JHA Environmental, Inc.
Real Estate Due Diligence
JHA Environmental, Inc. provides real estate due diligence services under the leadership of Mr. Wallace Jensky II. Mr. Jensky is a Professional Geologist and Registered Environmental Assessor has over 38 years of experience in soil and groundwater investigations, petroleum geology, sedimentation, tectonics, and since 1987, environmental and contaminated-site assessment and remediation. His project experience includes underground storage tank closure and cleanup; redevelopment of crude-oil producing properties; investigation and cleanup of automobile sales and service facilities; investigation and remediation of commercial and industrial sites contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons, metals and halogenated wastes; negotiation with regulatory agencies; application of risk-based site closure; litigation support; and environmental site assessments (Phase I and Phase II due-diligence) for large portfolio and single-site property transactions. Representative projects performed and/or managed by Mr. Jensky include the following:
Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs) for Property Transactions
Mr. Jensky has performed or managed over 300 Phase I and Phase II ESAs for large portfolio and single-site property transfers in California, Nevada, Arizona, Texas, Oregon, and Massachusetts. Current ESAs are performed in accordance with the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Designation E 1527-05 that also satisfies the federal standard for All Appropriate Inquiry (AAI). Many projects included sampling of soil, groundwater, asbestos containing building materials, lead based paint, and PCB fluids around leaking electrical transformers. Performed tank closure and limited soil remediation at numerous properties and provided planning level cost estimates for site characterization and remediation at others.
Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, California – Performed a multi-site Phase I ESA for the acquisition of a cable television company. Developed properties included head-end facilities, hubs, and microwave towers at commercial/retail, rural, and remote locations.
Northern and Southern California – Performed over 30 Phase I ESAs at automobile dealerships for the purchaser, the seller, and/or for expansion or refinancing of existing operations. Based on extensive experience, the greatest potential cleanup liabilities at automobile dealerships is from active or former leaking underground storage tanks, and from leaking in-ground piston vaults for front-to-rear hydraulic lifts. Because the lift vaults are open, they collect any fluids (fuel, solvents, cleaners) that drip or spill on the floor. Wash rack clarifiers and single and side-by-side in-ground hydraulic lift systems may leak, but typically they do not cause large volume soil impacts for cleanup.
Santa Barbara, California – Performed a Phase I and Phase II ESA for the University of California Santa Barbara of the acquisition of a large tract of land located west of the campus. The property had a lagoon area; a former crude oil tank battery for near shore oil wells; oil pipeline easements; and a leased area with two large above ground storage tanks, an out-of-service API separation pond, and a control room to transfer oil from the tanks to barges off-shore (marine terminal). The land was acquired by the University, and the oil company will be required to clean up the marine terminal portion of the Site when the lease expires.
University Campus, West Los Angeles, California – Performed a Phase I ESA and investigated an underground storage tank including soil borings and soil-gas survey. The tank was removed and diesel fuel impacted soil was remediated prior to closure of the transaction.
Valencia, California – Performed a Phase I and II ESA at a 1,900-acre Planned Community. The property had 25 abandoned oil wells scattered over the Site. A portion of the Site had an active lease with ten active oil well locations, three tank batteries and numerous sumps. Some of the oil wells had been drilled in the late 1800s with cable-tool rigs and could not be located. Most of the abandoned wells were documented in records at the office of the California Division of Oil Gas and Geothermal Resources, and the locations were observed on historical aerial photographs. The well casings were located with a magnetometer and were surveyed by a licensed land surveyor and were placed in the Site drawings. During the Phase I assessment a previously unknown 10,000-gallon underground storage tank was discovered on the property. The tank was removed in accordance with a tank removal permit. Soil samples collected beneath the tank were not impacted, and the case was closed by the agency. The Site was developed with large neighborhood of single family residences.
Automobile Dealerships and Automobile Repair Facilities
Mr. Jensky has performed numerous projects at automobile dealerships and at individual automobile repair shops with one to four service bays. Projects included removing underground tanks, assessing the soil around or removing wastewater clarifiers, and assessing the soil around or removing in-ground hydraulic automobile lifts. In cases where leaking in-ground lifts were confirmed, either self-directed soil cleanup or soil cleanup with agency oversight was performed.
North Hollywood, California - Managed a subsurface assessment of two former automobile dealerships (Site). The Site was included in the Well Investigation Program (WIP) for the North Hollywood Groundwater Superfund area by the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB). The assessment resulted in the Site being removed for the WIP list. Prepared a subsurface demolition Workplan for RWQCB approval prior to demolition of building slabs, clarifiers, USTs, sumps and drains and over 55 in-ground hydraulic automobile lifts for the Site. Prepared a Workplan for excavation and disposal of over 2,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil and construction debris and received closure from the RWQCB for the Site remediation. The client received a refund of $600,000 of the $1-million retention for environmental cleanup. The Site was redeveloped.
