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Rescue and Remediate, Inc.

Business Proposal
Kevin Briede, Alexandria Horan, Colin Salotti and Sean Yeats
ENVL 4446
Stockton University
Dr. Tait Chirenje
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Abstract
Rescue and Remediate is a proposed physical and chemical remediation
company specializing in the remediation of gas station sites in New Jersey. A business
proposal is outlined for Toni to demonstrate competency of the four founding members
and the legitimacy of the proposed business. This company consists of 4 environmental
specialists, 2 unpaid interns and a varying number of general workers, based on the
size of the site/scope of work. Rescue and Remediate would use excavation, pump and
treat and physical capping to remediate gas station sites polluted by MTBE, TCE,
PERC, metals, BTEX, various VOCs and SVOCs, and DNAPLs and LNAPLs. This
company performs Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments and
ultimately decides what remediation methods would be the most successful. If remedial
action is required, underground storage tanks are removed, soil is excavated and
disposed of and a physical cap may be implemented. If groundwater is contaminated
then a pump and treat system is contracted. The four full-time employees receive
benefits, vacation days and sick days resulting in an annual cost of $400,000 and an
additional $90,000 with insurance. Equipment rental, waste storage and disposal, power
usage, cost of Phase I and Phase II assessments and lab fees are all outlined. Some
expenses vary and so can not be accurately calculated such as contracting pump and
treat systems or companies to implement physical capping. The abundance of gas
station sites in New Jersey shows promising as lasting job sites for the future of Rescue
and Remediate.
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Table of Contents
Abstract…………………………………………………………………………………………..1
Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………3
Qualifications…………………………………………………………………………………….4
General Physical & Chemical Remediation Overview……………………………………5-7
Site Specialization…………………………………………………………………………….7-9
Remediation Methods & Pollutant Specialization………………………………………..9-10
Budget………………………………………………………………………………………10-12
Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………..12
References……………………………………………………………………………………..13
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Introduction
Rescue and Remediate, Inc. is a Galloway, New Jersey based company
specializing in the remediation of gas stations. Rescue and Remediate operates
throughout southern and central New Jersey, helping to remediate our client’s
properties through the usage of chemical and physical remediation techniques. Given
New Jersey’s growing population, it is important to ensure that properties are properly
remediated to protect the health of the landowner and nearby residents. With a large
number of gas stations in New Jersey and the associated health risks from hazardous
materials used at these sites, Rescue and Remediate is poised to help guarantee the
health and safety of property owners and residents who live near these facilities. Our
team of remediation experts will ensure that every property we work at is properly
cleaned up at an affordable price for our client.
It has been established in New Jersey that if a property owner hasn’t conducted
appropriate due diligence on a property to determine if pollutants are present at the site,
they lose their exemption as an “innocent purchaser”--making them liable for pollution
found at the site. This is the case even when the current property owner wasn’t the one
who caused the pollution found at the site. Liability for property owners in New Jersey
comes from both federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and
Liability Act (CERCLA) regulations, as well as the New Jersey Spill Compensation and
Control Act. The costs associated with remediating pollution in these cases can be quite
significant, thereby making it of the utmost importance that a potential property owner
protects themselves from this liability. In order to receive an “innocent purchaser”
exemption from the Spill Act, a prospective property owner must demonstrate that they
have conducted “all appropriate inquiry” on the property, which includes a preliminary
assessment and a site investigation, if anything was found during the preliminary
assessment. The Rescue and Remediate Environmental Consultant Division can
perform Phase I and II Environmental Site Assessments for our clients, helping to
protect them from this liability.
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Qualifications
Rescue and Remediate would employ four full-time environmental specialists,
two unpaid interns and a staff of general workers. Each of the four environmental
specialists, Sean Yeats, Kevin Briede, Alexandria Horan and Colin Salotti, graduated
from Stockton University with a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science. They’ve all
gained practical knowledge in physical, chemical, thermal and biological remediation
through their coursework and projects at Stockton University. In addition to general
remediation procedures, they are familiar with Phase 1 and Phase II site assessments
as well as state and federal environmental waste laws.
Sean Yeats understands the importance of various site characteristics such as
soil and groundwater chemistry. He also has a professional certificate in GIS from
Michigan State University. Sean’s GIS skills will be vital in displaying maps of site
contaminants to the client during the remediation process. Kevin Briede understands
the methods of remediating polluted groundwater and has been involved in
sustainability and environmental projects at Stockton. During his time at Stockton, Kevin
worked on the school organic farm which allowed him to expand his knowledge on soil
textures and horizons. Kevin’s knowledge in soils will be helpful when deciding on
appropriate remediation techniques to carry out at the sites.
Alexandria Horan is proficient in GIS and in technical writing. While she
understands soil characteristics and the importance of site characteristics, she also
possesses strengths in technical writing and public relations from over four years of
customer service work experience. Alexandria’s experience would be helpful in Phase I
and Phase II assessments as well as dealing with the public throughout the remediation
process. Colin Salotti understands groundwater hydrology and is proficient in GIS. Colin
has a 10 hour OSHA construction certificate as well as hundreds of hours of experience
as a forklift operator. Colin’s skill set is especially beneficial for groundwater and surface
water remediation.
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General Physical & Chemical Remediation Overview


