On-Call Term Contract

Environmental Services

H2M has an on-call term contract with Consolidated Edison Company of New York (ConEd) for the provision of environmental services. This work includes:

Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) and Risk Management (RM) Plans: H2M has prepared new or updated SPCC and RM Plans for substations as requested by ConEd. These plans were required either due to new construction activity or facility modifications affecting the on-site storage of petroleum products and/or toxic or hazardous materials.

Spill Investigation and Remediation Program: H2M developed and implemented a comprehensive site investigation program to address over 360 historic releases of petroleum fuels and/or dielectric fluids and former underground storage tank (UST) areas. The investigation program included the performance of detailed background documentation review, geophysical surveys, remote utility and conduit inspection services, and the construction and sampling of over 150 soil borings and 40 groundwater monitoring wells using conventional and innovative investigation and sampling methods. Based on the results of the investigation, remedial activities and risk characterizations, H2M has successfully closed 275 of the 360 documented historic spills, and several UST areas.

Low-Level Mercury Sampling: H2M has been successfully providing trace mercury sampling and analysis at various ConEd steam or electrical power-generating facilities for compliance with State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) wastewater discharge permit renewals and requirements of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC). H2M has employed strict sampling protocols in conformance with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Method 1669 to minimize the potential for sample contamination and enable mercury concentration detection limits in the parts-per-trillion range. Analytical services for quantifying trace levels of mercury have been performed in accordance with EPA Method 1631.

 Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs) and Phase II Site Investigations: H2M completed Phase I ESAs on two ConEd-owned sites in Staten Island.  The sites investigated included a former power plant and a former substation facility. H2M investigated each property in accordance with the ASTM standard for due diligence, including detailed site inspections, review of previous environmental reports, local and state regulatory files, historical data sources, and interviews with site operators. Upon completing our field investigation and records review, H2M prepared Phase I ESA reports for each property identifying areas of potential environmental concern and work plans for Phase II Site Investigations at each property. Phase II Site Investigations were completed for both sites. The investigation activities consisted of the installation and sampling of soil borings, monitoring wells and test pits.

Site Investigation and Remediation Oversight: In 2009, a transformer at ConEd’s Dunwoodie substation exploded, causing the release of dielectric oil into the bluestone and underlying soil around the transformer. In response, H2M performed delineation sampling, site investigation activities, and remediation oversight, followed by the development of plans for soil remedial action and confirmatory sampling.  The soil remedial action consisted of the excavation of contaminated bluestone and underlying soil. Completing the initial soil delineation sampling prior to the remedial action enabled H2M to minimize the excavation area and reduce the amount of time needed in the field to complete the work.  Additionally, the NYSDEC was concerned that the spill had impacted the bedrock, which was present at depths of 0.25-4.00 feet below ground surface; H2M recommended that the bedrock surface be exposed, cleaned, and inspected for fractures in lieu of conducting a bedrock groundwater investigation. Based on the observations made, and with concurrence from the NYSDEC, no bedrock wells were required to be installed. Following the excavation of contaminated bluestone, H2M conducted post-excavation soil sampling and prepared the closure report for submittal to the regulatory agency.