SCS provided environmental due diligence for some 1500 acres of farmland prior to its development. Underground storage tanks, farm chemical mixing and storage areas, chemical spills, and rural waste dumps were inventoried. Removal of solid waste and hazardous chemical waste was overseen by SCS Engineers.
In addition to standard ESA-type record searches, records related to water quality information and farming practices (e.g., information on chemical use) were reviewed at the County and State health departments. Site reconnaissance was performed using a variety of techniques.
For example, due to the vast size of the area and the hilly topography, SCS performed an initial aerial reconnaissance via helicopter to assist in locating areas that appeared to be subject to rural waste dumping practices. This method was especially useful in locating a large farm dump that was situated in a depression atop a hill. Knowledge of a local historic preservationist also was employed to quickly identify features of potential interest on some of the large, abandoned farm properties.
Inventories of underground storage tanks, farm chemical mixing and storage areas, and chemical spill locations were prepared. Where necessary, test pits were excavated to characterize the dumps. In addition, soils and lake/pond sediments at former orchard areas were sampled for pesticide residues (e.g., Arsenic, DDT). At the conclusion of the assignment, SCS provided oversight for disposal of solid waste from the rural dumps and farm chemicals found at the abandoned farm facilities.
In support of a planned acquisition, SCS provided environmental due diligence for eight large manufacturing facilities in four states. Use of senior staff in multiple SCS offices facilitated our work on this quick-response project.
The manufacturing facilities produced advanced aerospace and military products. Three of the facilities had known releases of solvents to groundwater, and one of these was the subject of a RCRA Corrective Action permit issued to a predecessor.
Extensive file review and site reconnaissance was conducted at each facility, and separate environmental due diligence reports prepared for each.
SCS developed budgetary estimates to respond to historical releases at the facilities; the budget estimates were discounted to reflect the probability that response would be required.
