The Pocket Consultant Summer 2013

Property redevelopment can be a tricky business. This is especially

true for sites with a history of industrial use that are impacted by

uncontrolled fills, construction materials, abandoned structures and

utilities, and industrial waste. Put those materials near or below the

groundwater surface and you’ve got quite a brew.

Dealing with such impacts is not cheap, but many projects incur

unnecessary costs because they aren’t coordinated from a shared

environmental and geotechnical perspective. Excess costs come from

two sources: basic site investigation rework and failure to leverage

both environmental and geotechnical expertise when evaluating site

redevelopment alternatives. Rework is generally the product of poor

logistics or inexperience and can be limited through better planning.

Leveraging environmental and geotechnical expertise requires more

experience, a solid understanding of regulations governing design

and construction, and industry savvy.

Collaboration during site investigationIn the early days of environmental remediation, environmental

professionals were faced with a multitude of large contaminant

plumes on properties where there was no thought of

redevelopment for future use. There was no need to characterize

such sites from a geotechnical standpoint. But risk-based closure

and brownfield redevelopment are no longer just concepts, and

available financing opportunities continue to drive developers to

take on difficult sites.

Environmental professionals have always done a good job

characterizing environmental site contamination and developing

and performing remediation plans. It’s what they were trained

to do. But many environmental site investigations come up short

on difficult sites. Redevelopment cannot happen at these sites

without characterizing subsurface conditions from environmental

and geotechnical perspectives. Yet site contamination is often

characterized with little or no thought regarding how the

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Leveraging Environmental & Geotechnical PartnershipsManage risk and cost to master difficult sites

continued on next page …

By Michael Beck, PE [email protected]

Subgrade preparation for new structures isn’t always just a geotechnical issue. Existing infrastructure, especially when it is expected to remain in place below new construction, can present a variety of geotechnical and environmental challenges. In this case, challenges included pipe integrity, soil contamination, backfill method and subgrade uniformity.

Practical and Entertaining Since 19972

contaminated material(s) can be avoided, relocated, repurposed,

etc., to support redevelopment. As a result, geotechnical

consultants often redrill sites at additional cost to obtain

geotechnical information that should have been gathered during the

environmental investigation.

Similarly, while geotechnical engineers understand what it

takes to characterize subsurface geologic conditions to support

construction of buildings and pavements, they often fail to recognize

potential impacts to projects related to environmental issues

that may be evident in surface features (abandoned fuel pumps),

borehole samples (odorous or discolored soil), or test pits (entrained

demolition debris). Whether environmental or geotechnical, such

omissions can kill a project.

Intertwined designOnce a site has been characterized, it is critical to understand

all environmental and geotechnical constraints, how they affect

each other, and how they affect the project’s bottom line and the

risk of future structural problems. Unfortunately, the traditional

environmental investigation and remediation process doesn’t do this

well on its own, nor does conventional geotechnical engineering.

For example, environmental consultants can rigorously delineate

limits and estimate the volume of uncontrolled fill impacted

with chemicals at concentrations above applicable regulatory

standards, but what are the disposal options once it’s excavated?

Are there options for on-site relocation of the fill that won’t limit

redevelopment options or prevent redevelopment from occurring

at all? And what about sites with uncontrolled fill impacted by

contaminated groundwater? Is there a ground improvement

or building support alternative available to reduce or eliminate

groundwater management costs associated with dewatering?

These questions can pose complex challenges. This is where

experience and industry savvy come into play. For instance, it may be

possible to place fill containing construction debris outside foundation

oversize planes and/or at depth below pavements to reduce potential

impacts to building or pavement performance. Many times, additional

excavation work can be performed to accommodate placement of

contaminated soils at depth below buildings or pavements to prevent

off-site disposal of contaminated soils.

For budget-sensitive projects, design of site remediation and

development plans can be an iterative process, not unlike a shell

game. Clean closure is not typically affordable for difficult sites, and

redevelopment often hinges on designing to the least of several

site “evils.” This might mean shifting building locations, expanding

green areas, thickening pavements and assuming more long-term

maintenance responsibilities.