Menlo Park, California – Managed the removal of 24 in-ground hydraulic lifts and the abandonment of one groundwater irrigation well at a closed automobile dealership. The property was leased from Stanford University. The University required a regulatory agency sign-off for the work. The Client entered the voluntary clean up program with the San Mateo County Environmental Health Division (EHD). The EHD inspector observed the lift excavations and the collection of confirmation soil samples for immediate analyses in an on-Site mobile laboratory, the excavation of impacted soil when impacted soil was reported by the laboratory, and the final confirmation sampling. Impacted soil was manifested as non-RCRA hazardous waste and was transported to a Bay area landfill that could accept the soil. The San Mateo County EHD issued a No Further Action Letter for the property after reviewing the final report and documentation. Stanford University allowed the client to terminate its lease.
Ventura, California - Managed the removal of 36 in-ground hydraulic lifts during the demolition of a dealership. Several of the side-by-side lifts had leaked and the soil beneath the piston vaults of the five front-to-rear lifts was impacted with oil and halogenated solvents. The locations of the lifts with impacted soil were surveyed to a known point on the property so that the locations could be found after the buildings, floors, and foundations had been removed and Site was a vacant lot. Regulatory oversight was provided by the Ventura County Environmental Health Division (VCEHD) through the voluntary clean up program. The impacted soil was excavated and transported to a soil treatment facility for recycling as daily cover at a landfill. Confirmation soil samples were collected and no significant concentration of contaminates remained. The VCEHD issued a No Further Action Letter for the lifts. Following cleanup of groundwater with methyl tertiary butyl ether by others, the Site was developed with a pre-school, an adult assisted living complex, and retail shops.
Agricultural Land
Mr. Jensky has performed numerous projects at agricultural properties for property transfers and for residential and/or commercial redevelopment projects. Projects included removing tanks used for wind machines, oil for orchard heaters, and equipment fuel, and assessing the soil around barns, storage sheds and growing ground for agricultural chemicals such as long lived organochlorine pesticides. In cases where fuel residues are confirmed, either self-directed soil cleanup or soil cleanup with agency oversight was performed. In cases were soil impacted with organochlorine pesticide residues were confirmed, either a health base risk assessment and/or spot soil remediation was performed.
Oxnard and Ventura County, California – Managed a number of Phase I ESAs for farms and orchards during property transfers.
Oxnard, California – Performed a school site Preliminary Endangerment Assessment (PEA) at a proposed new public school Site. Because the ten-acre property was, and had been, developed with row crop agriculture, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) required the PEA to evaluate whether or not agricultural chemicals were present in the soil at the Site. Several chlorinated pesticides were detected in the soil, but based on the results of a risk assessment the concentrations were below DTSC actions levels.
Ventura County, California – Performed a school site Preliminary Endangerment Assessment (PEA) at an existing elementary school that was damaged in the Northridge Earthquake and planned to construct replacement buildings (campus) on the adjacent athletic fields. The site was located within established lemon and avocado orchards in the Santa Clara Valley. The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) required the PEA to evaluate whether or not agricultural chemicals were present in the soil at the Site. No significant concentrations of agricultural chemicals were detected in the athletic field soil. The PEA was accepted and the project was approved.
Industrial and Commercial Properties
San Joaquin Valley, California - Managed four Preliminary Endangerment Assessments (PEAs) at former Manufactured Gas Plant (MGP) sites that were performed in accordance with the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) guidance document for former MGP facilities. The assessments included an investigation of historical use and location of former MGP facilities; preparation of Workplans for DTSC approval; the collection of soil samples; laboratory analyses for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), volatile organic compounds, petroleum hydrocarbons, and heavy metals; and an evaluation of human and ecological endangerment based on the laboratory data and DTSC requirements. The PEAs were accepted by DTSC. Helped to develop the scope and prepared Workplans for DTSC approval for remedial investigations / feasibility studies as follow-up investigations at the MGP sites.
Downtown, Los Angeles, California – Performed a methane gas investigation in 60-foot-deep excavation for a subterranean parking structure. Gas bubbles, confirmed to be methane gas, were observed in a pool of water at the base of the excavation. Regulatory authorities were concerned that the gas was biogenic methane coming from contaminated soil that would require additional investigation; thus, resulting in a significant delay in completing the parking structure. The methane gas investigation determined the flux rate of the gas and that it was not from contaminated soil. The methane was from a thermogenic source (a known petroleum reservoir south of the Site) and was naturally occurring. It was agreed that a methane barrier would be installed beneath the parking structure and the project continued on schedule.
