3TM Consulting, LLC Company Brochure

3TM CONSULTING, LLC Environmental Science, Engineering, and Forensic Investigations “The significant problems in life cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them.” Albert Einstein In 1995, 3TM Consulting began its first project in the field of en-vironmental forensics. Two years later, our client was success-ful in settling a lawsuit for $55 million. Since that time, 3TM Consulting has supported both defendants and plaintiffs in the legal forum. Our clients include industrial and commercial companies, attorneys, land owners and realtors, toxicologists and medical doctors, and other consultants. 3TM Consulting routinely provides consulting support to its cli-ents in the area of environmental science and engineering. Our capabilities include environmental engineering, geology and hydrogeology, ecology, land use, human and ecological risk assessment, and remediation / decontamination using scientists and engineers who are recognized authorities in their respec-tive fields, and who have demonstrated their ability to assess complex problems in a systematic manner. We routinely team up with other consultants having expertise in the areas of toxicology, air dispersion modeling, medicine, and specialized science. Our services include: ?? Environmental Consultation ?? Site Reconnaissance ?? Site Historical Contamination Assessment ?? Data and Information Compilation and Management ?? Data Validation ?? Environmental Multi-Media Sampling and Analysis ?? Environmental Studies and Assessments ?? Exposure Assessments ?? Forensic Investigations ?? Economic Analysis and Engineering Cost Estimates Who We Are “We are life that wants to live in the midst of other life that wants to live.” Albert Einstein Page 2 International Services 3TM Consulting provides services to clients throughout the United States. We have worked in about 30 states, including Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Oklahoma, West Vir-ginia, New Jersey, California, Florida, Michigan, New Mexico, Alabama, and other states. We have also worked in Guam, Tai-wan, Mexico, Venezuela, and Ecuador. SITE HISTORICAL CONTAMINATION ASSESSMENT 3TM Consulting routinely assists clients in assessing the histori-cal contamination at a site. This may involve a search of histori-cal regulatory records, aerial photographs, maps, Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) Data, and site reconnaissance. Some projects are simple. Others are not. One of our larger efforts to date has been the review of approximately 30 banker’s size boxes of information, summarizing it into a nomi-nal 100-page report for a group of attorneys. PROPERTY ACQUISTION AND DIVESITURE 3TM Consulting is frequently called upon by our clients to assist in the assessment of the environmental issues associated with property acquisition and divestiture. In doing so, 3TM Consult-ing has prepared Phase I Due Diligence Assessments ranging in complexity from a “simple Phase I” for a commercial property to comprehensive environmental baseline assessments associ-ated with refineries, fuel terminals, and service station networks. We have prepared Phase I Assessments for entire groupings of properties, such as product pipeline terminals. MERITS OF THE CASE EVALUATIONS Frequently, technical assessment is required as part of making the final decision of whether or not to pursue a certain litigation. In such instances, 3TM Consulting provides what we term “merits of the case” evaluations, that is, a study that quickly cap-tures the technical and scientific issues associated with the site, such as the nature and extent of contamination, exposure path-ways, potential receptors, potential confounders, and similar information. Consulting Assignments and Studies “Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts.” Albert Einstein Page 3 CONVENTIONAL FIELD METHODS 3TM Consulting has extensive experience in subsurface site characterization and the remediation of contaminated soil and groundwater. We have used manual samplers, conventional drilling rigs, and direct push technology (such as Cone Penetrometer Testing and Geoprobe) to sample soils and groundwater. The photograph to the right shows direct push technology being used to sample subsurface soils and groundwater to depths of up to 100 feet. This method allows for rapid and efficient sample collection, using procedures that are accept-able to court scrutiny. Evaluating the impact of airborne particulate and gaseous emissions from a source requires the use of special field equipment and procedures. The photograph to the right shows the monitoring of airborne dust laden with PAHs and Dioxins/Furans which were impacting a residential commu-nity. Indoor forensic sampling and testing confirmed high levels of Dioxins in indoor living environments, and chemical fingerprinting linked the receptors to the source. 