Professional Documents
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Business Plan
Nicole Bendixen, Baylee Kurtz, David Druze, Sam Frensely, and Nicole Rynkiewicz
Created on March 31, 2021
Executive Summary
This company aims to offer their services in order to clean up environmental contaminants via
physical and chemical remediation. Company headquarters will be based in Galloway, New
Jersey. In this proposal we will go in depth about what remediation services we offer, where we
will be remediating, for what kinds of contaminants and soils and who our clients will be.
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Table of Contents
Background 4
Overview and objectives 6
Physical and Chemical Remediation Technologies 7
Client Base and Contracts 11
Projected Staffing and Income 13
Conclusion 18
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Background
Remediation allows sites that are contaminated and pose risk to our health and the
remediation was made known to the world after two contaminated sites hit the news and gave
compensation and liability act, is a federal cleanup program for contaminated sites. It was
enacted in 1980 because of the two major contaminated sites, one of which being Love Canal in
NY, that devastated and impacted the welfare of many people's lives. As the name suggests this
law is used for emergency clean up, analysis of the sites and to hold those responsible for the
contaminants liable. To be held liable means that the contaminators are responsible for the clean
up or the compensation required for the clean up. CERCLA is also known by the term Superfund
due to the budget allowed for the clean-up of hazardous sites when no party is found responsible.
Through this law the EPA is able to enforce laws regarding contaminants. As the human
population increases so does the chance of a contaminated site and the increased demand for
remediation. Due to New Jersey's dense population, reducing exposure to contaminated sites is
not an easy feat. Through the start of our remediation company we can reduce the exposure to
One of the most important things to understand is the region in which a remediation
company is based, specifically the characteristics of the region's climate and ecosystem. With a
company planned to be based primarily in Southern New Jersey, and a focus on remediating soils
and groundwater, we will be remediating in soils that are primarily mapped as entisols, ultisols,
and histosols. Pictured below is a map containing what soil orders are most prominent in New
Jersey. Southern New Jersey contains the Pine Barrens which is a unique ecosystem containing
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acidic and sandy soils. Since it has unique characteristics our preferred remediation methods will
vary as it should from state to state. In New Jersey our soils primarily consist of well drained
sandy soils with an average pH of 4.0. New Jersey has a temperate climate with four seasons and
has an average of 42-46 inches of rainfall a year. These characteristics are essential to understand
as they are important variables to how effective a remediation will be. If we were to add a
chemical solvent that is not reactive at a low pH it would be a waste of resources and we would
need to update our remediation plan and try again. However with this initial information we can
avoid such setbacks. On each remediation job the company will follow a step by step process so
we can guarantee a successful clean up. This process will include doing appropriate background
information on the site, undergoing phase one and phase two assessments as needed, proper
communication between the client and within our company, cross checking and doing multiple
appropriate manner, and lastly carry out an organized clean up process of a site.
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Overview and Objectives
methods we use will include physical and chemical remediation. For physical remediation we
will use soil excavation, soil washing, soil flushing, soil vapor extraction, and physical capping.
For chemical remediation we will use pump and treat, permeable reactive barriers, chemical
oxidation, and chemical capping. Through the contracts available to use we will be able to gain
all the resources needed in order to properly carry out the remediation methods. These contracts
will be based in New Jersey where most of our remediation projects will take place. Through our
understanding of New Jersey's climate and soils we will be able to make the most applicable
decision on what remediation method to use on the different sites and pollutant characteristics we
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Physical and Chemical Remediation Technologies
Physical Remediation
surface and groundwater, without the use of chemicals. Physical remediation methods include
soil excavation, soil washing, soil flushing, soil vapor extraction, and physical capping.
Soil Excavation
Soil excavation is the process of physically removing contaminated soil and either
treating the soil on or off site. It is known to be the easiest remediation technology for almost any
site, most commonly used on sites where pollutants are shallow and in a contained area.
