Our Phase II Subsurface Services Include:

• Professional Registered Geologist to monitor soil boring
• Licensed Environmental Contractor to perform soil sampling
• Expert Lab Analysis to check for soil contaminiation
• Written report including lab results, analysis and any reccomendations

Why Would I Need a Phase II at my property?

A Phase II subsurface investigation would generally be recommended upon completion of a Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment (ESA), Environmental Transaction Screen, or other such review of a property (i.e. file review, regulatory database review). Factors that would lead to a recommendation for a Phase II subsurface investigation include:

• Prior use of the property as a gasoline station
• Current or prior underground storage tanks (USTs)
• Prior use of the property as a dry cleaning operation
• Lead paint on a structure that has had a potential to impact soils
• Agricultural development that has involved use of pesticides/herbicides
• Railroad ties on a property
• Surruounding hazardous materials / leaking tank sites
• Superfund sites in the vicinity that may have impacted the site

A Phase II investigation may involve the collection of soil and/or groundwater samples from the property. The number of samples collected will depend upon the size of the site, operations which have caused the need for a Phase II, and the area of the potential hazardous use.

The need for a Phase II at a property may include the completion of a Geophysical Survey. Such a survey would be recommended for such situations where the location of USTs or other underground features were unknown,

Phase II Environmental Subsurface Investigation

All Phase 2 subsurface drilling investigations involve the expertise of a Professional Geologist to establish the scope of work, determine sample locations, and analyze sample analysis results. Further work, if needed, will be recommended and summarized by the geologist. The geologist will use both professional expertise and guidelines established by the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) in order to (a) conceptualize subsurface and contaminant conditions to adequately focus subsurface investigations; (b) select and use drilling and soil sampling techniques; (c) classify and describe soils; (d) design and install groundwater monitoring wells at a site; (e) sample and monitor groundwater, including the use of direct-push equipment; and (f) determine if soil gas monitoring is needed.

A Phase II investigation may involve the collection of soil and/or groundwater samples from the property. The number of samples collected will depend upon the size of the site, operations which have caused the need for a Phase II, and the area of the potential hazardous use. A typical Phase II investigation will involve the drilling of three to five borings from locations on the property. Generally, at least one soil and one grab groundwater sample will be collected from each boring, dependant upon the depth to groundwater and the depth of the proposed borings. After each boring has been completed, the boreholes will be backfilled with cement, and concrete pads will be repaired with concrete.

It should be noted that field conditions may impact a proposed scope of work, including the depth to which samples can be drilled. All such alterations in a scope would be discussed with a client from the field operations in order to ensure that the scope change allowed both the Environmental Professional (EP) and the client to obtain the necessary data.

Soil and groundwater samples may be collected from a variety of locations, including areas covered with asphalt pavement or concrete, hillsides, alleys, within buildings, vacant fields, etc. A variety of drilling equipment makes it possible to sample wherever necessary to determine if the subsurface of a property has been impacted.

Soil and groundwater (if applicable) samples, will be analyzed depending upon the prior use of the property and indicators leading to the need for the Phase 2 investigation. Samples may be analyzed for total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) as gasoline, diesel, and/or motor oil; volatile organic compounds (VOCs); metals (including cadmium and lead); methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE); etc., as indicated by the EP and the professional geologist.

A state-certified laboratory is used perform analysis of soil and groundwater samples.

Once the field investigation has been completed and the analytical laboratory results have been obtained from the laboratory, a report is prepared detailing the field investigation and analytical laboratory results. The report will include a sample location map, copies of the analytical laboratory data sheets, and conclusions and recommendations for additional work, if warranted. The report is prepared and signed by a state-designated professional geologist.