3TM Consulting frequently uses Summa canisters to detect volatile contaminants inside buildings, the source of which is either vapor intrusion or external airborne emissions. Environmental Multi-Media Sampling STATE-OF-THE-ART FIELD METHODS 3TM Consulting has used state-of-the-art field methods to detect and delineate subsurface contamination. When used with conventional field techniques, they provide powerful evidence in a courtroom. The color plot to the right was generated in the field using electromagnetic imaging (EMI) to detect anomalies associ-ated with releases by an abandoned creosote facility in a Florida swamp. The red areas represent highly conductive areas, interpreted as DNAPL, at a depth of about 80 feet bgs. The green and blue areas represent background conductiv-ity levels. Conventional drilling was subsequently used to sample the soil and groundwater, indicating high levels of creosote-related PAHs at a depth of 75-80 feet bgs, and confirming the EMI interpretation. Page 4 465325 465350 465375Easting (m)2875425287545028754752875500287552528755502875575Northing (m)Monitoring indoor ambient air qualityMonitoring indoor ambient air qualityusing Summa canisters.using Summa canisters. FATE AND TRANSPORT OF CHEMICALS The release of toxic chemicals to the environment can occur from both routine and non-routine releases from a source. Once released, the chemicals become “contaminants” or “pollutants,” and can impact both human and ecological re-ceptors. Contaminants are initially released to surface soils or the local atmosphere or water bodies, where they are transported to other environmental media such as subsurface soils, sedi-ments, groundwater, and household dust. During the transport, various physical, chemical, and biologi-cal processes act upon the contaminants to degrade them or change their character. The most important ultimate fate, of course, is the human body, where they can impact health and the quality of human life. TOXIC EXPOSURE TO RESIDENTS Research has shown that people may spend up to 90% of their time indoors. Because of this, toxic household dust and vapor intrusion are emerging metrics for measuring exposure and risk to humans via contaminated indoor dust particles, airborne vapors, and subsurface vapors emanating from contaminated soil and groundwater. 3TM Consulting has developed specialized field techniques for collecting both household dust and soil gas samples. The samples are then tested by forensic laboratories and may be fingerprinted in order to identify the source of the contamina-tion. 3TM Consulting has evaluated households contaminated with Benzene, PAHs, PCBs, Dioxins/Furans, pesticides, herbicides, toxic metals, and toxic mold. In some instances, the medical causation associated with these contaminants cannot be rationalized by only looking at current levels. Historical exposure to these chemicals is also important, and in many instances, the historical levels were much higher than current levels indicate. 3TM Consulting can assist you in this analysis by performing retro-calculations of contaminant concentrations in various environmental media using the principle of half-life contaminant decay. Exposure Assessments Page 5 Mapping of chlorides in groundwater at a ranch in Texas.01020304050607080902,3,7,8-TCDF1,2,3,7,8-PeCDF2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF1,2,3,4,7,8-HxCD F1,2,3,6,7,8-HxCD F2,3,4,6,7,8-H xCD F1,2,3,7,8,9-HxCD F1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDF1,2,3,4,7,8,9-HpCDF OCD F2,3,7,8-TCDD1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD1,2,3,4,7,8-HxCDD1,2,3,6,7,8-H xCD D1,2,3,7,8,9-H xCDD1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDD OCDD3TM  A B C D E X