 |
|
 |
Lowney Associates provided environmental services for Goble Properties at a facility formerly used to recycle computer hard disks. A facility closure report was prepared by another consultant and submitted to the local regulatory agency. Due to elevated arsenic concentrations detected in the site's soil, the case was referred to the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC). The DTSC concluded the concentrations were unacceptable for case closure and required site cleanup. Goble requested that Lowney give a second opinion. Based on our experience, we knew that other naturally occurring metals could interfere with the arsenic scan. We recommended that a second laboratory test the soil samples to confirm the previously reported arsenic concentrations. The reanalysis would focus on distinguishing arsenic from the other interfering metals. Upon DTSC's approval of this alternative, the original soil samples were reanalyzed. Arsenic concentrations detected by the reanalysis were significantly lower. The DTSC then requested quality assurance and control data from each lab. After reviewing the data, the DTSC determined the reanalysis was valid and granted case closure, saving Goble Properties months of cleanup activities and hundreds of thousands of dollars in site closure costs.