Let's Talk Remediation

In this 74th episode, I discuss What Is Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response AKA "HAZWOPER?"

HAZWOPER stands for Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response.  The Occupational Safety and Health Administration aka "OSHA," oversees this regulation requirement for dealing with Hazardous Waste.  The regulation requirement is for formal and certified training of individuals who deal with the management of Hazardous Materials; storage, moving or cleaning up spilled hazardous substances.

The primary training is a 40 Hour training that also includes a minimum of 3 days of supervised field trainings.  There is a lower level training of 24 Hours with 1 day of supervised field training, but this is meant for a support staff assisting a 40 Hour certified Individual or Team.

Once the 40 Hour certification has been obtained, an annual 8 Hour Refresher training is required in order to keep the 40 Hour certification current and active.  This provides the means for ongoing training to keep up with the changing regulations and technologies relating to the proper handling of hazardous waste.

The overarching purpose for requiring HAZWOPER training, is to have Individuals handling hazardous waste to do so safely, to protect themselves, others and our environment.

It is highly recommended that for anyone dealing with hazardous materials and needing HAZWOPER training, that they look into getting trained under HazMat Responder Network.  Whether you are already 40 Hour certified or not, I'd highly recommend retaking the 40 Hour under HazMat Responder Network, in order to sponge knowledge from The Expert Instructor Perry C. Beaty, who has seen it all and been there and done that.  HazMat Responder Network also provides the required annual 8 Hour Refresher courses in order to keep the 40 Hour current.

Our Ongoing Sponsor Hanby Environmental produces Field Test Kits that can be used in the act of Environmental Remediation to monitor the process of remediating many Hazardous Materials.

As always, if you have a topic you would like us to discuss in a future podcast or a specific question you'd like us to address, please let us know by sending it into, [email protected].

"Thank You" to Our Ongoing Sponsor Hanby Environmental for providing this platform to have a positive impact on The Remediation Industry!

Make sure to Like, Subscribe and Follow for Our Future Podcast Episodes.

In this 73rd episode, I discuss "What Is Hazardous Material AKA "HazMat?"

Hazardous Material also known as "HazMat" is defined as any biological, chemical, radiological, or physical substances that pose an unreasonable risk to health, safety, property, or the environment.  Hazardous Materials are of particular concern during storage, handling and/or transport.

For fast identification of Hazardous Materials, special labels are required that quickly and easily give an indication of what type of Hazardous Material is being dealt with and the typical dangerous associated with it.  These label "classify" the Hazardous Material into Nine Hazard Classes (1-9).  Additionally, Hazardous Materials should also be accompanied by "SDS;" (Safety Data Sheets).  The "SDS" precisely identifies the Hazardous Material and provides a lot more details on the hazards associated with the it and the additional safety precautions that should be taken when dealing with the particular Hazardous Material.

Our Ongoing Sponsor Hanby Environmental produces Field Test Kits that can be used in the act of Environmental Remediation to monitor the process of remediating many Hazardous Materials.

As always, if you have a topic you would like us to discuss in a future podcast or a specific question you'd like us to address, please let us know by sending it into, [email protected].

"Thank You" to Our Ongoing Sponsor Hanby Environmental for providing this platform to have a positive impact on The Remediation Industry!

Make sure to Like, Subscribe and Follow for Our Future Podcast Episodes.

In this 72nd episode, I discuss "What Is Environmental Remediation and What's It's Purpose?"

As I say in every episode, "The Purpose of This Podcast, Is To Have A Positive Impact On The Environmental Remediation Industry."  "But what is it and what does that mean?"

Environmental remediation is the process of removing, treating, or containing pollution and hazardous contaminants from environmental media such as soil, groundwater, sediment, and surface water to protect human health and restore ecosystems.

The main purpose of environmental remediation is to remove or reduce pollutants and hazardous contaminants from soil, groundwater, surface water, and sediment to protect human health and restore damaged ecosystems.

By performing the act of Environmental Remediation, we restore the environmental damage we have caused to the environment in which we live in back to the way it was, clean and healthy and doing so, protects human health from the toxic contaminates and hazardous wastes that we create.

They go hand in hand, if Our Environment in which we live is healthy, then Living Things are also healthy and flourish!

Our Ongoing Sponsor Hanby Environmental produces Field Test Kits that can be used in the act of Environmental Remediation to monitor the process.

As always, if you have a topic you would like us to discuss in a future podcast or a specific question you'd like us to address, please let us know by sending it into, [email protected].

"Thank You" to Our Ongoing Sponsor Hanby Environmental for providing this platform to have a positive impact on The Remediation Industry!

Make sure to Like, Subscribe and Follow for Our Future Podcast Episodes.

In this 71st episode, I discuss "What's The Difference Between In-Situ and Ex-Situ Remediation?"

In-Situ means "in place."  So when contamination is remediated where it is, then In-Situ Remediation is taking place.  This can be performed by the introduction of additives to perform destructive remediation where the contamination sits, rather than further disrupting the already contaminated area.  This method can be considerably useful if there is infrastructure in place or there is functional operations that make it more difficult to excavate.