ACTrackTrack--in:in:ParticlesParticlesAirborne:Airborne:Particles Particles and Vaporsand VaporsAtticAtticLiving AreaLiving AreaToxic Exposure to ResidentsToxic Exposure to ResidentsVapor Intrusion from Contaminated Vapor Intrusion from Contaminated Soil and GroundwaterSoil and GroundwaterCumulative Concentration of PCBs in Soil from Airborne Deposition Scenario: 5-Year Period ReleasesAnnual Equivalent PCB Deposition Rate = 1 ppmPCB Half-Life = 3.0 Years0.00000.20000.40000.60000.80001.00001.20001.40001.60001 4 7 10 13 16 19 22 25 28 31 34 37 40YearsConcentration (ppm) Page 6 Law suits are filed. Discovery is made, and interrogatories are answered. The parties decide to settle. But, for what amount? And, on what basis? Should the property be simply remediated or decontaminated, or should it be restored to pre-contamination event conditions? And, what are these conditions? The term “Pro Forma Economic Analysis” is defined as the analysis of the scientific, regulatory, financial, and logistical considerations and parameters associated with the environmental restoration of contaminated properties based on certain facts, assump-tions, and calculations. 3TM Consulting prepares varying levels of Pro Forma Economic Analyses and Engineer-ing Cost Estimates for clients using information from both the public domain and com-mercial contractors in order to establish unit rates and prices for the primary parameters associated with the analysis. The graph below represents a Monte Carlo parametric sensitivity analysis incorporated into project risk to provide insight into financial risks associated with varying total project cash outlays for environmental restoration. In this case, the economic simulation indicates that there is very low probability that the project cost will be less than $16 million or more than $28 million. 3TM Consulting has prepared engineering cost estimates for remediation and restora-tion projects ranging from a few thousand dollars to billions of dollars. Remediation, Restoration, and Decontamination “Concern for man and his fate must always form the chief interest of all technical endeavors. Never forget this in the midst of your diagrams and equations.” Albert Einstein ?? Courtroom exhibits can be simple or complex, depending on what is being conveyed to the court, the nature of the case, and the makeup of the jury. 3TM Consulting has worked with other experts in preparing courtroom exhibits that not only present facts but also educate and communicate. For example, 3TM Consulting modeled the deposition of PCBs onto ground surfaces from histori-cal releases from an industrial facility in order to explain to the jury how PCBs can accumulate over time and be detected in the residential surface soils surrounding the plant many years after the release had occurred. Graphs can show the theoretical deposition rates and resultant soil concentrations over a 40-year release period, taking into consideration the half-life of PCBs. Such graphics can be used to retro-calculate soil historical soil concentrations in support of health-based exposure and risk assessments, for example, for diseases with long latency periods. On the other hand, a photograph of a muddy shoe can be used to illustrate contaminant track-in, and bubbles in a bathtub can be used to illustrate the phenomenon of contaminant half-life. Evidence and Courtroom Exhibits Page 7 Cumulative Concentration of PCBs in Soil from Airborne Deposition Scenario: Releases at Years 1-30 Annual Equivalent PCB Deposition Rate = 1 ppm PCB Half-Life = 3.0 Years0.00000.50001.00001.50002.00002.50003.00003.50004.00004.50005.00001 4 7 10 13 16 19 22 25 28 31 34 37 40 43 46YearsConcentration (ppm)Half-Life of Bubbles: 8:00 1,000,0008:01 500,0008:02 250,0008:03 125,000Half-Life = 1 MinuteLEGEND:Contaminated DustNon-Contaminated DustIndigenous DustSampling PointTrack-in DustBlow-in Dust3TM Internat ional, Inc.Exchange Between Attic and Living AreaTrackTrack--inin::ParticlesParticlesAirborneAirborne::Particles Particles and and VaporsVaporsAtticAtticLiving AreaLiving Area””If contaminated dust can find its way into the attic, then it If contaminated dust can find its way into the attic, then it can find its way into the living areas of a house.can find its way into the living areas of a house.””