Move construction obstacles with experienced staffNo matter how well a site is characterized, unforeseen conditions

are possible, even typical, during redevelopment of sites with

a history of industrial use. Most building contractors are not

used to thinking about environmental issues, but are focused

on the myriad of details related to construction of the new

structure and associated infrastructure. That’s why it is critical

to have experienced field staff present during construction who

understand both the environmental regulatory framework and

plans for building construction. The presence of experienced field

staff facilitates prompt resolution of minor issues and proper

assessment and communication of larger issues to appropriate

members of the project team. Whether the unforeseen condition

consists of unknown building foundations or buried debris,

forgotten underground storage tanks, an unexpected amount of

contaminated organic soils, or any other unexpected challenge,

successful resolution requires collaboration between the building

contractor, environmental and geotechnical professionals, and the

site owner. Experienced field personnel are the first line of defense

when these issues arise in the field.

It’s critical to bring environmental and geotechnical professionals

together early in the planning process for redevelopment sites.

Working together, these professionals can design field investigations

that capture as much environmental and geotechnical information as

possible to more effectively evaluate remediation and development

alternatives, produce cost-effective and practicable designs, and

help anticipate construction issues. Implementing this approach will

maximize the performance of new structures while minimizing total

project costs. ■

… Leveraging Environmental & Geotechnical Partnerships continued

Experienced field staff who understand both the environmental regulatory framework and plans for building construction is critical to the success of complex projects.

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Regulatory NavigationSteering a course to resource preservation and risk management

Braun Intertec is involved in the

planning and execution of

construction projects

that range from simple

to very complex. Our

role is usually in the

upfront stage, defining

characteristics of

project sites that

will affect design and

performance of structures,

and then during and after

construction to verify

the structure was

constructed properly and

is performing as intended. You may

be familiar with some of the work that

Braun Intertec has been involved in over the last 56 years: soil

type, soil density, ability to withstand applied loads and predicted

settlement, concrete strength, soil correction recommendations,

and so forth. As with many things in our lives, construction is

more complicated today than it was in the past. The engineering

services Braun Intertec offers have evolved to keep up with our

more complicated world. There are numerous project requirements

that demand attention before, during, and after construction is

complete, which may fly under the radar if you are not prepared

and can jeopardize a project in many ways.

Preparing for and implementing a construction project

presents requirements on a number of fronts, whether a new

highway in rural Minnesota, a new bridge over the St. Croix

River, a 30-story tower in downtown Minneapolis, a new ballpark

in downtown St. Paul, or a commercial or industrial development

somewhere in the Twin Cities suburbs. In addition to the

engineering, planning and design, procurement, and construction,

there are a myriad of rules, regulations, and laws governing our

natural resources that require attention. Braun Intertec and the design

and construction teams that we are a part of have been planning

and responding to these issues for many years. It takes substantial

experience to gain the knowledge necessary to plan for, resolve, and

document the work required for good engineering practice and by

statute or rules when constructing projects affecting natural resources.

What are these requirements you ask? They are simple to list

but can be complicated to understand, permit, and implement. The

requirements are broken down in one way or another into the basic

building blocks of our natural world: solids, liquids and gas. Some

of the more familiar requirements that might be planned for in any

given construction project, large and small, include:

1. Ambient Air Quality – There are state and federal rules about air quality that may affect you.

2. Particulate Matter Emissions – There have been state rules on fugitive dust for years; they do affect you.

3. Noise – City rules can shut down your project in a hurry.

4. Odor – Neighboring residents can make your life difficult on this one.

5. Asbestos/Regulated Wastes – Yeh yeh yeh, but it can hit your pocketbook hard if not corrected appropriately.

6. Solid Wastes – Do you know what all is included in this?

7. Hazardous Wastes – Expensive. Did you know that there can be ways to avoid generating hazardous waste?

8. Stormwater – More important every day, the fines for not following the rules can be significant.

9. Groundwater – Are you aware of the relation between surface water and groundwater?

10. Contaminated Soil – Maybe you should reuse instead of paying to haul and dispose.

11. Lead in Construction Standard – Do you know about this? It’s important.

12. Beneficial Reuse Rules – Confusing sometimes, but can save a lot of money.

13. Waste Transportation Requirements – Can add schedule delays and costs that you need to plan for.

14. Vibration Monitoring – And you thought implications of odors were bad.

15. Buried and Overhead Utilities – Caution, the utility backfill might be a pathway for contamination.

16. Health and Safety Rules – Are you or your contractor familiar with confined space requirements?

By Chris Thompson, PE [email protected]

continued on next page …


… Regulatory Navigation continued

This list is not exhaustive, although it is probably exhausting to

look at and fully understand to what degree these items might be

important to a particular project and how to efficiently plan for

them. Braun Intertec personnel are tasked with understanding these

requirements, and it is all about risk management. The planning and

work that goes into being able to start and successfully complete a

construction project, however simple, should not be taken lightly.

