Cox-Colvin Patents the Vapor Pin™, a Sub-Slab Soil Gas Sampling Device

On May 4, 2010, Cox-Colvin applied for and received a patent for the Vapor Pin™, a sub-slab sampling device that we believe will eliminate many of the headaches surrounding sub-slab soil gas sampling. The goal of the design effort was to come up with a sub-slab soil-gas collection device that would reduce the potential for leaks, be easily installed and retrieved using commonly obtainable tools, be reusable, reduce the time and cost of sub-slab sampling, and improve the quality of samples obtained from the sub-slab.

The Vapor Pin™ fits the bill. It's installed using common hand tools, doesn't require use of grout (thus saving another day in the field), and provides a single leak-proof connection between the sub-slab and the sampling device. We've also devised a leak detection method that we believe could become the standard for the industry.

We're refining the design at this time and plan to publish our results in the near future. If you'd like to receive more information on the Vapor Pin™, please drop us an email at info@coxcolvin.com. Please include Vapor Pin in the subject.

Passive Groundwater Sampling - Should I Make the Switch?

Most groundwater monitoring currently being conducted under various regulatory programs relies on some form of purging, or the removal of groundwater from a monitor well prior to sample collection. Within the past few years, however, passive groundwater sampling has evolved and continues to gain acceptance among regulators and industry as a reliable, cost saving, and environmentally friendly alternative sampling methodology. A change to a passive sampling program requires careful consideration, but it's a change worth evaluating in almost all groundwater monitoring applications.
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EPA Region 5 Releases Greener Cleanup Interim Policy

EPA regional offices recently began developing their own Green Remediation (GR) policies to support the GR initiative in federal cleanup programs. EPA Region 5 (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin) released their GR policy in November 2009, entitled Region 5 Greener Cleanup Interim Policy.
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What is Green and Sustainable Remediation?

In recent years, the term "green" has found its way into just about every aspect of our lives. The list of green terms is extensive and you're probably familiar with many of them, such as green construction, green automobiles, green energy, and green products. However, some green terms may deal with concepts which aren't so common place, and therefore, not well understood. Such is the case with green and/or sustainable remediation. What is green and sustainable remediation, and is it more than just a fad?
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Environmental Field Technician - Job Opportunity in Columbus, Ohio

Cox-Colvin & Associates is seeking an entry level environmental field technician in our Columbus, Ohio office for field data collection activities, operation and maintenance of remediation systems, and detailed documentation of field activities. Position requires strict adherence to Health and Safety procedures and attention to detail. Position involves working outdoors, long work days (10 hours typical in the field), walking, and heavy lifting. Travel to out-of-town locations as much as 90% of the time; overnight stays required depending on distance to job site. Looking for a self-motivated individual who possesses good hands-on mechanical and electrical skills and is willing to learn. Click here to learn more about this position, or to apply.

Determining When a Hazardous Waste Container is Closed

The regulations in 40 CFR 265, subpart I require, among other things, that "a container holding hazardous waste must always be closed during storage, except when it is necessary to add or remove waste." For many years, the regulated hazardous waste community has expressed some confusion over the application of the "closed container". Consequently, EPA recently has provided guidance on the federal RCRA hazardous waste regulations regarding the meaning of "closed containers." The guidance is in the form of a memorandum from Robert Dellinger to RCRA Division Directors, and is titled "Guidance on 40 CFR 264.173(a) and 265.173(a): Closed Containers."

New Ohio EPA Guidance for Solid Waste "Rule 13"

The Ohio EPA Division of Solid and Infectious Waste Management (DSIWM) has created a new guidance document regarding development on or adjacent to a closed landfill facility. The primary authorization required from Ohio EPA to proceed with construction on, and in some cases adjacent to, a closed landfill is prescribed by ORC 3734.02(H) and OAC 3745-27-13. "Rule 13", as it's known, establishes the procedure for obtaining authorization from the director to fill, grade, excavate, build, drill, or mine on land where a hazardous waste or solid waste facility was operated. The new guidance focuses on development activities and supplements 2005 guidance on implementation of "Rule 13".

