Hazardous Materials Remedial Engineering Underground Storage Tanks Landfills and Impoundments Corrective Action Planning Site Closure Geotechnical Engineering Geology Hydrogeology and Water Resources Remedial Investigations and Feasibility Studies Environmental Geology Environmental Project Management Property Transfer Phased Site Assessments Regulations Permitting

Bonkowski & Associates Inc. provides environmental property evaluations or Site Assessments to investigate and identify existing or potential environmental problems at properties that are presently owned, or which may be transferred. Property evaluations are performed to evaluate whether hazardous waste materials are present in soils, air, surface water, or groundwater below a property.

Specifically, environmental impairment risks and associated liabilities can occur during property transactions due to soil, groundwater, or air quality contamination resulting from present or past land-use practices at a Site. These practices may range from the application of herbicides and pesticides on agricultural lands o use of toxic chemicals, solvents, and fuels at industrial sites. Toxic contamination may also occur due to past or future migration of chemicals into a prospective site from adjacent properties. Generally, “comprehensive” insurance today will not cover any of these liabilities.

Environmental property evaluations can be used to:

Assist a buyer in understanding financial risks and liabilities in site selections and real estate transactions. For example, time delays in property transactions and associated financial losses can occur if conditions at a site are not incompliance with requirements of the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) or state underground storage tank laws. RCRA would require closure of an industrial property, including removal or treatment of any soil or groundwater contaminants, as part of a property transfer. This could take months or years to accomplish, and, in some cases, may not be feasible.

Develop sufficient information and documentation for the State of California regulatory agencies. For example, supporting documentation can be provided from such evaluations to permit the California EPA and California Regional Water Quality Control Board to provide their opinions whether substantial subsurface contaminants regarded as hazardous exist. They can also provide guidance, prior to property transfer, on how they should be considered in the present use and potential future development of the property.

Assist with the Site Closure Process. Closure occurs whenever a facility or Site ceases to be used by the original operators for purposes detailed in their permit applications. Post closure activities cover monitoring and testing of the site, and addresses financial responsibilities for the closed site. Closure can be temporary, or permanent. B&A can prepare Full Closure/Post Closure Plans, submitted to and approved by regulatory agencies, which document: the cleanup of all hazardous materials, closure of all underground storage tanks or containers, cancelled permits, and if required establish of long term financial responsibilities among the parties.