Assuming that someone else has planned for an issue – has “got it

covered” – is not risk management.

Braun Intertec’s role on projects many times includes the initial

environmental and geotechnical investigation work, as well as

permitting, development of engineering plans and specifications,

completion of contract documents, construction period testing,

inspections, observations and reporting, soil and groundwater

remedial action implementation, and permit compliance.

Braun Intertec professionals are required to understand these

processes and provide sound and defensible cost estimates in

advance. Many construction-related issues can be planned for

and successfully integrated into projects. It’s a bit like an athlete

imagining his/her routine in advance so there are no mistakes

while performing.

There are many regulations, standards, rules, and requirements

that pertain to constructing the built environment. Many of these

are in place because they provide for a safe and healthy environment

during and after construction, and protect our natural resources.

They are also there to help keep test results consistent from one

project to the next in order to define what is considered safe levels

of chemicals in our environment, to safeguard that the project does

not create a situation that damages the adjacent building, and to

verify the foundation is not going to settle beyond set parameters.

Understanding how regulations impact your project is important, but

having a partner that can navigate the regulatory maze is essential. ■

For many construction projects, dust (or particulate) emission

control and monitoring are required. Some of the nuances and

complexities of control and monitoring are not well understood.

A lack of attention to these matters can lead to rework,

noncompliance letters, monetary fines, lawsuits, and just plain

bad relations with those that might be affected by dust emissions.

There are a number of reasons why control and monitoring of

potential particulate emissions from a project is necessary. First,

there are requirements to do so from both a legal and regulatory

standpoint. Specifically, there is the Occupational Safety and

Health Administration that has standards for certain potential

emissions in the breathing zone, as well as the Environmental

Protection Agency National Ambient Air Quality Standard

(NAAQS) for airborne particulate matter. In many cases, real-time

monitoring for dust is used as a precursor for other potential

soil and/or groundwater contaminants present, such as heavy

metals and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). These are

just a few requirements for control and monitoring that must be

undertaken depending on the project.

Secondly, controlling and monitoring potential particulate

emissions is critical to neighboring residents or adjacent

properties. If you are allowing dust to be transported off your

site, you may be buying car wash coupons or washing their

buildings, pavements, and other structures. This may help

alleviate immediate concerns but pales in comparison to proving

your emissions haven’t lead to some perceived health problem.

So, how do you make sense of all of the acronyms and

requirements: OSHA, NIOSH, permissible exposure limits

(PEL), micrograms per cubic meter (ug/m3), EPA Ambient Air

Monitoring Guidelines for Prevention of Significant Deterioration,

total suspended Solids (TSS), site-specific action levels, and

personnel protective equipment (PPE)? Call Braun Intertec’s

environmental consultants, who have the experience and

capabilities to assist with this required compliance. They can

help determine what your needs are, set up and complete any

required monitoring and reporting, and mitigate encounters with

unhappy neighbors.

A local contractor diligently applying water for dust control.

Monitoring Construction Site Emissions

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“There’s No Asbestos in My Building!”Surveying for asbestos is still relevant despite building age

“This building was constructed in 2003. There is no asbestos in it! We

certainly don’t need to test for it!” Considering the overwhelming

amount of publicity regarding the harmful effects of asbestos

exposure, and the fact that regulations regarding asbestos have

been in place for more than 30 years, one would assume the above

statements to be true. Unfortunately, this is not the case.

Once considered the “miracle material” because of its

indestructible nature, today more than 50 countries have banned

asbestos; however, the United States isn’t one of them. According

to the U.S. Geological Survey, 1,060 metric tons (more than 2.3

million pounds) of asbestos was imported into the country in 2012,

and it’s likely to remain near the 1,000-ton level based on current

trends. The World Health Organization estimates that 107,000

people worldwide die of asbestos-related diseases each year. Yet

the global asbestos industry continues to aggressively market in

developing nations, putting millions at risk of disease. Russia is the

largest producer of asbestos in the world, with China and Brazil

following close behind.

The Environmental Protection Agency tried to ban asbestos in

1989, but the ban was struck down by an industry court challenge.

While it’s true that most domestic manufacturers and builders have

not used asbestos since the 1980s, there is no magic date when you

can say a building was constructed after, therefore, it’s asbestos free.

The USGS says about 57 percent of domestic asbestos consumption

went into making chlorine and sodium hydroxide, 41 percent into

roofing products and the rest into “unknown applications.” Most of

the unknown applications result from the import of building products

and materials from foreign manufacturers. Every year, new cases arise

documenting asbestos found in newly installed building products

– materials such as wallboard, tile, grout, mastics, adhesives, and

coatings, just to name a few.