““If contaminated dust is found in the attic, it indicates that thIf contaminated dust is found in the attic, it indicates that the e living areas were also contaminated at some point in time.living areas were also contaminated at some point in time.””Trial Exhibit illustrating the potential impact of toxic dust.3TM International, Inc.3TM International, Inc.Contaminated dirt can be tracked inContaminated dirt can be tracked inby humans and animals. by humans and animals. Variability in Sampling Residential Attic Dust Variability in Sampling Residential Attic Dust PAHs and Dioxins from Wood Preserving Plant PAHs and Dioxins PAHs and Dioxins from Wood from Wood Preserving Plant Preserving Plant GrandmaGrandma’’s Old Blankets Old BlanketSawdustSawdustOutdoor SoilOutdoor SoilOld BoxesOld BoxesPaper ProductsPaper ProductsInsect PartsInsect PartsInsulationInsulationWho Knows WhatWho Knows WhatSampleSample78% of All Samples Collected 78% of All Samples Collected by 3TM Indicated the Presence by 3TM Indicated the Presence of Dioxins/Furans (>4 ppt)of Dioxins/Furans (>4 ppt)% % == 4 ppt 4 ppt % < 4 ppt or Below Reporting Limit% < 4 ppt or Below Reporting Limit21.6%78.4%3TM International, Inc.3TM International, Inc.N=43N=43Concentration of ContaminantTimeConcentration of Contaminant as a Function of Routine Household Cleaning on Periodic BasisConcentration of Contaminant builds up as more contaminant mass is added to the household living environment, as a result of both track-in and blow-in contaminated dust particles. Cleaning event removes a portion of this mass, resulting in exposures to occupants that are a function of time. Cleaning EventExposure LevelsExample: FugacityExample: Fugacity--Based Indoor Residential Based Indoor Residential Pesticide Fate and Transport ModelPesticide Fate and Transport ModelSource: Lawrence Berkeley National LaboratorySource: Lawrence Berkeley National LaboratoryOther SourcesOther SourcesComplex TerrainComplex TerrainResidencesResidencesCreosote FacilityCreosote FacilityBackgroundBackgroundReleases to Air, Releases to Air, Soil, Sediment, Soil, Sediment, Groundwater, Groundwater, Surface WaterSurface WaterReleases of Releases of Metals, VOCs, Metals, VOCs, SVOCs, PAHs, SVOCs, PAHs, PCDDsPCDDs--PCDFsPCDFs Page 8 3TM Consulting has successfully completed more than 300 environmental projects, ranging in complexity from small consulting assignments to large litigation efforts totally in the billions of dollars. The following is a representative summary of our experience1: PROJECT TYPE NUMBER Site Reconnaissance 92 Records Review, Data Compilation, Phase I ESA 78 Geophysical Imaging / Electromagnetic Imaging 20 Multi-Media Sampling and Analysis 88 Control Group Sampling and Analysis 7 Fate and Transport Studies 20 Chemical Fingerprinting 28 Economic Analysis / Engineering Cost Estimates 66 Remediation / Decontamination 9 PROJECT SETTING NUMBER Chemical Plants 12 Commercial / Gas Stations / Dry Cleaners 27 Impacted Ranch or Farm Land 28 Industrial Sites 36 Manufacturing Plants 18 Oilfield Sites 38 Refineries 6 Wood Preserving / Treating Sites 34 PROJECT CONTAMINANT NUMBER Carbon Black 2 Chlorinated Hydrocarbons (TCA, TCE, PCE) 25 Dioxins/Furans 32 Mold and Biological Agents 5 NAPLs (DNAPL and LNAPL) 7 Pentachlorophenol (PCP) 18 Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) 6 Radionuclides 5 Salinity / Total Dissolved Solid (TDS) 33 Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds (SVOCs) / Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons 58 Sulfur, Sulfides, and Inorganics 7 Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) 34 Toxic Metals (RCRA, Priority Pollutant) 44 Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) 55 1 As of Nov 2010 3TM Projects Database Page 9 3TM CONSULTING, LLC For further information, please contact us: Randy D. Horsak, PE 955 Dairy Ashford, Suite 206 Houston, Texas 77079 Phone: (281) 752-6700 Fax: (281) 752-6701 Email: rhorsak@3tmconsulting.com www.3tmconsulting.com And God said, “It is good.” And then man came along and tried to make it better … At 3TM Consulting, we are neither advocates for industry nor ac-tivists. We are consultants who enjoy high tech society as much as we enjoy nature. Our mission is to support our clients through the objective evaluation of environmental data and other infor-mation in order to resolve legal issues.