Passive Soil Gas Surveys

The state-of-the-art sampling and analytical procedures followed by Beacon Environmental are the foundations for a highly sensitive technology to identify trace levels of compounds present in the vapor phase. Sample collection is performed by using either a subsurface sampler emplaced within an approximately one-inch diameter hole advanced to a typical depth of one to three feet or by using a completely non-intrusive, surface-placed flux chamber. Either sampling approach is provided through easy-to-use BeSure Sample Collection KitsTM for your personnel to collect passive soil gas (PSG) samples.

After retrieval, the samples are shipped to Beacon Environmental`s laboratory for analysis following established EPA Method protocols (EPA Method 8260C or EPA Method TO-17). The resulting data - provided in just five business days - identifies source areas and delineates the migration pathways. A comprehensive report that includes color distribution maps of targeted compounds - typically delivered in just 10 business days - fully empowers you to make faster, better-informed decisions about site characterization, spatial variability, risk assessment, remedial design, and monitoring the effectiveness of remediation activities.

The following publications are available to examine several applications and to learn how to implement a new realm of interpretive power by the mass to concentration tie-in option.

Where VOCs and SVOCs are contaminants of concern, Beacon Environmental’s versatile technologies have been used on a wide variety of sites to meet many objectives, including the following:

Site Characterization And Site Assessment
Passive soil gas (PSG) surveys are used to identify source areas and track groundwater plumes of known or suspected contamination and are also used as an initial site screen where no previous data have been collected.

Remediation Design And Long Term Monitoring
PSG surveys position where monitoring wells should be installed, guide the remediation program, and provide long-term monitoring.

Department Of Defense/Department Of Energy
PSG surveys are used to identify historic releases of a broad range of contamination, including solvents, fuels, chemical warfare agents (CWAs), CWA breakdown products, and nitroaromatics.

Superfund Sites
PSG surveys provide an abundant amount of data to develop an accurate conceptual site model the first time. PSG surveys are used as part of an effective TRIAD approach.

Brownfields/Industrial
PSG samples are deployed rapidly with little or no impact on ongoing operations, are easy to install both indoors and outdoors, and are highly useful in determining PRPs.

Dry Cleaners/Solvent Contamination
PSG surveys are routinely used to target PCE, TCE, and other solvents without interruption to ongoing business operations.

Pipelines And USTs/Petroleum Contamination
PSG surveys provide evidence on the types of petroleum contamination present (gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, etc.) and are used to locate these releases from pipelines and USTs.

Risk Assessment
PSG surveys identify vapor intrusion pathways through soil and concrete flooring with a proven level of ppt sensitivity.

Landfills
PSG surveys provide a checklist of VOCs and SVOCs present. Beacon Environmental also is able to quantify the methane production rate of landfills.

Commercial Property Transfers
PSG surveys are used by purchasers, sellers, banks and insurance companies to collect data rapidly – with a standard TAT in less than 5 days – providing the information necessary to make informed decisions rapidly.

In addition to targeting standard VOCs and SVOCs in the environmental industry, such as chlorinated and petroleum hydrocarbons, Beacon Environmental can also target chemical warfare agents (CWAs) and their degradation products in the vapor phase. These compounds can be targeted with a completely non-intrusive sampling approach where the sorbents are suspended beneath surface-placed flux chambers. Beacon Environmental`s passive, non-intrusive samplers have identified both HD and nerve agents, as well as HD degradation products (1,4-dithiane and 1,4-oxathiane) at numerous locations at sites where disposal of chemical warfare agents (CWAs) reportedly occurred more than 40 years ago. In addition, chlorinated hydrocarbons used in the demilitarization of HD contaminated materiels were identified as still being present.

Beacon`s non-intrusive BeSure Passive Soil Gas technology offers unique capabilities to investigate sites potentially contaminated with CWAs, agent breakdown products, and compounds used in the demilitarization of chemical warfare materiel (CWM). The technology has been demonstrated successfully to collect and detect CWA, agent breakdown products, and compounds used in the demilitarization of CWM. Beacon Environmental’s passive technology offers a low cost, non-intrusive, and broad scale investigation capability with easier analysis for rapid turn-around of results. Typical CWA investigations can be very costly and require extensive design. Surveys using passive sorbers for CWA and associated compounds are a highly useful tool to determine the need for further intrusive investigation, to determine specific "hot spots" of contamination, or for time-critical decision making. The chemicals of concern that can be targeted are:

• CWAs - HD, Sarin (GB), Tabun (GA), and VX
• Agent breakdown products - 1,4-dithiane, 1,4-oxathiane, thiodiglycol
• Nitroaromatics - Nitrobenzene, Nitrotoluene, DNT, Dintrobenzene, TNT, Trinitrobenzene;
• VOCs and SVOCs used in the demilitarization process - Trichloroethene (TCE), Tetrachloroethene (PCE), Carbon Tetrachloride, and 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane (DANC), fuels, etc.

Beacon Environmental provides full service support to environmental professionals across the country and around the world for completing accurate and effective soil gas surveys. Wherever you have a need, you can count on Beacon Environmental to:

• Evaluate whether a passive soil-gas survey will meet your objectives.
• Design an effective sampling and QA plan.
• Supply an easy-to-use BESURE Sample Collection Kit™ or a field crew to perform a full turnkey survey.
• Gather field data using GPS or traditional surveying techniques when necessary.
• Analyze samples by EPA Method 8260C, with the highest level of accuracy and QA/QC procedures.
• Create site maps using data gathered by Beacon Environmental or your personnel.
• Deliver results in comprehensive, easy-to-read reports featuring color isopleth maps.
• Save money that can be spent on remediation.

Beacon Environmental`s staff will assist at no cost with the design of the sampling plan to meet both project and data quality objectives.  Please call to discuss your project with one of our product specialists to evaluate the use of a PSG survey and to discuss specifics on sampler placement and grid design.