Quick Environmental – Experienced, professional help for site remediation
Site remediation deals with the removal of contaminants from soil, groundwater, sediment, or surface water. No one wants to find out they have a leaking oil tank but, having a trusted environmental consultant like Quick Environmental working on your behalf is crucial to work out the best possible outcome for all parties involved.
My oil tank leaked. Now what?
When an oil tank is removed from the ground, it must be inspected by your local municipal inspector. If the tank structure has deteriorated and holes have developed, the tank will fail inspection and the NJDEP spill hotline will be notified of a potential contamination and a case number will be assigned for the incident. In NJ, the remediation process is guided by a set of adopted technical regulations. The level of remediation required to reuse contaminated property is set by NJDEP soil standards criteria. These criteria are established using the most current scientific information and a risk assessment process to evaluate potential exposure.
How can Quick Environmental help me?
When an oil tank leak is suspected, Quick Environmental works alongside homeowners and insurance companies. We’ll partner with you to design the most cost efficient and effective remedial action plan based on site complexity, the technology to be employed and regulatory requirements.
- Our experienced staff will manage the entire project for you from start to finish including filing all paperwork with the NJDEP and obtaining a letter of “No Further Action”.
- We can also assist in filing all required paperwork with your insurance company.
- We will assess the situation, quantify the extent of the contamination and provide soil options for remediation that address the severity of the contamination.
- We serve as your advocate while dealing with all matters related to the cleanup and will bring the site into regulatory compliance.
- We will assist you in restoring the site to its complete potential.
How is site remediation carried out?
Before remediation can begin, the soil surrounding the oil tank excavation will need to be tested to determine the level of contamination. A contamination level of above 5,100 ppm for EPH (Extractable Petroleum Hydrocarbons) requires remediation of the soil. Quick Environmental follows the NJDEP standard protocol to safely collect the soil samples which are sent to a state certified lab for analysis.
On the day of the remediation, Quick will mobilize to the site to excavate the contaminated soil from the former UST location. Based upon visual, olfactory, and field screening observations, the soil will be excavated and removed from around and below the former UST and loaded into dump trucks for transportation to an approved disposal facility.
After removing the contaminated soil from the excavation, Quick will collect post-excavation soil samples from within the excavation to document the effectiveness of the soil removal. Following the collection of post-excavation soil samples, the excavation will be backfilled with clean overburden material and supplemented with certified clean backfill material.
The soil samples are submitted to a state certified lab for analysis for extractable petroleum hydrocarbons (EPH) and contingency analysis for naphthalene and 2-methylnaphthalene. If the results of laboratory analysis indicate the samples were non-detect or below the NJDEP initial action level of 1,000 ppm; no contingent analysis will be required. The post excavation soil samples will confirm the effectiveness of the remedial activities.
Based upon these results, Quick Environmental will compile a Remedial Action Report detailing the remediation activities and send it to the NJDEP. With the report, Quick Environmental will request to the NJDEP that a No Further Action Letter be issued for soils for the former underground storage tank (UST). A NJDEP Case Manager will review the Remedial Action Report and make a determination of completion. If the site has been properly remediated, the Case Manager can direct that a letter of No Further Action be granted, and the property can be reused.
Our highly qualified project managers, remediation professionals and field staff bring confidence and professionalism to each assignment, ensuring a favorable outcome for you. This Case Study further demonstrates our ability to easily handle complex remediation projects and save our customers money in the process.
Site remediation should only be performed by a state certified tank removal contractor. For our certifications please see our About Us page.
For more information visit the NJDEP website’s Site Remediation page: https://www.state.nj.us/dep/srp/community/basics/srbasics_rp.htm.
How long will it take to get a No Further Action letter?
The length of time is determined by several factors:
- When it has been determined that an oil tank has leaked, Quick Environmental will assemble its staff of remediation professionals and schedule your remediation as soon as possible.
- Most remediations can be completed in one to two days but large scale contamination of soil and/or groundwater will take longer.
- Preliminary soil analysis results are available within one week with a final report generated in two to three weeks. If time is a factor, a rush order can be placed for the analysis and report.
- Once soil analysis results are available, our project manager will assemble a Remedial Action Report that is then reviewed by our NJDEP licensed site remediation professional (LSRP). This process can take an additional one to two weeks. When the remediation is part of a real estate closing and time is of the essence, we can assemble and review the report within three days.
- After our LSRP reviews the Remedial Action Report, it is submitted to the NJDEP for further review and a No Further Action letter is granted and sent to you. It takes approximately one week, sometimes less, for an NJDEP case manager to review and grant a No Further Action letter.
How much will site remediation cost?
- Quick Environmental’s remediation experts will review any prior reports and data available in order to understand the likely work remaining at the site and various scenarios to achieve regulatory closure, and then calculate a cost opinion based on those scenarios.
- Because every site is unique, every quote is customized and may require the presentation of a range of potential scenarios and associated costs.
- We know time and money are important to our customers. All site remediation projects are consistently completed safely, on time and within budget.
- Our experience often enables us to deliver cost savings compared to other contractors without sacrificing service, safety or causing damage to your property.
- While oil tank insurance will give you the best coverage in the event of an oil tank leak, your homeowner’s insurance policy may provide coverage depending on the language of your individual policy. Typically, impact to the groundwater or a neighboring property qualifies as a third party claim and is therefore eligible for coverage under many insurance policies.
- If a third party has been impacted, you can file a claim with your homeowner’s insurance provider which may minimize or eliminate your costs for the cleanup. Quick Environmental can assist you with any questions you have as well as the filing of all paperwork required by the DEP.