Ohio EPA to Publish Second Draft of Multi-Program Groundwater Monitoring Rules

In August 2006, Ohio EPA published draft Ground Water Rules that are intended to be codified under Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) 3745-506. Ohio EPA intends to replace the existing groundwater monitoring programs for individual landfill types (i.e., municipal, industrial, and construction & demolition debris [newly regulated]) and bring their monitoring programs together under one unified set of rules (multi-program groundwater rules). After four years of struggling through various iterations and numerous comments from the regulated community, Ohio EPA is set to once again issue draft rules. Click Here to read more.

Paradox Relational Database Turns 25!

In 1985, the Ansa Software Company (Richard Schwartz and Robert Shostak) introduced Paradox for DOS, the first relational database for the PC market. This database was ahead of the curve from day one, offering true relational database capabilities, query-by-example, and a fairly robust form generating and reporting interface. Later versions included the Paradox Application Language (PAL) that essentially allowed users to develop stand alone database applications using a rudimentary graphical user interface. PAL’s user interface was a forerunner of many of the programming environments in use today.

As MS-Windows took hold in the 1990s, Paradox (then owned by Borland Software) was the only pre-Windows database software to successfully negotiate the transition, partly because of its basic file structure. It was so well designed that databases developed in the late 1980s can still be read by the latest versions of Paradox. Despite the recent dominance of MS-Access in the PC market, Paradox (now owned by Corel) still maintains a world-wide presence, a strong user community, and a passionate following. There aren’t many software products today that can boast that they’ve survived a quarter century. I bought my first copy (Version 1.1) in 1986 and still use Paradox everyday. It’s still a great way to manage data.

As a side note, Paradox was introduced to the computing public on page 11 in the September 23, 1985 issue of InfoWorld. On the facing page of that issue was the announcement that Steve Jobs, looking not a day over 15, had resigned from Apple.

I we can help you develop or maintain your Paradox application, please drop us a line at info@coxcolvin.com, include Paradox in the subject,

International Conference: Green Remediation - Environment, Energy, Economics

On June 15-17, 2010 I attended the the International Conference on Green Remediation at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The conference included a wide range of technical presentations which covered environmental, energy and economic aspects of green and sustainable remediation. Some of the presentation topics included energy requirements of treatment systems, air emissions, water use requirements and impacts on water resources, land and ecosystem use and impacts, energy use and renewables, material consumption, reuse, and waste generation. In addition to attending the presentations, I presented a poster during the conference poster session. The poster topic discussed the uncertainties and barriers associated with green and sustainable remediation encountered during a RCRA Corrective Action cleanup. Overall, the conference was very informative and provided a good indication of the current state of green and sustainable remediation from the perspective of government agencies, public and private sectors, and academia. Conference presentations and posters will be posted on-line by the end of this month. Manuscripts of proceedings will be posted on-line sometime toward the end of summer. It will be well worth your time to take a look at some of the presentations, posters, and manuscripts once they are posted on-line!

EPA Extends Comment Period on Plan for Stricter PCE and TCE Drinking Water Limits

The Safe Drinking Water Act requires EPA to conduct a periodic review of existing National Primary Drinking Water Regulations and to determine which, if any, need to be revised. The purpose of the review, known as the Six-Year Review, is to identify those and limits requiring revision to improve or strengthen public health protection. EPA published its detailed review on March 29 2010 (75 FR 15500, March 29, 2010) and believes that four compounds are candidates for regulatory revision including acrylamide, epichlorohydrin, and the ubiquitous groundwater contaminants tetrachloroethene (PCE), and trichloroethene (TCE). The review suggest that stricter limits may be required for the compounds. Lowering of the MCLs for PCE and TCE would not only affect public drinking water supplies, but would require significant changes in groundwater monitoring programs and, in some cases, would push monitoring programs into corrective measures. EPA established a 60 day comment period for the March publication. This most recent extension, announced in a June 1 Federal Register notice, provides an additional 30 days (until July 1, 2010) to provide comments.

