The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued the long anticipated new Silica Rule.  Many of us in CA have been complying with many aspects of the rule for the past 8 or ten year already – but there are some new aspects that may make what we have been doing, less than adequate.  For California, Cal/OSHA has about 6 months to come into compliance with this rule.

read more on Osha’s final rule on Silica

Soil

In this bustling builders economy it’s often necessary to expedite plans in order to keep to a busy timeline, but a common oversight can lead to costly change orders and unexpected delays. Waiting to the last minute to classify soil proposed for excavation and off-haul can be a very expensive mistake if the soil ends up being profiled as hazardous waste. A trained geologist can help identify whether your soil is hazardous or not, and if you’ll need to plan for special transportation as well as proper disposal.

WHAT TO KNOW
In an effort to protect our precious groundwater supply The State of California and the State of California Water Board created strict rules around soil disposal (CCR Title 27, division 2, and CCR Title 23, division 3). A soil report signed by a California-registered Professional Geologist or Professional Engineer is typically required by waste disposal sites prior to accepting contaminated soil.

In order to characterize soil as waste, representative samples must be collected and analyzed by a state-certified laboratory. The number of samples and sampling methodology vary pending the depth and volume of soil proposed for off-haul. In order to adhere to State and Federal regulations, accepting facilities typically require a wide array of laboratory analysesfor purposes of waste profiling.

TYPICAL SOIL WASTE CLASSIFICATIONS AND
MINIMUM CONTAINMENT

Waste Classification, Class I:
Hazardous Waste (per CCR Title 22, Chapter 11), Significant amounts of Hazardous Materials have been found in the soil and pose a water quality threat.

What this means for your project:
Cost for disposal is much higher. There are only two Class I Waste Disposal Sites in California so it’s important to plan ahead, notify the disposal site (they fill up) and prepare for appropriate and safe transportation. There are potential scenarios in which soil waste is considered hazardous by the State of California but non-hazardous in accordance with Federal regulations. In some situations it may be more cost-effective to haul hazardous soil out of state by rail.

Waste Classification, Class II:
Contaminants found in the soil but demonstrate a lower risk to ground water quality than Hazardous Waste

What this means for your project:
Cost for disposal is still higher but significantly less than Hazardous Waste. Proper disposal methods still must be followed and landfill
must have a Class II designation.

Waste Classification, Class III:
Soil does not pose a significant threat to ground water quality so normal disposal steps may be taken

What this means for your project:
Ideal situation. While transportation of soil still must be arranged Non-hazardous Waste is accepted at a reasonable cost and there are variety of Class III landfills within the state. Some Class III soils can be reused off-site, however additional sampling is typically recommended in order to fully assess the usability of the soil and to minimize liability to the generator.

Need help troubleshooting your project?

Our Professional Geologist, Ian Sutherland is available to help navigate through your project needs. Please call 510-638-8400 x 110 or email, isutherland@accenv.com

ACC Environmental Consultants

How To Protect Your Tenants From Smokey Environments

Interview with Jorge Guerrero, CAC, CDPH, Southern California Division ManagerJorge

Jorge is responsible for large client accounts in the Los Angeles office. He has extensive experience managing numerous asbestos, lead, indoor air quality and mold remediation projects.

How do wildfires affect the Indoor Air Quality of my building?

Wildfire smoke is primarily made up of carbon dioxide, water vapor, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and particulate matter. Particulate matter is typically the major pollutant of concern from wildfire smoke, as the particulate from smoke tends to be very small. This fine matter are respiratory irritants and in high concentrations can cause persistent coughing, production of phlegm wheezing and physical discomfort in breathing. Persons with compromised respiratory, cardiovascular and immune systems tend to be more seriously affected, triggering asthma, bronchitis, and reduced lung functions.

Secondary concerns are volatile organic compounds (VOC) that are present in the smoke from byproducts of combustion. These compounds, most commonly, acrolein and benzene, are also irritants, which can produce respiratory symptoms as well as other symptoms, such as, stinging or tearing eyes and nausea.

What steps should you take to prevent the outdoor smoke from getting inside?

The immediate response to wildfire smoke and impacts to indoor air quality for buildings and occupants is to minimize the amount of outside air (thus particulate and other compounds of concern) from entering the building, which is done primarily through controlling HVAC systems.

Follow these key steps:

Close fresh air intake and seal with tape and plastic sheeting, until fire situation has stabilized.
Replace all HVAC filters. Install charcoal filters or use charcoal pre-filters, when available.
Install sticky walk-off mats at all egress locations and change them frequently to help control tracking dust from outside.

wildfire

Who is most vulnerable in smoky conditions?

Not everyone who is exposed to wildfire smoke will have health problems. Extent and duration of expsure, age, individual susceptibility and other factors play a significant role in determining whether or not someone will experience smoke-related health problems. However, as indicated in the answer to question #1, persons with compromised respiratory, cardiovascular and immune systems tend to be more seriously affected, triggering asthma, bronchitis and reduced lung functions.

What precautions should be taken/ guidelines should be followed to protect yourself as well as these high-risk individuals?

When air quality warnings are issued by government agencies, the EPA recommends staying indoors and filtering air through an air conditioner, or leaving the area until the fire is suppressed or the winds have shifted. The EPA also recommends wearing a respirator rated for fine particles, but this would require prior medical approval and proper fit testing and training.

Can you give an example of a job that you handled related to this issue? What lessons learned would you pass on?

In 2009, the Los Angeles area was struck by major wildfires that impacted seven properties belonging to one of our clients. At the time, we immediately mobilized to the impacted properties to perform visual inspections for site conditions, which included inspecting the interior and exterior of the buildings for the presence of ash; inspecting the HVAC system (along with the HVAC contractors, to ensure the units were sealed up properly and filters were replaced); and sampling the indoor air for the presence of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, VOCs, and particulate matter.

We generated a detailed initial response document for our client, which included specific instructions of activities to follow in order to protect the buildings, prior to and following a wildfire. To the point that the property/ site managers no longer need for us to perform site visits. The property managers simply follow the instruction in the document to ensure their sites remain safe.

For more information on wildfire safety visit:

http://www.epa.gov/naturalevents/wildfires/index.html