Remediation Services 

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Wilson staff are experienced in a wide variety of soil and groundwater remediation projects.  We weigh site conditions, regulatory requirements and your scheduling and budgetary concerns to design a cost-effective remediation strategy.  Wilson engineers have the experience to know when a proven design solution can be adapted to your project's specific requirements.  When standard solutions fall short, we have the expertise and creativity to develop and apply original, innovative designs.

We have performed all stages of the process-from preparing Remedial Work Plans and Construction Plans to conducting ongoing post-closure monitoring. Wilson staff also have a successful track record of negotiating alternative closure approaches that greatly reduce closure costs.  For example, in industrial areas it is often possible to realize significant savings by developing and negotiating risk-based concentration levels as opposed to remediating a site to standard regulatory concentration limits.

Remediation Technology Evaluation and Selection

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Wilson staff have experience remediating sites throughout the world.  We have cleaned a variety of contaminants from soil and groundwater at sites with a wide range of subsurface conditions.  This experience, combined with our continuing, challenging remediation projects, gives us a thorough knowledge of appropriate, available technologies.  Wilson staff have designed and implemented remediation systems for wastewater, groundwater, soils and sludges-including bioremediation. Whatever the contaminant, whatever the media, Wilson will help you choose the alternative that is right for you.  We are experienced in remediation technologies including:

  •       In-situ and Ex-situ Bioremediation Technologies;

  •       Thermal Desorption and Incineration

  •       Carbon Adsorption;

  •       Air and Steam Stripping Systems;

  •       Groundwater Extraction and Treatment Systems;

  •       In-situ Groundwater Treatment Systems;

  •       Soil Washing and Solvent Extraction;

  •       Stabilization/Fixation; and

  •       Vapor Extraction Systems.

On many projects (e.g., Superfund remediation projects) selecting the best remediation technology is a formal process.  We begin by selecting a range of viable treatment options.  Wilson staff draw on experience remediating hundreds of sites ranging from voluntary clean-ups to Superfund site remediation to select the most cost-effective and appropriate technology for your needs.  Wilson performs cost estimates on the various feasible technologies so that you may make informed decisions about the available options.  Wilson can also design and implement laboratory and field treatability studies for technologies ranging from chemical fixation and stabilization to bioremediation to thermal treatment systems.

Remedial Detailed Engineering Design

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Once selected, Wilson can perform the detailed engineering design to implement the selected technology.  We know that effective remediation depends on careful planning, targeted site investigations and precise remedial designs.  Wilson designs a cost-effective remediation program by developing a clear understanding of the client's objectives.

Geotechnical engineering makes up an important part of the experience base at Wilson.  Our engineers are expert at the design and construction of waste containment structures including recompacted clay, geomembrane, geosynthetic clay, and soil/bentonite liners for both above-grade and below-grade landfills and impoundments. Additionally, we specialize in groundwater control systems including well point systems, sheet pile walls, slurry walls, and interceptor trenches.

Wilson's integrated remediation projects minimize costs because they are site-specific, technically defensible and frequently innovative.  Our risk assessment experts help establish cleanup levels and reduce risks as part of the overall remediation design process.

Groundwater Remediation

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Wilson can help clients identify, design and implement permanent remedial actions that minimize your costs and are accepted by the regulatory agencies. We are expert at:

 ·       Conceptual and detailed design of groundwater remediation systems;

·        Pump and Treat Systems;

·        In-situ treatment systems based on biological, chemical and physical            processes;

·        Remediation system installation and construction;

·        Remediation system operation and maintenance; and

·        Project closure.

Wilson helps clients identify, design and implement permanent remedial actions that minimize costs and are accepted by regulatory agencies.

In addition to technical services, Wilson provides regulatory analysis and consulting for subsurface soils and groundwater. This is particularly important for groundwater projects because of the numerous applicable regulations.

Remediation System Installation and Construction

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Wilson has extensive experience in the management, installation and construction of remedial facilities.  Wilson has successfully provided turn-key services for remediation projects and construction supervision on soil and groundwater remediation projects.  These services include:

·        Facility design;

·        Project management, cost control, and schedule tracking;

·        Preparation of bid packages and specifications;

·        Construction supervision;

·        Equipment procurement;

·        Technical support;

·        Personnel training; and

·        System start-up and debugging.