Ex-Situ remediation is when the contamination is being moved from it's current location.  Upon removal, it can be remediated at a new location or as is most often the case, the contamination is excavated or pumped and then it is transported away to be disposed of at a waste disposal facility or an injection well site.  When this takes place, it is relocation of the contamination from it's original location, but it is not being permanently address via remediation and destruction, it is just out of site and out of mind.  "Cradle to Grave" means that The Generator of the waste that is disposed of, it documented on the waste manifest and still responsible for the final disposition of it.  Most often, due to the mass amount of moving equipment, logistical transportation and disposal fees, this is the most expensive approach and still carries the future liability because complete remediation or destruction of the contamination didn't take place.

Sometimes, the best option is to perform a combination of the two.  Moving the contamination to be more easily remediated and performing the remediation or permanent destruction of the contamination to eliminate the future liability.

Our Ongoing Sponsor Hanby Environmental produces Field Test Kits that can be used in either case, in the case of Ex-Situ to know that you got it all or in the case of In-Situ to monitor to know the effectiveness of the remediation treatment(s).

As always, if you have a topic you would like us to discuss in a future podcast or a specific question you'd like us to address, please let us know by sending it into, [email protected].

"Thank You" to Our Ongoing Sponsor Hanby Environmental for providing this platform to have a positive impact on The Remediation Industry!

Make sure to Like, Subscribe and Follow for Our Future Podcast Episodes.

In this 70th episode, I discuss "What Is The Proper Way To Perform Solid Surface Remediation?"

In order to properly perform solid surface remediation, a systematic plan needs to be created and put into action.

The systematic plan should include, An Initial Site Assessment, Research of Environmental Compliance, A Feasibility Evaluation, A Remediation Design, Implementation of The Design Plan and Finally, Confirmatory Sampling and Closure.

The approach is the same as when remediating soil and water, however, the difference is the speed at which things take place.  When something needs to be remediated from a solid surface, the actions need to take place much faster and for this reason, most of the time, the actions happen at the same time.

In short, the first step is to contain the contaminate to prevent further spreading of the contaminate.  Once contained, the bulk of it needs to be addressed by getting it up through use of an absorbent, vacuum or other means to address the bulk of it.  Once this has been completed, it's time to address the residue contamination that is still present.  This can be done by the use of some cleaning agent of a detergent, surfactant, neutralizing agent and/or a chemical oxidizing agent.  After this has been done, it's time to rinse and dry the solid surface to make sure that it is completely cleaned and remediated.  This can be documented by the use of clean soil as an absorbent to test which can be performed by your Hanby Soil Field Test Kit and by sending off for Third Party Lab validation.  All these steps are important validation that the solid surface has been fully remediate in order to avoid any hazard liability.

Documentation of everything is key.  The more the better!  Overkill erroring on the side of caution, by providing the most details possible, is the best approach saving time for everyone involved!

As always, if you have a topic you would like us to discuss in a future podcast or a specific question you'd like us to address, please let us know by sending it into, [email protected].

"Thank You" to Our Ongoing Sponsor Hanby Environmental for providing this platform to have a positive impact on The Remediation Industry!

Make sure to Like, Subscribe and Follow for Our Future Podcast Episodes.

In this 69th episode, I discuss "What Is The Proper Way To Perform Water Remediation?"

In order to properly perform water remediation, a systematic plan needs to be created and put into action.

The systematic plan should include, An Initial Site Assessment, Research of Environmental Compliance, A Feasibility Evaluation, A Remediation Design, Implementation of The Design Plan and Finally, Confirmatory Sampling and Closure.

During an initial site assessment, which contaminates are present and at what concentration levels is determined.  Based on this information, we research to find out what concentration levels need to be to comply with environmental regulations and laws.  Then our remediation options need to be considered to determine the practical approach to get to those levels.  Then we select a remediation option or combination of options.  Then we implement those selections by performing them and monitoring the process with field measurements to determine our success at reaching the target levels.  Once our field measurements have indicated that the targets have been met, we take confirmatory samples and send them off for third party laboratory validation.  Upon receipt of successful results, a closure report is created documenting the entire project and is submitted to the required regulatory bodies, insurance companies, client, etc.

Documentation of everything is key.  The more the better!  Overkill erroring on the side of caution, by providing the most details possible, is the best approach saving time for everyone involved!

As always, if you have a topic you would like us to discuss in a future podcast or a specific question you'd like us to address, please let us know by sending it into, [email protected].

"Thank You" to Our Ongoing Sponsor Hanby Environmental for providing this platform to have a positive impact on The Remediation Industry!

Make sure to Like, Subscribe and Follow for Our Future Podcast Episodes.

In this 68th episode, I discuss "What Is The Proper Way To Perform Soil Remediation?"

In order to properly perform soil remediation, a systematic plan needs to be created and put into action.