Although excavation is the “easiest”, it involves bringing heavy equipment to the site, digging up
the contaminated area, and transporting them to another area where it can be properly disposed
of. Because this process entails moving pollutants from one site to another, it is important that all
Soil Washing
Soil washing method is an ex-situ remediation method used to remove pollutants that are
binded to soil particles. These contaminants bind to clay/silt particles which then can bind to
coarser grained particles such as sand/gravel.Washing with water/additives allows the coarse
grained particles to separate from the contaminated fine grained soils. Pretreatment processes of
the soil are applied, including the removal of large objects which are usually not contaminated
following the separation of coarse and fine grained materials. If contaminants have bind to the
coarse grained soils then further action including acid/base treatment to increase solubility of the
contaminants or specific solvents to dissolve the contaminants from the particles. Fine grained
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treatment is necessary because contaminants are mostly found in these particles and chemicals
are used to scrub the soils and are mixed with the solutions and then settled to remove the
pollutants. The wash water used in this process must be treated because they will be
contaminated, in order to reuse the wash water available to continue soil washing
processes.Residual material is output during the washing process but depends on the grain size of
the original material where some contaminated fine grain soils and sludges may be disposed at
landfills or if still above regulations, will need to be further treated before disposal.
Soil Flushing
Soil flushing is the process where water with additives (surfactants or solvents) are
applied to soil, in order to dissolve the contaminants in the solution. It can also be directly
applied to the groundwater which raises the capillary fringe above the surface of the water table
which is where a higher level of concentration of contaminants are found. The effectiveness of
this technique depends on the type of soil, moisture, size of contaminated area, geochemistry of
the groundwater, and the types of contaminants involved. This method is used to treat metals,
VOCs, SVOCs, PCBs, fuels, and pesticides.Typically, soil flushing is followed by extraction and
off site treatment. This is often used in situations where PCBs are in a sandy soil, and a
surfactant and water solution is used to flush the pollutant from the soil.
Soil vapor extraction is the process of pumping or extracting volatile and semivolatile
organic compounds from the vadose zone in soil. Once the pollutants are extracted from the
ground they are either treated or destroyed, where extraction wells are drilled into the surface of
the earth but do not penetrate into the water table. In order to make the process more efficient, a
blower is attached to a well so that air can be injected into the soil, while another well is
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vacuuming out the pollutants. Soil vapor extraction is often used in areas where dry cleaners
previously operated because they are known to pollute the soils with PCE and TCE. Although
these chemicals are harmful, they are VOCs so they can be readily vacuumed from the soil. If the
pollutants continue to make it into the groundwater, another method of extraction is required in
Physical Capping
Physical Capping entails putting a barrier between the contaminate and the outside world,
ensuring that the contaminant can no longer spread or cause harm to the environment above
it.This barrier is often made out of clay, soil or gravel and is meant to be able to withstand any
possible erosion that may occur. Typically, this type of physical remediation process is used in
larger sites that occupy a stable environment otherwise. Once the soil is capped, these sites are
often used for landfills or bodies of water, where a drainage well must be installed, as well, in
Chemical Remediation
While there are many effective ways to physically remove or contain contaminants at a
site. It is important to also consider when chemical remedial techniques should be used.
Chemical remediation technology involves changing the chemical structure of the pollutant,
resulting in an efficient and effective clean up of the contaminated area. After the clean-up
process is complete, the site is restored to as close to its originals state as possible. There are
many remediation techniques that can be used but determining the right technology for the job
largely depends on the site and contaminant characteristics including groundwater flow rates and
the water quality characteristics. After determining the site and contaminant characteristics, a
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The particular contaminants at a site need to be removed because they are causing
potential health risks to humans and the environment. Most chemical remedial technologies
utilize oxidation and reduction reactions to help remove and neutralize soil and groundwater
contamination. These types of reactions produce irreversible changes in the pollutants form,
effectively reducing the risk of exposure and possible harm when dealing with waste products
from the contaminated site. In the following paragraphs, multiple chemical remediation
The “pump and treat” as its name implies, is a method involving the pumping
contaminated groundwater to the surface through multiple extractions wells. Because the
contaminants are being removed and treated, this method is referred to as an ex-situ treatment.
After pumping the contaminated water to the surface, the polluted water is passed through one or
multiple wastewater treatment plants. After cleaning, the water samples are tested to determine
the contaminant(s) have been removed or reduced to a safe level determined by the
Environmental Protection Agency. Once the samples are confirmed to be safe, the waste water is
either reinjected into the ground or discharged to local surface water. If being discharged,
additional permits may be required. Some other characteristics include, groundwater pH, total
dissolved solids, conductivity, suspended solids, temperature, dissolved oxygen and the water's
“hardness”.
