Vaughn College of Aeronautics & Technology

Investigation & Remediation of Soil & Groundwater Contamination - Flushing, NY

JMS was retained by Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology to conduct a remedial investigation and subsequent remediation of soil and groundwater contamination located at their campus in Flushing, NY. During a campus redevelopment project subsurface waste oil was discovered at the site. Because the location of the source material was unknown, a delineation program was conducted to determine the primary source of the oil contamination, the extent of the oil contamination, and to estimate the amount of oil contaminated soil to be excavated and removed from the site. The supplemental investigations confirmed the presence of free petroleum product and a dissolved contaminant plume that was linked to the use of a subsurface pit by the previous property owner/operator to dispose of used oils from 1944 to 1953.

JMS developed and implemented a Remedial Action Workplan (RAW) which was approved by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) for the removal of free oil and oil contaminated fill. A phased approach was used for the removal of the oil contamination because of the extent and depth of the oil contamination. By handling the contamination in quadrants, JMS was able to effectively manage the removal. Approximately 3,000 tons of petroleum contaminated soil and fill material were excavated and transported off-site for proper disposal.

Free floating product and groundwater encountered during the soil removal activities were removed from the excavation using vacuum trucks and then transferred into a mobile 20,000-gallon storage tank staged for subsequent disposal. To save cost the storage tank contents were processed through the system and discharged to the combined sewer system under a New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP) Permit. Free product was captured in the system’s oil/water separator and redirected to the system’s product holding above-ground storage tank (AST).

In accordance with the approved RAW, post remedial soil and groundwater sampling activities were conducted to assess the effectiveness of the remedial activities. Based on the site observations, groundwater monitoring, and laboratory analytical results, a no further action (NFA) determination was granted by the NYSDEC. NYCDEP approved the site for redevelopment and the construction of a new student dormitory.