Los Angeles, California - Performed soil and groundwater assessments at a large apartment community. The investigation included 15 abandoned fuel tanks, natural oil-seeps, asbestos containing building materials, lead based paint, lead in drinking water, and collecting and analyzing groundwater grab samples for six borings located on the Site. Reviewed proposed plans for a methane gas relief and monitoring system for the retail stores on the Site. It was recommended to remove the abandoned tanks and perform limited soil remediation as necessary; prepare Operation and Maintenance Plans for asbestos and lead based paint; and to properly excavate and dispose of naturally occurring tar seeps if encountered during future construction activities.
Petroleum Production and Storage Properties
San Pedro, California - Managed a subsurface investigation of a large commercial petroleum tank farm including the review of years of storage records by tank, the investigation and delineation of impacted soil, and forensic geochemistry to evaluate the age and type of hydrocarbon contamination. Results were used to establish cost sharing for soil remediation between the past and current tenants and the property owner.
Valencia, California - Managed a surface and subsurface investigation of a 1,200 acre oil field including numerous former and active oil well locations, seven tank batteries, six production sumps, produced water injection facility and gas plant. The results of the investigation were used to estimate the volume of soil that would require removal/remediation for the property to be redeveloped for residential use.
Wilmington, California - Managed a subsurface investigation of a former oil production tank battery located on a town-lot lease. The results of the investigation were used to estimate the volume of soil that would require removal to clean the property following the removal of the tank battery.
Santa Maria, California - Provided consultation for the remediation of large soil stockpile on a 40-acre former petroleum lease that included six former oil-well locations, six production sumps, pipelines, and one tank battery. While preparing the Site for residential development, the contractor excavated over 70,000 cubic yards of soil from the western two-thirds of the Site, including the soil from the six former oil wells and production sumps, and placed all of the soil in a single stockpile on the eastern one-third of the Site. During an onsite inspection, the regulatory agency observed the petroleum impacts in the stockpiled soil and directed that none of the stockpile could be used onsite for residential development. The cost to transport and properly dispose of the stockpile and to import clean material to the Site was prohibitive. The investigation included hand-auger borings within the stockpile, visual observations, and laboratory analysis of selected soil samples. The petroleum contamination was observed to occur as various sized clumps of soft tar and soil. Samples of the visibly clean soil did not contain petroleum hydrocarbons. A pilot test was proposed to screen the soil to remove the tar clumps. Samples of the soil that passed the screen did not contain petroleum hydrocarbons. As a result of the pilot test, the entire stockpile was screened using conveyors and a harp-screen. The stockpiled soil that passed the screen was sampled and did not contain petroleum hydrocarbons. The regulatory agency allowed the screened soil to be placed in the excavation and the tar clumps to be placed beneath the roads and under three-feet of clean soil in the planned dedicated open spaces. The project remained economic and was completed.
Ventura, California – Performed a subsurface soil and groundwater assessment of a closed oil refinery. The assessment included the drilling and sampling of 25 soil borings and the installation and sampling of four groundwater monitoring wells. No significant impacts were detected in the area investigated. The project was terminated when the City of Ventura would not reactivate an expired conditional use permit for a portion of the facility.
Underground Storage Tank (UST) Properties
Mr. Jensky has assisted tank removal contractors during the removal of over 75 USTs, including permitting, soil sampling after the tanks were removed, and preparation of the tank closure report. If a release was confirmed, Mr. Jensky prepared assessment Workplans, performed soil and or groundwater assessments, and prepared assessment reports for the regulatory agency. Once the assessment was complete (the lateral and vertical extent of contamination was identified), a feasibility study and remediation Workplan as prepared and remediation commenced. Mr. Jensky has received regulatory agency closure for his clients at numerous leaking UST properties.
West Los Angeles, California – Managed the remediation of a release of diesel fuel from a UST that was removed by others at a west Los Angeles Country Club. The previous consultant performed a soil assessment and installed four groundwater monitoring wells around the former diesel fuel UST. No impacts were detected in the groundwater and the previous consultant prepared a Workplan to excavate impacted soil from an area measuring 20 feet by 40 feet that would have impacted one of the tee boxes and established landscape. Mr. Jensky reviewed the previous soil data and submitted a modified Workplan to excavate three smaller areas of identified diesel fuel impacted soil (hot spot removal). The modified Workplan was approved and the removal of the soil with the highest concentration was performed. Confirmation soil samples from the sidewalls and bottom of the smaller excavations documented that the remaining in-place soil was either not impacted or had concentrations of diesel well below the regulatory action level. Based on the previous groundwater monitoring data and the soil remediation, the Site received a No Further Action letter. The tee box and landscaping did not require removal.
