeune has been a hot topic. From 1957 to 1987, more than 75,000 Marines and their families were allegedly exposed to tap water contaminated with the toxic chemicals trichloroethylene (TCE) and tetrachloroethylene (PCE).

In 1984, the results of a laboratory analysis of drinking water indicated a concentration of 1,400 parts per billion (ppb) of TCE collected from a supply well on base. The federal government eventually set a maximum safe level for TCE in drinking water at 5 ppb. Continue reading “Camp Lejeune”

Maybe Its Time to Write Your Congressman

Posted on by Alex Miller

8-10-or-12-Pick a Number…

Written By: Marti Russell, Western Sales Manager, EnviroForensics

At a Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) meeting in San Francisco, California, the Bay Area cleaners learned their recent “proposed” fate.  The 8, 10, or 12 numbers are the newly proposed phase out years for dry cleaning machines that use perchloroethylene (Perc).  Never mind the State feels that perc units can operate safely for 15 years.

This idea of giving years for the phase-out is a result of a directive given to the BAAQMD staff, from the BAAQMD Board of Directors, at a Hearing on March 4, 2009.  I believe the Board’s exact words were that they felt there is “an excessive amount of time” between now and July 1, 2010 (the year perc (15+ old units need to stop being used and or need to be replaced in CA) and the year 2023, (the year perc is totally banned in California).  The BAAQMD wants to see a shorter time span for phasing out perc units, so the magic number will either be all 8-year, 10-year, or 12-year-old perc machines that must stop being used in the air shed monitored by the BAAQMD. Continue reading “Maybe Its Time to Write Your Congressman”