DERR Biocriteria/QHEI Training

On May 25 and 26 I attended an Ohio EPA, Department of Emergency and Remedial Response sponsored Biocriteria/Stream Habitat training. The training was geared toward environmental professionals working in the Voluntary Action Program (VAP) who may not be completing Biocriteria/Stream Habitat assessments on a regular basis, but need to know the basics because these types of assessments may be included in No Further Action (NFA) letters for VAP sites. During the training we were provided with an overview of the three components of Biocriteria/Stream Habitat assessments, including:

Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI, fish evaluation),
Invertebrate Community Index (ICI), and
Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI).

On day one, all the participants were given the opportunity to electro-fish and set out invertebrate samplers (Hester-Dendy) in Blacklick Creek, which flows behind the Ohio EPA Field Office. Day two was set aside for QHEI field work, which was completed in Blacklick Creek and a small recovering drainage swale near Brice Road.

Throughout the training, a general theme emerged - the biology of a stream is a better indicator of a VAP site's impact on that water body than chemical parameters monitored through surface water and sediment grab samples. Often, even if chemical standards are not met, biological/habitat assessment activities are able to demonstrate that the stream meets it Ohio EPA use designation, and that additional assessment or remedial activities are not needed. Interestingly, the instructors indicated that the stream and riparian habitat, or lack thereof, is more often the cause of stream impairment at VAP sites, not the release of chemicals of concern to the stream. The take home message was that chemical analysis alone may not give a CP the complete picture of how a VAP site affected the stream; rather a biological/habitat assessment including an IBI, ICI, and QHEI provides a better representation.

Ohio EPA Signs First Facility Lead Corrective Action Agreement

Ohio EPA recently signed its first formal facility lead RCRA Corrective Action agreement. Facility lead RCRA Corrective Action is one of several ways some facilities subject to RCRA Corrective Action can address the requirements of the program. The facility lead agreement is a non-binding written agreement between Ohio EPA and the facility which charts a mutually agreeable path forward, promotes communication, less agency oversight, and focuses on results over process. For more information and to determine if this is an option for your facility, contact George H. Colvin at 614-526-2040. Click here to view the complete agreement.

pH Probe Maintenance

Several of our clients perform some of their own routine groundwater sample collection or wastewater monitoring. Parameters such as pH, conductivity, and temperature, commonly are measured in the field. Proper pH probe maintenance ensures a faster response, more reliable measurements, and a longer life. A few tips to get the most out of your pH probe are provided below.

The pH probe should be cleaned regularly according to the manufacturer’s recommended procedure and at a frequency dependent on the fluid being measured. Clean probes with a mild detergent solution. When deposits are difficult to remove from a probe, a diluted hypochlorite solution may be used, but it is always best to learn manufacturer’s cleaning instructions. Different probes require different cleaning methods. Calibration should be performed after every cleaning.

Many probes are sealed and the reference solution can’t be replaced; however, some have a small opening near the top of the probe where fresh solution can be added - check with the manufacturer of the probe regarding correct solutions and filling procedures. The reference electrode chamber should consistently have the appropriate amount of reference solution and without air bubbles. Most manufacturers recommend that probes should not be wiped; this is to prevent transfer of static charge onto the glass bulb resulting in slow or drifting readings.

If the probe is used routinely, store the probe in a pH 4 solution or a storage solution (usually obtainable from the manufacturer). If the probe isn’t used for weeks at a time, dry storage is recommended; however, immerse the probe in a pH solution, allow sufficient wetting time, and calibrate before proceeding with measurements. Storing the probe in distilled water isn’t recommended (the filling solution will become diluted and probe response will be slow). With proper maintenance, a probe will have an average life of two years.

