Fishbeck was selected to conduct soil investigation activities around two underground storage tanks (USTs) at GVSU’s Central Utilities Building. The goal was to determine if there had been significant changes in contaminant concentrations in the soil since the previous investigation; with the ultimate aim of redesigning the tank areas and replacing the existing USTs. Soil borings were drilled near the USTs and soil samples were collected for testing.
The results of the soil investigation did not indicate the presence of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), but diesel-range organic compounds were detected in the soil samples. While there was an increase in the diesel-range organic compounds, it was found to be of small magnitude, possibly due to sampling variability over time. However, due to the limited data set, it was not possible to conclusively determine if there were new or ongoing releases occurring.
A technical memorandum detailing the sampling activities and summarizing past sample results was provided. It was recommended to GVSU that if they proceeded with tank removal and replacement, precautions should be taken to address worker health and safety considerations, and proper management of soil (and any groundwater encountered) should also be in place during UST replacement activities.