Garden Grove, California – Removed a 2,000-gallon gasoline UST from an automobile dealership. Shallow groundwater in the tank pit contained low concentrations of methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) and the regulatory agency required a Workplan to assess the groundwater. Three shallow groundwater monitoring wells were installed and were monitored quarterly for one year. No MTBE was detected in the groundwater monitoring wells and, following removal of the wells, the agency issued a No Further Action letter for the Site.
Newport Beach, California - Removed a 1,000-gallon used oil UST from an automobile dealership. Used oil was detected in high concentrations in the loose beach sand underlying the former UST. The agency required a Workplan to assess and remediate the impacted sandy soil. Soil borings were drilled and sampled at locations around the former tank. Petroleum impacts were limited to the sandy soil directly beneath the former UST. Using 20-foot by 20-foot slide box shoring, the sandy soil was excavated to a depth of 14 feet where groundwater was encountered. Oil was observed floating on the groundwater. A vacuum truck removed approximately 2,000-gallons of oil and water from the excavation. The soil and groundwater were properly disposed at appropriate recycling facilities, and the excavation was backfilled and compacted with clean imported material. Three groundwater monitoring wells were installed around the former tank pit and were monitored quarterly for one year. No petroleum hydrocarbons were detected in the groundwater and the Site received at No Further Action letter from the Orange County Health Care Agency.
Community of Piru, Ventura County, California – Following removal of four 1,000-gallon USTs at a former gasoline station, petroleum hydrocarbons were detected in the soil beneath and adjacent to the dispenser island where pipe connections had leaked. A number of soil borings and groundwater monitoring wells were installed during the assessment phase of the project. The groundwater surface was observed to rise and fall up to 50 feet during winter and summer and during wet and dry years. The groundwater is used for irrigation of the numerous orchards in the Site vicinity. Because of the groundwater fluctuation, the gasoline had impacted the soil column from near ground surface to a depth of approximately 80 feet below ground surface (bgs). When the groundwater surface was high (approximately 40 feet bgs) up to 50 feet of gasoline impacted soil was submerged. In order to remediate the soil, three soil vapor extraction well clusters with three wells each were installed at the Site. Screened intervals were between 20 and 40 feet bgs, 45 and 60-feet bgs, and 65 and 80 feet bgs. During low groundwater soil vapors were extracted from all three intervals. During high groundwater, soil vapor was extracted only from the shallow interval(s) and air sparging (air injection) was performed in the submerged intervals. The remediation system operated for approximately three years. When soil vapor concentrations declined, a rebound test was performed by shutting down the system for 45 days and starting it again to test vapor concentrations. The vapor concentrations remained near zero after the 45 day shut down. Two soil confirmation borings were drilled and sampled to depths of 80 feet bgs in the areas were the soil originally had the highest concentrations of petroleum hydrocarbons. No to very low petroleum hydrocarbons were detected in the soil. The Ventura Country Environmental Health Division, with approval of the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board issued a No Further Action letter for the petroleum hydrocarbon impacted soil at the Site.
Torrance, California – Removed a 10,000-gallon gasoline UST from an automobile dealership. Soil samples collected and analyzed from beneath the UST, along the product piping, and under the dispenser did not contain petroleum hydrocarbons and the tank case was closed by the Torrance Fire Department.
Expert Testimony, Expert Scientist for Attorney Privileged Projects
Ventura, California - Provided privileged consultation and deposition testimony prior to trial and testimony at trial for the plaintiff regarding the necessity for and the cost of clean-up of petroleum impacted soil following the removal of 27 in-ground hydraulic automobile lifts at an automobile dealership. The plaintiff was awarded the clean-up cost from the defendant.
Banning, California - Provided privileged consultation and deposition testimony for the plaintiff regarding the geologic processes that lead to an oil pipeline being hit by a road grader, resulting in a major spill of crude oil to a nearby creek. An undisclosed settlement was reached between the plaintiff and the defendant’s insurance company prior to trial.
Los Angeles, California - Provided consultation and deposition testimony for the plaintiff regarding the true value of an oil production drill-site and the value of oil and gas reserves lost to an oil company due to condemnation of a dedicated drill-site by the City of Pico Rivera. The case settled prior to trial when the City offered additional cash and an alternate drill-site parcel.
Oxnard, California - Provided privileged consultation and declarations in defense of an environmental consulting/contracting firm that preformed soil remediation at a property in Oxnard, California. An undisclosed settlement was reached between the plaintiff and the defendant’s insurance company prior to trial.
Building Trust.....
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JHA
Contact:
Wallace A. Jensky II, PG, REA
Wallace A. Jensky II, PG, REA805-504-6166wjensky@jacobandhefner.comJHA Environmental, Inc.2646 Palma Drive, Suite 450Ventura, CA 93003