Site Assessment
NASA - Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida
HSW's focus at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS) was on site restoration, environmental compliance, and utilizing innovative technologies in site assessment and cleanup activities. We served as an environmental consultant for NASA since 1990. HSW worked under two multi-million dollar umbrella contracts with NASA to provide professional services for RCRA Facility Investigations (RFI) and Corrective Measures Studies (CMS) at solid waste management units (SWMU) in accordance with the EPA's Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments (HSWA). The sites were located at KSC and CCAFS. The SWMUs contained a variety of wastes and contaminants including metals, petroleum hydrocarbons (BTEX, TRPH and PAHs), chlorinated solvents, DNAPLs, and PCBs.
Professional services included preparation and implementation of RFI work plans for each SWMU. Human health and ecological risk assessments were completed during the RFIs to facilitate decisions regarding corrective measures studies (CMS) and interim corrective measures (ICM). Focused studies and work plans using presumptive remedies or proven technologies were prepared when appropriate.
Following remedy selection, HSW prepared Statements of Bases that were referenced in NASA's RCRA permit. When needed, Land Use Control Implementation Plans were prepared to prohibit exposure to contaminants by categories of the population identified in the risk assessment.
Direct Push Technology and field (portable) gas chromatography analyses were generally used before selecting and installing permanent monitor wells. This approach proved to be cost-effective and reduces the number of wells to delineate groundwater plumes. Other media investigated included soil, sediments, and surface water. Other field screening methods (e.g., mobile interface probe, OVA, PCB immunoassays) were used when possible and appropriate to minimize assessment time and costs.
HSW designed three air sparge/soil vapor extraction remediation systems and one pump and treat remediation system for KSC sites. HSW prepared the detailed specifications and bidding documents and performs construction oversight, startup and testing, and operation and maintenance for the systems we installed.
HSW also prepared a compendium of risk-based screening criteria tables for soil, sediments, surface water and groundwater. These tables were used to help determine chemicals of potential concern prior to performing human health and ecological risk analysis.