The pump and treat method has two main goals. One is to contain the contamination
plume to prevent it from spreading offsite. This is done by establishing a minimum extraction
rate that allows the plume to remain the same size, preventing further contamination of drinking
water and the environment in the surrounding areas. The second goal is restoration, which
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involves removing the contaminants and cleaning the waste water to an acceptable level. A
minimum pumping rate that exceeds the containment rate is established to remove pollution from
the groundwater. This rate also allows for fresh water to enter the area and aid in flushing the
area of its remaining contaminants. Pump and treat is particularly effective when groundwater
contaminants include heavy metals (lead, arsenic, mercury), industrial solvents such as cleaners,
degreasers, and or paint strippers that contain Perchloroethylene (PCE), and petrochemicals such
Chemical Oxidation
reduce the oxidation state of the contaminant, thus reducing its toxicity. Oxidation is done in-situ
and is executed by injecting the oxidizing agent (Hydrogen peroxide, Fenton’s reagent,
permanganate, and ozone) into the saturated zone. Once the agent is introduced, it comes into
contact with and neutralizes the contaminant plume. Because of the nature of this remedial
method, other technologies are commonly used in combination to increase the efficiency of the
oxidation or to capture byproducts of the reaction that may cause additional contamination
issues.
Oxidation is typically done on a smaller scale and largely relies on precise knowledge of
the underlying hydrogeologic conditions. As the oxidate is pumped into the saturated zone, the
hydrogeologic conditions will heavily influence the length of contact time, and the extent of
contact with the contaminants. These conditions will help determine the quality and type of
oxidation agent that will be used at the site. Below is a table that describes the types of oxidants
that can be used and the pollutants they are able to remediate.
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Note: This table includes a list of common oxidants used for chemical oxidation reactions and
the chemicals they can effectively remediate. This table was pulled from the ENVL 4446 course
Permeable reactive barriers (PRBs) are another option when it comes to remediation of
contaminated groundwater. These barriers are installed down gradient from the contamination
plume of interest. As the groundwater flows, it passes through the barrier resulting in treated
water emerging on the other side. These barriers can be installed as a permanent or can be semi
permanent structure. Typically, a cross section trench is dug ahead of the contaminated plume,
the barrier is then installed in the trench, then backfilled with the native material. There are two
For continuous use, permanent barriers can be installed which allows for the injection
and removal of reactive agents from the barriers through various wells. This allows them to work
over long periods of time and treat a variety of chemical contaminants including heavy metals,
petroleum hydrocarbons and industrial chlorinated solvents. Zero valent iron (ZVI) has been
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proven to be an effective remediating medium to treat contaminated groundwater from activities
Funnel wall barriers are another option for a possible PRB installation. These barriers
contain low permeability walls installed beneath the soil surface that direct or “funnel” the
contaminated plume to the reactive medium that draws out the contaminants. These systems
utilize in-situ chemical treatments that are readily accessible so reactive media can be easily
removed and replaced so continuous remediation can take place. This system is largely driven by
gravity and hydraulic forces that push the water through the gate. Because of this, these barriers
are installed down gradient from the contamination plume, similar to other remedial methods.