Through extensive experience serving the petrochemical industry, Wilson staff are expert at handling and remediating crude oil sludges, tank bottoms and other impoundment sludges.  A typical tank or impoundment cleaning project includes:

·   Quantifying of water and sludge in tanks or lagoons;

·   Classifying and characterizing impounded water and sludges to determine:

Þ if treatment is required prior to discharge or disposal and

Þ which treatment technologies are applicable;

·   Determining the project's remedial objectives (e.g., disposal limitations, clean-up criteria);

·   Performing treatability screening analyses on the sludges to select the most economically attractive remediation technology which achieves the project's remedial objectives; and

·   Implementing remedial action programs.

Wilson can review and evaluate any available process data and information on the historical operations of the tanks or impoundments containing the waste sludges.  This allows us to tailor an evaluation and remediation program to your specific requirements.

Wilson has the practical experience to determine the appropriate sampling procedures and frequencies required to characterize your sludges in even the world's most remote locations.  Wilson uses practical, proven approaches in preparing:

·        Regulatory reviews;

·        Health and safety plans;

·        Target constituents;

·        Field sampling and laboratory analyses plans;

·        Sampling and analytical QA/QC procedures;

·        Equipment procurement and construction management plans; and

·        Operation and maintenance plans.

Wilson highly recommends field characterizing waste sludges to focus field investigation activities on providing the data required to establish the most cost-effective remedial option.  Proper field characterization eliminates unproductive investigation activities and rules out impractical sludge treatment options.

Field characterization is also key to our strategy of providing remedial design options combining state-of-the-art science with locally available equipment and construction techniques.  When operating in remote locations, Wilson understands the logistical, and often technical, constraints associated with on-site characterization of the waste materials' physical properties.  We can either mobilize simple, yet proven, field laboratory equipment required for physical characterization or arrange for shipment of samples to our treatability laboratory.

Wilson staff have established testing programs designed to develop the physical and chemical information to ensure that specific remedial options are economical and practical.  Our testing programs are designed not only to select the best available technology, but to provide the important operating data required to develop accurate treatment cost estimates.  For typical oily sludges, our treatment evaluations can develop operating points and cost estimates for:

·        Phase separation using gravimetric; centrifugation and/or diluent extraction       processes;

·        Filter pressing (to remove water and oil);

·        Stabilization/solidification;

·        Biological degradation;

·        Thermal destruction (incineration);

·        Thermal desorption; and

·        Landfilling or closure-in-place.

Often, large quantities of oily sludges are most economically treated by applying multiple technologies.  For example, a treatment strategy for tank sludges in remote locations might include:

·    Diluent extraction and centrifugation of tank sludges to promote:

Þ  contaminant removal,

Þ  product reclamation, and

Þ  residual contaminant minimization.

·    Landfarming of centrifugation residuals to remove hydrocarbons and minimize toxicity; and

·    Stabilization and closure-in-place of completed landfarm treatment cells to immobilize any accumulated metals or asphaltic components.

Sampling and analytical requirements are tailored to local regulatory requirements and remedial objectives established for each project.  Analytical requirements and costs associated with waste characterization for regulatory classification can often be reduced based on process knowledge of the sludge generation process.  This can result in significant project savings since analytical procedures often include analysis for:

·        Total volatile organic and semi-volatile organic compounds;

·        Heavy metals; and

·        Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), pesticides, and herbicides.

Often, Wilson recommends against extensive analytical testing of the untreated sludges.  The high viscosity of oily sludges obtained from refinery tanks and impoundments typically raises the procedural detection limits to the point that additional testing will not collect significant quantities of usable information.  In our experience, these types of sludges very often exceed regulated levels-additional analytical testing rarely identifies "uncontaminated" areas.  Analytical funds might be more effectively used to evaluate treatment residuals to determine the most appropriate final disposal options.

Stabilization/Solidification Options

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Wilson can perform a bench-scale stabilization analysis on bulk waste samples to identify optimum stabilization materials and mixtures.  These tests are conducted to determine the most economical mix which meets the technical requirements for closure-in-place of the sludges.

The goal of this phase is to determine the most economical mix which will meet the established strength and chemical fixation requirements.  These mix series typically include Portland cement, fly ash, and cement and/or lime kiln dust (or other locally available, natural calcined pozzolans).  Whenever possible, Wilson identifies local sources for all stabilizing agents.