A recent Braun Intertec project involved the redevelopment of

a former athletic club facility. The outdoor tennis courts had been

milled in place a few years prior. It was discovered that the green

paint used on the tennis courts contained asbestos. As a result, the

milled asphalt and gravel had to be disposed off-site as asbestos

waste, adding substantial cost to the project.

In the case of building renovation or demolition, we are often

asked, “The building was constructed 10-15 years ago, why do I

have to survey for asbestos?” The answer: all buildings, regardless

of age, are subject to regulatory requirements to identify the

presence of asbestos-containing materials and the proper handling

of those materials.

Gregg Kruse provides hazardous materials support to the

Braun Intertec environmental, engineering and building sciences

groups, helping clients navigate the “stuff that comes up.” Kruse has

spent 25 years providing hazardous materials expertise across the

country on a wide range of project sites from residential

developments to complex military facilities. ■

By Gregg Kruse [email protected]

©2013 Braun Intertec Corporation


Aptitude shows silver but attitude strikes goldDear Graduate:“I saw you in the school yard today …” No, scratch that, I was

distracted by one of those heartbreak-type country songs playing

on the radio. From the sound of your letter I definitely don’t see you

losing your gal, dog and pickup truck as a result of poor planning. But

I will still offer you some information on a career as a civil technician

and, if you don’t mind, a little advice on approaching the path and

people that will help guide you.

A technology program at a technical college is a great way for

someone who doesn’t want to pursue a four-year degree to get solid

experience in a variety of engineering-related disciplines. You will

gain skills that are marketable to government agencies like city and

county engineering and public works departments, state Department

of Natural Resources branches, watershed districts, etc., as well as

private consultants working in the civil, geotechnical, environmental,

water resources, and other engineering disciplines. You will learn

field and office skills associated with soil, aggregate, bituminous

and concrete testing, surveying, computer aided design (CAD), and

geographic information systems (GIS).

The work is intended to be laboratory intensive and hands-on.

Your role is generally one of collecting, organizing, and presenting

data, not evaluating and making judgments on it. You’ll need to

maintain or reacquaint yourself with your inner math genie as a lot

of the lab work involves crunching numbers (this seems to be more

problematic with those who come back to school after a number

of years working other jobs, but can still be challenging to recent

high school grads). More importantly, the attitude you bring to the

classroom each day will likely outweigh the skills and experience you

will learn from the coursework.

As an instructor, my job is to convey a fundamental understanding

and build basic competencies in the skills that civil technology students

will need to succeed in the field. Of course, it helps if your level of

understanding and skill proficiency is higher than others in your class

(those you will potentially be competing with for a job). It’s also accepted

that you can only gain so much experience through the course of a few

semesters, and you will learn a lot more on the job. That being the case,

what then will help tip the scale in your favor? Attitude.

Now, I’m not just an instructor – I am a prospective employer as

a geotechnical engineer for Braun Intertec. I receive reference calls

seasonally from my students’ prospective employers, and what I’m

asked about most often and also stress to those considering hiring

one of my students is their attitude: Do they show up on time? Are

they prepared? Do they complete their work on time? How do they

communicate? Do they ask for help? These questions reflect more on

one’s interest, willingness, and desire than they do on one’s knowledge

or grades. Keep in mind that you will have a lot to learn no matter how

good you are at taking tests, and prospective employers will be willing

to invest in you if they know you are willing to do the work.

A good friend of mine holds the theory that, on a basic level, each

job you complete is nothing more than your interview for the next job.

This applies not only to the clients you work for but also those within

your organization and, even before that, those who instruct you.

– Maybe I’ll see you in class! ■

Ask The Professor

By Charles Hubbard, PE, [email protected]

Dear Professor:

I attended a presentation you gave at my high school this spring on engineering, and I am hoping that you can offer more advice on pursuing an engineering-related career. You talked about the traditional four-year university programs, but I understand you also teach at Dakota County Technical College in Rosemount, Minn., and I’m actually interested in a two-year program that will allow me to support engineers from the field doing some kind of testing, surveying, etc. Can you tell me more about what such a program includes, and what I can do as a student to prepare to learn and look forward to employment?

– 2013: The Class with Class!

Civil technicians perform many important roles on construction projects – surveying, excavation observations and materials testing, and record keeping, among others.

