RoseyFields conducted a comprehensive environmental assessment for a former wood treating and preserving facility to evaluate the extent of legacy contamination resulting from decades of industrial operations. Our team assessed the site to understand the widespread environmental impacts stemming from historical manufacturing, chemical storage, and waste management practices. We focused our evaluation on identifying and characterizing a complex mixture of hazardous chemicals of concern, primarily focusing on wood preservatives such as creosote and pentachlorophenol (PCP), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) including benzo(a)pyrene and naphthalene, as well as volatile organic compounds like benzene and dioxins.
To accurately trace the migration of these contaminants into the surrounding environment, we performed extensive environmental modeling and fate and transport analyses across multiple media. RoseyFields conducted advanced air dispersion and deposition modeling to map fugitive emissions, smoke, and volatilized vapors originating from open-top waste lagoons, storage tanks, and treated wood storage yards. In conjunction with our air pathway analysis, we evaluated subsurface and overland migration through comprehensive groundwater, soil, and surface water assessments, tracking the movement of contaminated stormwater runoff and subsurface plumes. We then utilized these technical analyses to perform a rigorous human health risk assessment, quantifying potential cancer and non-cancer risks via inhalation, ingestion, and dermal contact pathways.
Building upon the results of our environmental modeling and hydrogeological evaluations, our team systematically identified and characterized the affected population residing within the contamination footprint. We delineated the overall zone of impact by mapping the intersection of airborne deposition plumes, surface water drainage patterns, and groundwater migration pathways with surrounding residential and commercial properties. By establishing the boundaries of the migrating contamination and analyzing ambient air and soil screening levels throughout the area, RoseyFields successfully defined the geographical area and the specific populations exposed to the facility’s historical emissions and runoff, providing a clear, science-based framework for understanding community-wide environmental health impacts.
