Environmental Eng & Remediation Services

Site Investigation and Removal Action
ZAPATA characterized and excavated more than 2,000 tons of hazardous materials, including 1,750cy of contaminated soil and construction debris, 78 55-gallon drums, Munitions Debris (MD), and a UST with associated piping from 19 locations across the 400-acre site. The Formerly Used Defense Site is now a public park in a densely-urbanized area. ZAPATA located, identified, characterized, and removed and disposed of drums and other potentially hazardous wastes using data collected from a geophysical surveys and soil and groundwater sampling and analysis. During remediation, we unexpectedly discovered and safely disposed of Munitions Debris (MD). ZAPATA’s in-house military munitions expertise and capabilities allowed us to safely address the MD issue without having the client impose a stop work order, thereby protecting the public and minimizing impact on the project schedule.

Disposal/Removal Action, Sanitary Sewer Right-of-Way
ZAPATA’s initial primary objective was to identify, locate and characterize drums and other potentially hazardous wastes within the 4,000ft sewer-line using data collected during a geophysical survey. Our tasks included collecting sufficient soil and groundwater samples along the path of the new sewer line project to meet the requirements stated by the Department of Environmental Resource Management for characterization of the sewer-line project. The primary contaminants of concern were volatile organic compounds (VOCs), semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs), total recoverable petroleum hydrocarbons (TRPH) and Priority Pollutant Metals. Recognizing the importance of smooth project flow and stakeholder involvement, ZAPATA took great steps to identify and coordinate the project objectives and to communicate those objectives to the project team in advance of fieldwork. This planning and organization lead to an investigation phase that was completed in advance of the planned completion date, provided high quality analytical and geophysical data and minimally disrupted park activities. The park is a heavily used public facility. Safety was a primary consideration during all parts of our characterization and removal efforts. Considering our level of effort onsite (i.e., use of heavy equipment, discovery of ordnance scrap, drum removal, etc.), we were able to complete all fieldwork tasks without a single injury.

Site Characterization and Source Differentiation
ZAPATA developed a methodology for incorporating isotope geochemistry and groundwater modeling that simulates fate and transport of groundwater and chlorinated ethene isotopes in order to examine the efficacy of isotope analysis for contaminant plume source characterization that extends beyond traditional methods. ZAPATA incorporated compound-specific isotopic analyses into a three-dimensional fate and transport model to differentiate the mass contribution of multiple sources to a single plume.

Performance Based Remediation of Petroleum Hydrocarbons
ZAPATA remediated a contaminant plume of petroleum hydrocarbons in soil and groundwater in a densely developed urban setting.The plume had migrated off-site to multiple properties, including businesses and residential areas. ZAPATA treated groundwater using multiple technologies, completed dig and haul of contaminated soil, and is currently conducting LTM/LTO. ZAPATA personnel worked more than 3,000 hours during construction and remedial activites with zero accidents or incident. All sites activities were completed without disrupting numerous adjacent businesses and highly congested traffic patterns. All free products was removed within six months by creation and vacuum extraction and within the first year of operation we removed more than 50% of total contamination.