Samples are prepared in varying proportions to the waste based upon an order-of-magnitude cost evaluation of the mixing proportions of the stabilization agents and Wilson's experience with similar wastes.  Strength and leachability tests are performed on the sample of each mix series which most closely meets the strength specification to determine where additional modification will be required to meet leachability requirements.  The results of this evaluation provide:

·        a good indication of whether stabilization is an economical alternative; and

·        the mix proportions and procedures required to meet the project objectives.

Phase Separation/Extraction Options

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Oily sludges consist of a three-phase emulsion: oil, water and solids.  By breaking the emulsion, the phases can be separated and the volume of hazardous waste which has to be handled can be minimized or eliminated.  The oil phase is sent back to the crude tanks or raw product tanks; the water can be treated through the conventional wastewater treatment systems; and the solids are often decontaminated of organic constituents and landfilled or closed-in-place.

Oily sludges are relatively difficult emulsions to break and typically require the addition of combinations of heat, acids, water, organic diluents, and proprietary anionic/cationic polymers.  Where organic diluents such as diesel, cat gasoline, naphtha, etc. are readily available from the operating facility, phase separation/extraction can be a very cost-effective sludge treatment option.  The process is not mechanically intensive and often only requires:

·        a heated blend tank;

·        a cone bottom settling tank; and

·        a centrifuge.

For more recalcitrant sludges, a series of centrifuges may provide a higher product removal efficiency. Wilson can work with your local contractors to set up this type of series system with minimal equipment tuning and maintenance.

Wilson also works closely with industry vendors who specialize in developing emulsion-breaking polymers.  This relationship allows our bench-scale evaluations to determine the most cost effective means of separating/extracting organic constituents from the sludge.  Our goal is to provide solvent extraction processes which can be readily applied to tank cleaning and sludge treatment projects using readily available equipment and diluents.

Filter Pressing Options

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If target constituent levels of specific sludges and sediments are sufficiently low, one disposal option may be to "de-water/de-oil" the sludge using filter presses or centrifuges.  The filter cake may then be landfilled directly, or stabilized and then landfilled.  Dewatering technologies are mechanically intensive and are not amenable to highly viscous or tar-like sludges.  Wilson works closely with filter press / centrifuge vendors to determine the appropriate equipment configurations and operating points.

Filtrates may be directed to either the conventional wastewater treatment facilities or directly to the on-site slop oil tank, depending on the oil content.  If such facilities or disposal options are not readily available, Wilson is expert at determining the best additional treatment or handling methods for your filtrates and filter cake.

Incineration and Thermal Desorption Options

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The sludge's moisture and oil contents are key parameters in determining the feasibility and cost of incineration or thermal desorption.  The sludge's BTU and ash contents are also of key importance.  Whether using retorts, bomb calorimeters, or muffle furnaces, Wilson's engineers have the experience to match the appropriate testing procedures with the available equipment.

We also have experience in optimizing treatment systems from open hearth kilns to sealed vacuum units.  Wilson staff are expert at preparing treatment studies designed to predict drum caking and material handling problems.  Wilson specifically designs our treatment studies to determine the material handling and pre-preparation procedures which will maximize throughput while minimizing treatment costs.

Bioremediation and Landfarming

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Wilson typically approaches bioremediation projects in the following manner.  First, existing site characterization data (if available) are reviewed to estimate the volume of contaminated material, characterize sludge, and evaluate site soil conditions.  If data are unavailable or insufficient, site characterization becomes the first step of the process.  Waste samples are characterized through organic and inorganic chemical analyses, and the waste's toxicity to biological remediation agents is determined.  On-site soils available for landfarming (and potential borrow soil sources) are evaluated to determine how their physical and chemical characteristics will affect the landfarming process.

Based on the results of these analyses, Wilson performs a pretreatment evaluation to:

·        Identify "target constituents" to be degraded in order to establish      quantifiable performance criteria;

·        Evaluate treatment methods which have shown success in similar conditions;

·        Identify specific constraints present at the site (e.g., regulatory, geological, climatological, etc.) which may affect the unit's performance; and

·        Determine the most cost effective biological approach which may include  landfarming, slurry phase, fixed film reactors, etc.