Since this system relies on groundwater hydrology and gravity, it is an ideal system for areas
where groundwater flow is fast and the contaminants are dissolved in the groundwater(US EPA,
2020). This allows for remediation to take place quickly, due to the fast moving groundwater that
is carrying the dissolved contaminants through the barrier. Because it is driven by these forces,
maintenance costs after installation are typically inexpensive due to lack of equipment needed to
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Client Base and Contracts
Our primary client base will be property owners and developers. Other client bases
● Financial Institutions
● Non-Profits
Most remediation sites require an LSRP to oversee or review the remediation. When
hiring an LSRP, it is important to agree on a written contract describing the scope of work and
specifying all costs. The contract with the LSRP should include the following:
● A provision to address an audit by the department that determines the Remedial Action
● Specific actions that will be taken to investigate & remediate the contamination
● A budget, specifying:
○ Fixed costs (either as a lump sum or as unit prices for each item)
○ Items to be charged (e.g. laboratory work, equipment & materials, labor hours)
● Specific dates or periodic schedule for when the LSRP will provide a status update
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● Specific deliverables and the dates they are due, including the final deliverable or
endpoint
● All applicable remediation timeframes and how you will be informed of your progress
toward them, if those time frames are unlikely to be met, and the consequence of missing
them
● Identification of the working documents and/or final reports to be provided by the LSRP
should they, or you, decide to terminate the contract prior to the issuance of an RAO
○ Provides professionals from many disciplines who do most site assessments and
actions
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● Responsive Engineering and Analysis (REAC)
quality controls
○ Provides training in emergency response & safety to 5,000 Federal, State, & local
qualifications or technologies
● Planning & cleanup services purchased by states with Federal funds provided under
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● U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contracts awarded to private firms to design & construct
https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPDF.cgi/91003GO8.PDF?Dockey=91003GO8.PDF
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Projected Staffing and Income
The cost of environmental remediation can vary greatly depending on the type of
remediation costs is nearly impossible because the cost reported at one site under a specific set of
conditions does not accurately reflect other sites. The cost of remediation is heavily dependent
estimating the cost of remediation technologies could make estimating income, profits, and
establishing a long term business plan challenging. However, there are some guidelines that can
be used to estimate the cost of a remediation project. The table below is a guide developed by the
project in detail. We plan to use this guide as a template for compiling estimates of the cost of
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Using the cost categories outlined, we are going to use a site that has already been remediated by
the EPA as an example of how we would estimate the cost of a project. We will be using the
Mannheim Avenue Dump NPL Site also located in Galloway Township, NJ. We believe
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Mannheim Avenue Dump is a good example of a site we may be tasked with remediating in New
Jersey.
Site Background
The Mannheim Avenue Dump was a sand and gravel pit until 1964. It then was used to dispose
wastes. The aquifer underneath the site has a shallow and deep zone, both comprised of sand and
gravel and separated by an approximately 3 to 5 foot thick layer of semipermeable clay. Shallow
groundwater is located approximately 35 feet below ground surface. The groundwater flows in a
northwesterly direction in the shallow zone and in a northeasterly direction in the deeper zone.
Contaminants
TCE in groundwater and TCE and lead in soil. TCE was detected in both the shallow and deep
aquifer zones. A TCE plume in excess of 1 ppb in the shallow aquifer zone was estimated to be
100 ft. long, 400 ft. wide, and 15 ft. deep. The plume in the deep aquifer zone was estimated to
Technologies Used
Cleanup Approach
Initial cleanup of the site involved removing degreasing sludge and excavating lead
contaminated soil, removing it from the site, and incinerating it off-site. Groundwater
remediation was performed with a pump-and-treat system consisting of three extraction wells,
one screened in the shallow aquifer and two screened in the deep aquifer. Contaminated
groundwater was pumped into the treatment system at the rate of 40 gallons per minute. VOCs
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were then removed using air stripping and the treated groundwater was re-injected into the
aquifer. The treatment system operated for 18 months. Once TCE concentrations fell below the 1
ppb cleanup goal the pump and treat system was stopped and MNA began. 30 million gallons of
Cost Estimate
We are going to be estimating the cost of performing the remediation project as if we were hired
to do it. We will be using data from the EPA’s Remediation Technology Cost Compendium –
Year 2000 to arrive at capital and operating costs for using pump-and-treat technology with air
stripping. The Remediation Technology Cost Compendium does not include information about
contaminant removal and off-site incineration so the purpose of this proposal we will only be
focusing on the cost of remediating Mannheim Avenue Dump after the contaminants were
removed.
Capital Costs
● Table 6-2 in the Remediation Technology Cost Compendium lists the average Unit
Capital Cost for pump and treat (Capital Cost Per 1,000 Gallons of Groundwater Treated
● After adjusting that number to account for inflation, the Unit Capital Cost is $436.28.