Cox-Colvin Employee Honored by AIPG

Martin (Mort) Schmidt, my colleague at Cox-Colvin & Associates, recently was honored for his distinguished service to the Ohio Section of the American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG). Mort received the Outstanding Service to the Institute Award for his outstanding contribution of time and effort to the Ohio Section. Details were provided in the May/June 2010 issue of AIPG's The Professional Geologist magazine, as follows: "As editor of the Ohio Section newsletter from 1992 through 2009, Martin (Mort) A. Schmidt, has greatly contributed to the Ohio Section's effort of promoting the geologic profession in the State of Ohio. In fulfilling his duties throughout these many years, Mort has devoted countless hours to compiling information, designing and distributing the Ohio Section newsletter (even before email), and sending special announcements, as warranted. Through his exceptional dedication and perseverance, Mort Schmidt has shown an outstanding level of devotion and service to the Ohio Section".

Mort received his BS and MS degrees in Geology and Mineralogy from The Ohio State University, and has been a Cox-Colvin & Associates employee since 1997. His areas of expertise include vapor intrusion and contaminant investigation and analysis, and he currently serves as Cox-Colvin's Health & Safety Officer. Mort is a Certified Professional Geologist with AIPG (CPG-08432), and is a registered Geologist in Indiana, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee.

Congratulations, Mort!

ODNR Core Lab Workshop

On April 20th, I assisted with the Ohio Department of natural Resource's (ODNR) Ohio Geological Survey's (OGS) first core workshop. As a board member on OGS's Collins Core Repository, we decided that we could provide the public with a better understanding of how rock cores are collected, analyzed, and used, and that we could teach them how to recognize Ohio's various rock formations when they examine cores.

The morning consisted of presentations on Paleozoic bedrock from Ohio's Chief Geologist, Larry Wickstrom, Assistant Chief Mac Swinford, and Greg Schumacher and Mike Angle of the OGS. Brian Mott of DLZ and I discussed the collection and interpretation of the younger Ice Age sediments. In the afternoon, students did hands-on exercises with the cores. We had a turnout of 30 people of various backgrounds and experience levels. The results were very positive, and we plan to repeat the exercise later in 2010. We assembled a workbook for the exercise that includes fact sheets for the Glacial Sand and Gravel, Ohio Shale, Berea Sandstone, and other formations that are encountered in Central Ohio. Over time, the workshop will be expanded to cover other parts of Ohio. When the workbook is put on ODNR's website, we'll add a link to it from the Cox-Colvin website.

ITRC's Green and Sustainable Remediation Team

I recently became a member of the Interstate Technical and Regulatory Council (ITRC) Green and Sustainable Remediation (GSR) Team. The team's purpose is to facilitate discussion, information exchange, and technology transfer about GSR among regulatory agencies and other interested parties. As a team member, I'm looking forward to contributing to the evolution of the GSR initiative, including the development of a technical guidance document. Check out the team's webpage, and let me know if you have any input.

EPA Region 5 Greener Cleanups Workshop

I recently attended EPA Region 5's Greener Cleanup Workshop, which provided an overview of Region 5's progress and future direction associated with green and sustainable remediation. I summarized the information presented at the Workshop for the benefit of those interested in green and sustainable remediation who could not attend. My summary was incorporated into Cox-Colvin's first Green & Sustainable Remediation Bulletin.

LIDAR - A great resource for Ohio Environmental Scientists

Did you know that Ohio is one of only 5 states to have complete LIDAR coverage? Did you also know that it is available for free?

LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) is a technology used to create detailed topographic maps known as digital elevation models (DEMs). In Ohio, these data were collected during the creation of detailed, orthographically-corrected aerial photography. The DEMs, aerial photography, and LIDAR raw data files are available through Ohio's OGRIP and OSIP sites. A simple google search will get you there.

I commonly download DEMs for the 7.5 minute quads associated with my environmental sites. I then use the TatukGIS viewer (see my March 2009 blog) to do color renderings or shading. The renderings show an amazing amount of detail and can be easily draped over the associated topographic map revealing buried valleys, geomorphic features, etc. It is really a powerful tool for environmental scientists and the great part is that it's all there for free.