RoseyFields conducted a comprehensive environmental forensic investigation to evaluate the fate and transport of hazardous contaminants originating from a large-scale mining, mineral processing, and industrial manufacturing facility. Our team evaluated the historical use, waste management practices, and unpermitted disposal of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), specifically focusing on PFOA, PFOS, and their chemical precursors. By analyzing decades of facility operational records, we demonstrated how the routine handling and surface disposal of industrial wastewater and off-specification materials created a persistent, long-term source of environmental contamination for the surrounding region.
To understand the complex migration of these highly mobile “forever chemicals,” our team performed advanced air dispersion and deposition modeling using industry-standard regulatory platforms. We modeled the emission of contaminant-laden particulate matter generated by heavy vehicle traffic on unpaved industrial roads, taking into account the facility’s continuous use of contaminated groundwater for dust suppression. Through our rigorous technical analyses, we established three distinct, viable exposure pathways: the airborne transport and deposition of contaminated fugitive dust onto neighboring soils, the subsequent downward leaching of these compounds into underlying residential groundwater aquifers, and a secondary migration pathway driven by the off-site distribution of industrial waste products for use as residential construction fill.
Building on our fate and transport analysis, RoseyFields evaluated the geographic footprint of the contamination to accurately characterize the potentially affected population. We mapped the regional exposure area by correlating our modeled cumulative air deposition contours with the spatial distribution of impacted private drinking water wells and the known locations of distributed waste fill. Finally, we conducted comprehensive human health risk assessments evaluating both soil and drinking water ingestion pathways. Our risk evaluation successfully quantified the extent to which historical and ongoing facility emissions exposed the surrounding community to significant carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risks, providing a clear scientific foundation for the scope of the impact.