Pollutant characteristics and site characteristics are essential in determining what
physical or chemical remediation techniques will be viable and successful at a site.
Even though it is unrealistic for our company to carry out every technique associated in
physical and chemical remediation, it is worth demonstrating that we do understand the
general procedures associated with these remediation procedures. We intend to
remediate applicable sites using excavation, pump and treat and physical capping.
Some of these procedures are most successful when used in conjunction with one
another while others are successful by themselves.
Physical remediation procedures clean groundwater, surface water and soil
without changing the chemical makeup of the particles being cleaned. The physical
remediation procedures include physical capping, excavation, soil washing, soil flushing
and soil vapor extraction. Physical soil capping involves placing a physical barrier over
the pollutant which seals it in its current location. Capping can be used for many
pollutants! There are a number of different materials that can be used as a cap
including, but not limited to, concrete, sediment, rubber, clay and plastic (ENVL 4446,
2018). There are other types of capping that are considered chemical, biological and
even thermal.
Excavation involves physically removing soil to either be treated or disposed of
off site. Excavation is appropriate for most soil types, but limited to the size of the site.
Excavation is a viable solution for small remediation plots. Excavation is used for soil
contaminated with heavy metals, trace metals and organics. The excavated soil can be
treated at a soil washing station in situ or ex situ. When a soil is washed, the smaller
and larger soil particles are separated and treated with chemicals to remove the
pollutant from the soil. Then the cleaned soil is typically disposed of at a landfill. Based
on the nature of the pollutant, the chemical used for washing is either a chelating agent
or surfactant agent. Soil washing is best for sandy soils contaminated with metals,
except Lead (ENVL 4446, 2018)!
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Soil flushing is strictly an in situ soil cleaning process that involves injecting an
aqueous solvent or water into contaminated soil. When deciding if soil flushing is a
viable option for remediation, professionals need to consider the soil’s texture, pH, CEC,
structure, porosity, permeability and moisture content along with the pollutant solubility,
concentration, reduction potential and Kd. The aqueous co solvent is flushed into the
soil with the source of contaminants or the contaminant plume and collected after it
interacts and binds with the pollutant to be extracted and treated above ground
(​Remediation Technologies Screening Matrix and Reference Guide​). Finally, soil vapor
extraction (SVE) is a technique used for volatile and semivolatile organic compounds
(VOCs and SVOCs) polluting soil 5 feet or below the ground surface. A vacuum is used
to apply negative pressure to the polluted area resulting in the suction of the pollutants
through the vacuum to be treated at the surface (ENVL 4446, 2018). The actual
extracting of the vapors from the ground can qualify this method as physical while the
addition of air sparging and air stripping (mentioned later in the document) qualify this
method as chemical remediation.
Chemical remediation methods change the chemical makeup of the pollutant or
the soil/water it is found in. Procedures under this umbrella term include pump and treat,
permeable reactive barriers, chemical oxidation and soil vapor extraction with air
sparging or air stripping. Pump and treat involves physically pumping out contaminated
groundwater to be treated in situ or ex situ. Pump and treat is efficient in pumping out
LNAPLs and DNAPLs contaminating groundwater, however a binding agent will need to
be pumped into the groundwater in order to pull the DNAPLs off the bottom of the
groundwater area (ENVL 4446, 2018). It can also be used for groundwater polluted with
dissolved metals, fuels, reactive compounds, and VOCs and SVOCs (Pump and Treat
Technology). Once the water is treated it can be pumped back into the ground or
released at the surface.
Permeable reactive barriers (PRBS) are a permanent or semi permanent barrier
placed in the ground downgradient of the moving contaminant plume. Within the barrier
are chemicals that treat the plume as it passes through the barrier resulting in treated
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medium on the other side. The chemical in the barrier can perform a redox reaction on
the pollutant to make it less harmful than its original form (ENVL 4446, 2018). PRBs
work for trace metals, TCE, PCE and MTBE. PRBS can be used in many soils as long
as it is more permeable than the surrounding soils (Giannoutsos, n.d.).
Chemical oxidation is a method used in conjunction with other remediation
methods like soil vapor extraction. It involves the addition of an oxidant to a
contaminated area to promote biostimulation of microorganisms that, in turn, degrade
the pollutant. This method is typically used in small areas in the saturated zone of soils
due to the cost of actually carrying out the method. Site characteristics are incredibly
important in chemical oxidation as most oxidants can not penetrate an impermeable
layer and some oxidants can react with material in the surrounding soil, affecting its
ability to degrade the intended pollutant. The most common chemical oxidants used
include ozone, Fenton’s reagent with hydrogen peroxide, potassium persulfate,
ultraviolet radiation, potassium dichromate and potassium permanganate (ENVL 4446,
2018).
As mentioned before, soil vapor extraction involves the extraction of VOCs and
SVOCs from polluted soils. Air sparging is used in conjunction with SVE to make the
chemicals dissolve faster to be vacuumed up faster, speeding up the remediation
process. In air sparging, atmospheric air is pumped into the contaminated plume,
providing oxygen to make VOCs or SVOCs dissolve faster or to promote
biodegradation. Air stripping can also be used which involves the addition of air to
groundwater which strips the water of the pollutants. That pollutant filled air can then be
sucked out and treated (ENVL 4446, 2018). It is important to note that these methods
do not have to be used with one another.