For many "typical" remedial problems, Wilson has the experience to begin the remediation process immediately.  For unique waste products or sludges, Wilson can perform bench-scale treatment studies on the sludge samples to determine the relative effectiveness of different remediation techniques.  In addition to evaluating aeration techniques and nutrient additives, Wilson evaluates the benefits of complementary treatment strategies such as phase separation, which can greatly reduce the volume of hazardous material to be remediated.  For example, oily sludges can often be separated into oil, water and soil phases through combinations of settling, heating, and the addition of diluents or polymers.

Once a treatment approach is proven through bench-scale studies, Wilson can develop pilot or demonstration-scale landfarm plots at the site to determine control parameters and peak loading rates under real-world conditions.  During this phase, we also finalize conceptual design details including the landfarm facility's size and configuration, the number and configuration of segregated cells, and the project's water management facilities.  Based on the performance of the pilot-scale study, Wilson makes specific recommendations for soil amendment, and initial loading rates for contaminants and treatment additives.  Pilot-scale data also allow us to estimate the operation's anticipated duration.  Before turning the landfarm facility over to the operating contractor, Wilson prepares an operating manual, detailing:

·        Methods and equipment to be used for mixing and aeration;

·        Irrigation methods and parameters;

·        Monitoring methods and Indicating and Control Parameters; and

·        Criteria for Addition of Nutrients.

Remediation System Operation and Maintenance

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Wilson has undertaken start-up, and operation and maintenance of numerous soil and groundwater remediation projects that were designed and successfully constructed under Wilson's supervision.

 Wilson engineers have:

·        Provided training to operators;

·        Set up O&M procedures;

·        Evaluated remedial system performance data;

·        Set up reporting procedures;

·        Staffed O&M needs;

·        Provided routine sampling and analyses/routine monitoring;

·        Managed subcontractor services for O&M; and

·        Provided routine cost monitoring and budget maintenance. 

Project Closure

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Wilson has been very successful at negotiating alternative closure approaches that have greatly reduced potential closure costs. Many of these more innovative approaches involves development of a risk-based approach to the closure process.  Wilson's remediation engineers also have a track record of gaining approval for closure approaches that are less costly yet as protective of human health and the environment as the regulators' preferred alternatives.  For instance in one case, Wilson engineers used a hybrid soil cap rather than a RCRA-compliant cap to save a client over $12 million.

Closing major portions of manufacturing plants often requires closure of hazardous waste units.  Complete decommissioning activities are a Wilson specialty.  We have decommissioned facilities ranging from small manufacturing operations to major chemical plants. Investigation and remediation programs have been designed and implemented for soils, groundwater, and building materials contaminated by PCBs, acids, metals, chlorinated and non-chlorinated solvents, volatile organic compounds, and semi-volatile compounds.

Wilson has prepared and implemented closure plans for interim status and permitted facilities.  Our experience ranges from straightforward inventory removal, decontamination and post-excavation sampling, to design and installation of RCRA cover systems.  These activities have been performed at sites varying from simple container storage areas, to complex surface impoundments and landfills.  At numerous locations, Wilson personnel have followed up groundwater contamination investigations by designing recovery and treatment systems to remediate the problem.

Demolition and Salvage

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Site remediation and final closure often require partial or complete demolition and removal of existing structures.  These demolition activities often result in a maze of OSHA safety regulations and waste tracking requirements. 

Wilson engineers are expert at:

·        Preparing OSHA-required demolition plans;

·        Preparing temporary shoring plans;

·        Preparing discharge, erosion and emission control plans;

·        Preparing and managing waste segregation, transportation and reporting       activities;

·        Managing lead and asbestos surveys and removals;

·        Management and QA/QC oversight of demolition activities; and

·        Salvage value contracting.

Wilson's structural and remedial engineers have conducted demolition activities for a variety of facilities ranging from light commercial facilities to an entire petrochemical solvent manufacturing facility.  Wilson engineers specialize in conducting safe and efficient operations in active facilities with minimal interruption to ongoing facility operations.

 

Wilson Environmental Management, Inc.

Call us toll free in the U.S.  1-800-469-0799 

International callers, dial U.S. Country Code 1,  Area Code 713,  Number 468-3323

 

 

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       9613 Maribelle Way                        827 West 1340 South             5 07    Mary Charlotte

          Houston, TX  77055                         Provo, UT 84601               Charlotte, NC 28262

 

©2007 Wilson Environmental Management, Inc.

Established 1993,  A veteran owned company.