May 10, 2010 - EarthFax Provides Engineering Services to Close Solid Waste Management Units at a Rocket Motor Manufacturing Facility

EarthFax Engineering, Inc. (“EarthFax”) is providing environmental engineering services to a major rocket motor manufacturer to investigate, remediate as necessary, and close three former solid-waste burial sites, a burn pit, and a salvage area.  Partial removal of waste from these sites took place in the late 1980s, and although they were backfilled with clean fill material, closure of the sites was not properly documented and they were later designated by the Utah Department of Environmental Quality as Solid Waste Management Units.

A soil gas survey was conducted to evaluate the presence of volatile organic compounds and assess potential impacts to indoor air that may occur with future changes in land use at the site.  Results of the soil gas survey suggested that volatile organic compounds did not pose a threat to indoor air standards and would not significantly impact future land development in the area.

EarthFax personnel then collected several soil samples from the area to more accurately characterize the vertical and horizontal distribution of wastes and contamination at these sites.  Analytical results of samples collected at the former solid waste burial sites demonstrated that no further remedial actions would be required at these sites.  However, samples collected at the burn pit and the salvage area demonstrated that contamination levels were above applicable risk screening levels for several metals.  Accordingly, EarthFax supervised excavation of affected soils and collected soil samples collected from the excavated area.  Concentrations of the contaminants of concern in all of these samples were below risk screening levels.  A letter of no further action is pending for this site and no land deed restrictions are anticipated.

Project work completed by EarthFax included developing sampling and analysis plans, conducting the soil gas survey, generating reports that summarize field work and analytical results,  providing recommendations based on the analytical data, and providing agency liaison for regulatory matters.

EarthFax Engineering, Inc. is a consulting engineering firm that was founded in 1982, with offices in Midvale, Utah.  The firm provides services in the areas of civil engineering, environmental engineering, geotechnical engineering, hydrology, geology, land reclamation, and environmental planning.  Additional information regarding EarthFax can be found at www.earthfax.com.