Site & Pollutant Specialization


Rescue and Remediate would focus on the remediation of gas stations.
Remediation work is often needed at both current and former gas station properties due
to the number of hazardous chemicals that are often stored and used as these sites.
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The ubiquity of gas stations makes their remediation particularly appealing, as it would
ensure that our company would always have clients in need of work. According to the
State of New Jersey Open GIS Data, there are approximately 3,263 gas stations in New
Jersey. With the large number of gas stations present, there is undoubtedly a significant
number that could be in need of environmental services. This doesn’t even include the
number of properties that were former gas station sites and are currently abandoned.

Figure 1:​ Illustrates where pollutants are usually found at a gas station.

Areas of concern at gas stations include both the soil and groundwater, with a
number of pollutants potentially being found in those areas. Pollutants may be found in
both the topsoil and the subsurface soil, as the underground tanks at gas
stations—especially closed down sites—are prone to leaking. There are a few different
groups of chemicals commonly found at gas stations. One of the most common is the
BTEX family of chemicals—which contains benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and
xylene. These volatile organic compounds—or VOCs—are often found in the soil of
these sites, typically in the form of chemical vapors. BTEX chemicals may also be found
in the groundwater of the site, often on top of the aquifer as these chemicals are
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LNAPLs (Light Non-Aqueous Phase Liquids), which are lighter than water. Both
present-day and historical gasoline additives are commonly found at these sites, with
lead and MTBE (Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether) being the most common.
Lead is most commonly found in the soil, as its low mobility leads to it not
traveling very far in the environment. The high solubility of MTBE leads to it being most
commonly found in the groundwater. Degreasing chemicals—such as TCE and
PERC—may be found at sites where attached auto repair shops are present. These
attached auto repair shops are particularly common at older gas stations. These
chemicals are DNAPLS (Dense Non-Aqueous Phase Liquids) which are heavier than
water, leading them to often be found at the bottom of aquifers. These chemicals are
also VOCs, and their ease of volatilization causes their vapors to be commonly found in
the soil as well. PAHs (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons) are a group of chemicals that
are commonly found in petroleum products such as gasoline. They are often found in
similar places to gasoline, which includes the soil and the groundwater.

