Environmental Audits

Applied Science & Technology, Inc. (ASTI) offers audit programs to assist industry in identifying compliance requirements and evaluating current operations. These services include property inspections for real estate transactions, compliance evaluations, and compliance monitoring. Examples of audit programs are provided below.

PROPERTY REVIEWS (PHASE I ASSESSMENTS)

With the growing awareness of the environmental liabilities associated with real estate transactions, all types of businesses are requiring property inspections prior to purchase or refinancing. ASTI has conducted initial reviews on hundreds of properties in Michigan for banks, developers and industry. For example, ASTI completed a Level I for a mental health facility in anticipation of a future site development as a condominium and golf course. This audit included the usual title search, aerial photo review, site inspection, and records search. However, the project also included the identification and mapping of wetlands, asbestos inspections of all remaining buildings, identifying the location of underground storage tanks, and fluid sampling for all remaining transformers.

SITE SAMPLING (PHASE II INVESTIGATIONS)

Based on the findings of a Level I Audit, site specific sampling and analysis programs are often necessary. These programs are site and contaminant specific and are often designed to assess general subsurface site conditions. In many cases, ASTI will complete soils and groundwater sampling, and provide screening analysis to identify the presence of high production industrial materials. In one example, initial soils and groundwater sampling identified 1,1,1-trichloroethane in concentrations exceeding the Michigan Type B closure standard, and resulted in the installation of a groundwater monitoring network to identify the extent and source of contamination.

COMPLIANCE AUDITS

ASTI has completed compliance audits for industries ranging from manufacturers to warehouses. One example is an audit program completed for a holding company with manufacturing facilities in six states and Canada. This compliance audit included an evaluation of permitted operations and existing permits, and made recommendations for emissions monitoring and permit updates.

BASELINE ASSESSMENTS

ASTI staff completed a multi-media assessment of a proposed 130-acre manufacturing facility. This baseline assessment evaluated storm runoff, community noise impacts, existing site conditions, available capacity of the city's wastewater system, and air quality impacts. Based on negotiations with the Michigan DNR, the program included a complete air monitoring, meteorological and computer data-logging system to coordinate data needs for one year of background air quality data.

WASTE MANAGEMENT AUDITS

ASTI staff completed an audit to identify current waste generation, storage and handling procedures at an automotive manufacture's research facility. This audit identified the location, volume and type of waste material, as well as permit requirements and violations. The program resulted in recommendations for waste consolidation and changes in handling and storage practices.

INDUSTRIAL SURVEYS

As part of a Remedial Investigation, ASTI completed an audit of six industries and two vacant properties located within a federal Superfund site. The objective of the audit was to identify potential past and current sources of organic solvents identified as groundwater contaminants. The audit reviewed historic uses for each parcel and identified potential sources of organic solvents typically associated with each use. Potential sources at each site, such as septic fields, old lagoons, and underground storage tanks were identified. Finally, each existing industry was audited to identify raw material usage, chemical use and storage, and waste production over the past five years. The survey concluded by identifying two current and two past operators that were potentially responsible.

AUDIT MONITORING

Industrial audits often focus on permit submittal and overlook permit compliance evaluations. To supplement our audit services, ASTI provides a wide scope of emissions and permit compliance monitoring programs. These range from waste water sampling, to air emissions monitoring, to industrial hygiene programs. ASTI staff have conducted simultaneous air sampling of multiple stationary sources, dye studies for industrial sewer systems, and composite sampling of waste water discharges.

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