Assessing Your School An Environmental Investigation

1
Assessing Your SchoolAn Environmental
Investigation

• You have been hired by Eagle Environmental, Inc.
  to perform an Environmental Assessment of South
  Hunterdon Regional High School.
• Job orientation will take place today and
  tomorrow.
• After training, you will perform an environmental
  inspection of the school property.

2
What Do We Do?

• Inspect school buildings and property.
• Interview of onsite personnel (custodians
  administrators)
• Take photographs of the property and areas of
  concern.
• Collect measurements of buildings and other
  landmarks.
• Prepare a site map of school property.
• Prepare an Environmental Assessment Report

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What are we looking For?

• Underground or above ground storage tanks
• Hazardous material or chemical storage areas
• Septic systems
• Wells
• Asbestos Containing Building Materials
• Lead Based Paint
• Floor drains and/or trench drains
• Sump pumps

4
Environmental Conditions and Areas of Concern

• The presence of any hazardous substances or
  petroleum products on a property under conditions
  that indicate an existing release, a past
  release, or a threat of a release into structures
  on the property or into the ground, groundwater,
  or surface water of the property
• Area or condition that may impact human and/or
  environmental health.

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Above and Underground Storage TanksUSTs and ASTs

• A UST consists of tanks, pipes and fixtures used
  to contain hazardous substances.
• At least 10 of the tank is located underground.
• An above ground tanks must be completely above
  the ground.
• Gas, oil, antifreeze, used motor oil

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Hazardous Material and Chemical Storage Areas

• Drums
• ASTs
• Chemical closets
• Identify all chemicals used at a property.
• Obtain Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
• MSDS sheets are necessary in case of emergency.

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Septic Systems and Wells

• Location
• Clean- out schedule
• Date of installation
• Location
• Depth
• Type of water supply
• Sampling schedule

8
Asbestos Containing Building MaterialsACBMs

• May be present in buildings constructed before
  1972.
• In in good condition can be left alone.
• If in friable condition, properly remove
• Can cause lung disease if inhaled.

9
Lead Based Paint

• Prior to 1978 lead based paint was used.
• Paint in good condition (no chips or cracks) is
  not a problem
• Exposure to lead based paint can cause serious
  health problems.
• Headaches, nerve disorders, muscle and joint
  pain, digestive and reproductive problems

10
Floor Drains and Sump Pumps

• Usually located in restroom, kitchens and
  basement areas.
• Remove excess water
• Identify location of each
• Identify where discharge point is located.

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Environmental Assessment Report

• Introduction
• Site History
• Site Features
• Physical Features
• Description of current site conditions
• Current operations
• Utilities

• Site inspection observations
• Findings
• Recommendations
• Site Assessment Photograph Log
• Site Plan including Areas of Concern

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Where can we find more info?

• New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
  (NJDEP)
• http//www.state.nj.us/dep/
• US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• http//www.epa.gov/