The systematic plan should include, An Initial Site Assessment, Research of Environmental Compliance, A Feasibility Evaluation, A Remediation Design, Implementation of The Design Plan and Finally, Confirmatory Sampling and Closure.

During an initial site assessment, which contaminates are present and at what concentration levels is determined.  Based on this information, we research to find out what concentration levels need to be to comply with environmental regulations and laws.  Then our remediation options need to be considered to determine the practical approach to get to those levels.  Then we select a remediation option or combination of options.  Then we implement those selections by performing them and monitoring the process with field measurements to determine our success at reaching the target levels.  Once our field measurements have indicated that the targets have been met, we take confirmatory samples and send them off for third party laboratory validation.  Upon receipt of successful results, a closure report is created documenting the entire project and is submitted to the required regulatory bodies, insurance companies, client, etc.

Documentation of everything is key.  The more the better!  Overkill erroring on the side of caution, by providing the most details possible, is the best approach saving time for everyone involved!

As always, if you have a topic you would like us to discuss in a future podcast or a specific question you'd like us to address, please let us know by sending it into, [email protected].

"Thank You" to Our Ongoing Sponsor Hanby Environmental for providing this platform to have a positive impact on The Remediation Industry!

Make sure to Like, Subscribe and Follow for Our Future Podcast Episodes.

In this "67th" ("6-7") episode, I discuss "Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)?"

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are carbon-based chemicals that vaporize into the air at room temperature, posing major concerns for indoor air quality, groundwater safety, and ground-level smog formation.

VOCs are the lighter parts of crude oils, refined fuels, paints and thinners, vanishes, air fresheners, glues and solvents.

These lighter portions are "volatile" because they quickly and easily convert from liquids to gases.  Once in the gas phase, they are very mobile and more easily inhaled from being in our breathing zone.  This is much more likely, in doors, where the air is not well ventilated.  

Common sources of VOCs are from the use of fuels, chemical solvents, cleaning supplies, varnishes and paints, glues, new carpet, air fresheners, cosmetics, nail polishes and removers and smoking and vaping.

VOCs are known to be carcinogenic, thus concern for human health and our environment.

While VOCs mainly travel in our air in gas form, they can also travel in water and be found trapped in soil.

As always, if you have a topic you would like us to discuss in a future podcast or a specific question you'd like us to address, please let us know by sending it into, [email protected].

"Thank You" to Our Ongoing Sponsor Hanby Environmental for providing this platform to have a positive impact on The Remediation Industry!

Make sure to Like, Subscribe and Follow for Our Future Podcast Episodes.

In this 66th episode, I discuss "What Is Meant by BTEX?"

BTEX stands for Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, and Xylenes, which are a group of volatile organic compounds commonly found in petroleum products like crude oils and refined fuels like gasoline, diesel and jet fuel.

BTEX aromatics are toxic chemicals that are known to be carcinogenic and thus are a cause of concern to human health and our environment.

BTEX are in a category called VOCs which means Volatile Organic Compounds.  These are volatile because they are light and thus they evaporate into our air and they also dissolve easily in water and for these reasons they spread easily into and through soil as well.

For these reasons BTEX are contaminates of concern and must be monitored during spill/remediation activities.

As always, if you have a topic you would like us to discuss in a future podcast or a specific question you'd like us to address, please let us know by sending it into, [email protected].

"Thank You" to Our Ongoing Sponsor Hanby Environmental for providing this platform to have a positive impact on The Remediation Industry!

Make sure to Like, Subscribe and Follow for Our Future Podcast Episodes.

In this 65th episode, I discuss "What Are Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons aka PAHs?"

PAHs stands for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons.  Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons are 1,000s of chemical compounds that are created during the incomplete combustion or burning of physical materials.  The Ashes generated during the combustion process are full of PAHs.

PAHs have many Benzene rings in them, thus their toxic nature is obvious.  Most PAHs have been found to be carcinogens.  For this reason, we must be conscious of their sources and limit our exposure to them.

The most common sources of PAHs contamination is from Forest Fires, Volcano Eruptions, Vehicle, Power and Industrial Plant Exhaust.  Other contamination sources are the production, transport and refining of petroleum, the use of refined fuels that generate exhaust, the burning of Agricultural Fields, runoff from Asphalt Roads, Spills of Petroleum Products and Burning of Coal and Tar products.  Even the burning of fire places and burning and smoking of meat for consumption, can generate PAHs.

Once generated into ashes from incomplete combustion, they become easily spread in our environmental by Wind/Air, Water and through Aquatic Life.  Since they do not easily breakdown, they can quickly and easily spread over huge distances.  Due to their toxic and carcinogenic nature, they are a major environmental contaminate of concern.

As always, if you have a topic you would like us to discuss in a future podcast or a specific question you'd like us to address, please let us know by sending it into, [email protected].

"Thank You" to Our Ongoing Sponsor Hanby Environmental for providing this platform to have a positive impact on The Remediation Industry!

Make sure to Like, Subscribe and Follow for Our Future Podcast Episodes.