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Groundwater CheckupUsing groundwater monitoring wells to examine site wellbeing

Most people are familiar with getting regular dental or health

checkups, but another type of “checkup” often associated with

construction sites is the installation of groundwater monitoring

wells and regular monitoring. When conducting environmental

site investigations, it’s all too common for an unknown source of

contamination to be discovered on a site. And when there are

multiple property owners involved, investigations and remediation

can get complicated very quickly. Finger pointing often results as

those involved try to limit their own liability and cost. The installation

of monitoring wells along with groundwater sampling and the

appropriate analysis is a common way to mitigate risk associated with

a given site or operation.

Oftentimes, businesses that have operations with a potential

to release a hazardous substance into the environment choose to

install monitoring wells both as a

preventative measure and in order

to help document the conditions at

their site for future reference. Some

examples of these types of businesses

include oil and gas operations, landfill

operations, and wastewater disposal

and soil treatment facilities. A small

spill or release of oil or other material

can turn into a large and potentially

expensive liability if it’s undiscovered

over a period of months or years.

To minimize risk and exposure, such

operations commonly install wells

and collect regular water samples

to monitor site conditions. Ideally,

sampling efforts would begin prior to

any site development or operations

to provide baseline data or a

“before” picture reflecting the site’s

environmental health.

With a minimum of three

monitoring wells, the groundwater

flow direction can be identified. If contamination is discovered,

the direction of groundwater flow across a site becomes critical

to identifying potential contaminant sources, which may be an

adjacent site or some other off-site source. Regularly scheduled

monitoring events are a vital piece of the puzzle. This data helps

a property owner identify a problem and quickly deal with a

potential release. Addressing contamination in a small area, before

it spreads, is usually much more manageable and less expensive.

In addition, early identification of a release may be the key to

preventing the spread of contamination to an adjacent property. To

do this, facilities typically conduct two monitoring events each year,

one in the spring and one in the fall.

In a typical monitoring event, static groundwater levels are

measured to assess flow direction and recorded prior to sampling

activities. Although each sampling event is generally tailored to

address a specific site and its contamination of concern, common

sampling might include volatile organic compounds, total petroleum

hydrocarbons or chloride.

As Benjamin Franklin said, “An ounce of prevention is worth

a pound of cure.” Franklin understood that the effort necessary

to prevent a problem is far less than what would be required

to fix it. Relating his insight to groundwater contamination, the

installation of monitoring wells and regular monitoring can be far

more cost effective than a complex groundwater investigation after

contamination is identified. ■

By Tom Maertens, LEED Green Associate [email protected]

Precise groundwater sampling and analysis is critical for good planning and risk management.

Questions, requests and comments

Charles Hubbard, PE, PGBraun Intertec Corporation11001 Hampshire Ave SMinneapolis, MN 55438Phone: [email protected]

©2013 Braun Intertec Corporation

This newsletter contains only general information. For specific applications, please consult your engineering or environmental consultants and legal counsel.

Detect a Leak in a Ground Heat Exchanger with 90% Less ExcavationOperational problems due to pressure drop or fluid loss within ground source heat pump piping systems can occur for many reasons. Often, the problem is located within the building and results from an interior leak or trapped/recently released air in the system. But if the interior has been ruled out as the culprit, there can only be one other place to look – the ground heat exchanger.

The leaking circuit(s) has been isolated and it’s time to start digging, right? Not necessarily. Narrowing down the location(s) of the leak prior to any excavation can greatly reduce site disruption, operational downtime, and unnecessary rehabilitation expenses. With Braun Intertec’s proprietary leak detection process, we can help achieve this goal. The process uses an environmentally-safe gas that is introduced into the affected portion of the system. Due to the lighter than air properties of the gas, sensitive detection equipment is utilized to identify the gas as it naturally travels upward through the soils at the leak point. The end result is isolation of the problem area(s) and a greatly reduced excavation area, approximately 90 percent less than would otherwise be required.

For more information about this leak detection service or other geothermal consulting services contact Braun Intertec Geothermal at 952.995.2414.

11001 Hampshire Ave. SMinneapolis, MN 55438

braunintertec.com

Minneapolis 800.279.6100Bismarck 701.255.7180Cedar Rapids 319.365.0961Dickinson 701.255.7180Duluth 218.624.4967Fargo 800.756.5955Hibbing 800.828.7313La Crosse 800.856.2098Mankato 800.539.0472 Milwaukee 262.513.2995 Minot 701.420.2738Rochester 800.279.1576Saint Cloud 800.828.7344Saint Paul 800.779.1196