Remediation Methods
Rescue and Remediate would use excavation, pump and treat and physical
capping to remediate gas station sites. The Rescue and Remediate Environmental
Assessment Division would specialize in performing Phase I and Phase II
environmental assessments. These assessments are important to protect prospective
property owners from potential liability if pollution is found at their property. A Phase I
assessment involves a review of records; a visual site inspection; and interviews with
owners, occupants, neighbors, and local government officials. These steps are done to
determine whether there is a potential for pollution to be found at the site. A Phase II
assessment is conducted if research and investigation during the Phase I assessment
indicates that the site is likely polluted. A Phase II assessment consists of sampling and
laboratory analysis to confirm the presence of contaminants at the site. Samples are
taken from a variety of places at the site including surface water and soil, subsurface
soil, groundwater, drums (if any are present at the site), and transformers/capacitors at
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the site. Geophysical tests may also be done to find any buried tanks and drums. In the
event that any tanks are located, their contents would also be sampled. If the sampling
indicates pollutants in soil or groundwater, then planning for cleaning of the site begins.
We would generally remove any underground storage tanks first as in some
cases that is the source of pollutant. Any existing chemicals within the storage tank
would be pumped out to be sent away for proper disposal. Any residuals that have
collected inside the storage tank will have to be scraped off and washed away. The
site’s future plays a big role in how the storage tank is dealt with. If the gas station is
going to see future use, the storage tank will be removed with either a track machine,
backhoe, or a crane, depending on the size of the tank. If the site does not plan on
seeing any future use as a gas station, in some situations, the tank can be filled with
concrete and left in the ground.
Once the tank or tanks are properly emptied, a backhoe can be used to remove
all contaminated soils. The contaminated soils are excavated, placed into a dump truck
and then sent away to be treated or disposed of properly. Once these soils and tanks
are removed from the ground, we can begin digging wells and preparing to pump and
treat the groundwater. If the wells are deep enough an outside contractor will have to be
contacted to dig. Since the groundwater is not being recharged back into its original
place, it is important that the treated water meets the standards for stormwater so it can
be discharged as such. This standard will be achieved by using the chemical treatment
known as BOS100. If the pollutants are not in the form of a plume there is a chance it is
in the company's best interest to physically cap the site after the excavation and
removal of the storage tanks. There are a variety of caps that we can use that are
dependant on site characteristics, but they all ultimately do the same job of containing
any existing pollutants and stopping their spread.

Budget
The four full-time employees at Rescue and Remediate would each receive full
benefits with up to $2,500,000 of insurance, vacation time, sick days and a sick holiday
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bonus. Costs vary greatly from project to project as different physical and chemical
methods are utilized. Costs to consider include proper chemical/hazardous waste
disposal, equipment rentals, lab testing fees and power usage. Table 1 shows the
breakdown of yearly expenses including the equipment and materials needed for
underground storage tank (UST) removal, Phase I and II assessments and excavation.
Some rates are subject to change if general labor is needed or delays with equipment
rentals. If a pump and treat or physical capping is needed fo the site then a third party
company will be contracted and costs will be changed accordingly.

Table 1:​ Yearly Budget

Bracket Cost annually

Full-time Employees $400,000

Chemical and Hazardous Waste Disposal $25,000

Power usage $60,000

Insurance $90,000

Backhoe and Dump Truck Rental $7,000 (for 4 weeks)

Lab Fees $4,000 for single batch of samples

The cost for Rescue and Remediate to perform a phase I assessment is between
$1,800 and $5,000. This price is dependent upon several factors including the location
of the site, the types of buildings on the site, the current and past use of the property,
how many phase I assessments are needed and how quickly the report is to be
completed.
The cost for a phase II assessment varies significantly and is dependent upon
the size of the property, the scope of the potential contamination, the different types of
sampling needed and the types of buildings/materials at the site. The average cost for a
phase II assessment for due diligence is $6,000 to $25,000; although the price can be
higher depending on the site specifics.
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Conclusion
The money given to the four founding members by Toni Sr. for a remediation
company should not be revoked as the business proposal is sound and realistic. The
company will focus on gas station sites that are abundant in New Jersey using
excavation, pump and treat, removal of UST’s, and capping to remediate the sites.
These sites are plentiful and indicate a future in this type of site remediation. The
remediation methods carried out by Rescue and Remediate have been proven
adequate in cleaning sites contaminated with metals, VOCs, SVOCs, DNAPLs and
LNAPLs. The company budget outlines exactly how Toni Sr.’s money will be used. It is
the hope of the founding members that the business proposal outlined above will ease
the mind of Toni Jr., allowing him to trust in his father’s decision and to trust in Rescue
and Remediate.
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References
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nmental-site-assessment-cost.
D. (n.d.). Phase I ESA Costs vs Phase II ESA Costs. Retrieved April 06, 2018, from
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ts-vs-phase-ii-environmental-site-assessment-costs.
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Diligence/Allocation of Risk. (2017, February 13). Retrieved April 06, 2018, from
http://commercemagnj.com/innocent-purchaser-defense-spill-act-liability-environ
mental-due-diligenceallocation-risk/.
Patten, B. V. (2017, November 28). How Much Does a Phase II Environmental Site
Assessment Cost? | EMS. Retrieved April 06, 2018, from
http://emsenv.com/2016/04/08/phase-ii-environmental-site-assessment-cost/.
Pump and Treat Technology. (n.d.). Retrieved April 07, 2018, from
http://www.cpeo.org/techtree/ttdescript/pumtre.html.
Remediation Technologies Screening Matrix and Reference Guide, Version 4.0. (n.d.).
Retrieved April 07, 2018, from https://frtr.gov/matrix2/section4/4-6.html.
What are Phase 2 Environmental Assessments? (n.d.). Retrieved April 06, 2018, from
https://www.aaienvcorp.com/phaseii.html.

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