● If 30 million gallons of water was treated over a period of 18 month, it can be estimated
that 20 million gallons were treated over the course of 12 months. That makes 20,000 the
● Multiplying 20,000 by the Unit Capital Cost (20,000 * $436.28) equals $8, 725,600 in
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● If the median Unit Capital Cost is used instead of the average, estimated capital costs
equal $2,430,600
Operating Costs
● The Remediation Technology Cost Copendium lists the average Unit Average Annual
Operating Cost (Average Annual Operating Cost per 1,000 gallons of Groundwater
● After adjusting for inflation the Unit Average Annual Operating Cost is $49.86.
● Multiplying 20,000 (the number of 1,0000 gallons treated per year) by the Unit Average
Annual Operating Cost (20,000 * $49.86) returns an estimated annual operating cost of
$997,200.
● After summing the estimated capital costs and operating costs the estimated total cost for
● To make a profit of %10 the price paid by the client for completing this remediation
● If our company completed three projects of Mannheim Avenue Dump’s size in a year that
● The estimated annual operating cost for Mannheim Avenue Dump was $997,200. If 50%
of that is direct labor for operations that is $498,600 a year in labor costs. If we there are
1,920 operating hours in a year (40 hours a week, 160 hours a month) that is about $260
dollars spent on labor every hour. If we pay our employees 30 dollars an hour that’s about
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8 employees working on Mannheim Avenue Dump pump and treat operations. This
estimate does not account for expenses such as vacation time, employee medical
insurance, etc. This also does not account for labor involved in capital such as design and
engineering, site preparation, and installation of the pump and treat system.
● If our company had three ongoing projects the size of Mannheim Avenue Dump in a year
National Research Council. 1997. Innovations in Ground Water and Soil Cleanup: From Concept to
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Conclusion
The above information from the proposal plan ensures the start of a successful
remediation company. With well trained and educated personnel we will be able to remediate
various contaminated sites with varying site and pollutant characteristics. With the money
provided, we will be able start this company by confirming the contracts and hiring within our
budget of projected staffing and income. With our contracts we can establish strong relationships
and trust that both parties will benefit from. These contracts with well known organizations like
Licensed Site Remediation Professionals (LSRPs), will provide us with the resources we need to
carry out physical and chemical remediation methods. As seen above in projected staffing and
income, the cost of remediation is not cheap. It is also imperative to fully understand each
method and be able to make quick judgments and prepare for potential outcomes. However with
the balance of income and costs we can establish a capable team. This team will have extensive
knowledge on the physical and chemical remediation methods our company aims to utilize. For
physical remediation we will use soil excavation, soil washing, soil flushing, soil vapor
extraction, and physical capping. For chemical remediation we will use pump and treat,
permeable reactive barriers, chemical oxidation, and chemical capping. Our main goal is to
secure the safety of the public from harmful contaminants. We know we can make a difference
here in New Jersey by helping those impacted by harmful contaminants and guaranteeing safe
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References:
https://envl4446.weebly.com/permeable-reactive-barriers-prbs.html
CLU-IN | Technologies > Remediation > About Remediation Technologies > Permeable
Reactive Barriers, Permeable Treatment Zones, and Application of Zero-Valent Iron >
https://clu-in.org/techfocus/default.focus/sec/Permeable%5FReactive%5FBarriers%2C%
5FPermeable%5FTreatment%5FZones%2C%5Fand%5FApplication%5Fof%5FZero%2D
Valent%5FIron/cat/Overview/
https://envl4446.weebly.com/uploads/9/5/5/4/95542854/suthersanch11pump_treat.pdf
https://www.state.nj.us/dep//srp/guidance/srra/in_situ_remediation.pdf?version_1_0
https://clu-in.org/techfocus/default.focus/sec/Permeable%5FReactive%5FBarriers%2C%
5FPermeable%5FTreatment%5FZones%2C%5Fand%5FApplication%5Fof%5FZero%2D
Valent%5FIron/cat/Overview/
National Research Council. 1997. Innovations in Ground Water and Soil Cleanup: From Concept to
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https://www.epa.gov/remedytech/publications-remediation-technologies-cleaning-contaminated-
sites
https://www.nap.edu/read/5781/chapter/8#259
https://www.nj.gov/lsrpboard/board/licensure/lsrp_hiring_guide.pdf
https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPDF.cgi/91003GO8.PDF?Dockey=91003GO8.PDF
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