16021_New Belgium_Request for LC Outdoor Expansion_C_2021Jul09

July 9, 2021

David Peacock
Brownfields Division
Mail Service Center 1646
Raleigh, NC 27699-1646

RE: Approval for soil disturbance at New Belgium Brewery

To Whom it May Concern,

New Belgium Brewery (NBB), located at 91 Craven St., Asheville, NC 28806, is currently in
the process of upgrading its tasting room and guest relations areas, referred to internally
as the Liquid Center (LC). The current project is to increase outdoor seating to the north of
the current LC building. This will include adding in concrete footings to stabilize the ground
to hold additional seating areas as well as a roofed structure containing heating elements.
Based on the NBB ESA Phase II results and the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) for
the site, soil and groundwater exposure do not appear to be an issue. Given the location
of the construction area, methane is a low concern given the sampled elevated levels
detected around the construction area during the brownfields redevelopment.

The construction area is located just north of the current LC facility. Appendix A depicts
the proposed construction area in relation to the Brownfields soil borings (SB), soil gas
(SG) and methane levels. Appendix B contains the civil drawings of the proposed
construction. The EMP is in place to protect workers from exposure to contaminated soil
and groundwater, exposure to asbestos-containing materials, and hazardous conditions
(fire or explosion). These exposure concerns are detailed below:

• Groundwater – No concern
o The closest temporary well (TW) data in relation to the proposed
construction area is HH-TW-8. The only other TW on the south side of the
site is HH-TW-7, which is south of the construction area near the end of the
LC building.
o Elevated levels of manganese were identified from HH-TW-7 and HH-TW-8
above the NC 2L Standard.
o HH-TW-8 has a water table depth of 31.81 feet.
o Soil is expected to be distributed down to 10 feet, with the deepest footer
placed at a depth of 9 feet. Based on this data and the water table depth
for the area, exposure to metals identified above in groundwater is not a
concern.
• Methane levels – Low concern

o Elevated methane gas levels were detected in shallow soil (approximately
5.5 ft bgs) in the southern portion of the site, as depicted below in the red
highlighted area. However, the proposed construction area is directly
above the lowest detected levels of methane on the southern part of the
site, with readings of 0.1% from HH-SG-3 at 5.0-5-5 feet depth. It should
be expected that the methane readings will be similar to this at the
construction depths, which would limit any methane concerns.
o The high 5% and 10% methane readings were farther to the south and
west of the construction area. Being that the footers will be installed on
the far NE side of the southern part of the site, methane levels should be
minimal.
o Contractors will be informed of the methane risk and instructed to be
aware of areas containing significant amounts of wood or organic debris as
well as any unusual odors.
o Additionally, if required by the Brownfields group, contractors performing
work in the area could utilize a combustible gas meter.
▪ If 50% of the LEL is exceeded, workers will clear the work zone, and
work will cease until the LEL is no longer exceeded.

• TPH-DRO – No concern
o Petroleum hydrocarbons were found above DENR action level near a
partially buried heating oil UST, which is on the north side of the site, well
away from the proposed construction area.
o These contaminants do not pose an exposure risk for this project.
• VOCs and SVOCs – No concern
o Elevated levels of VOCs and SVOCs were identified on the north side of the
site, on the other side of the creek. They were not identified at elevated
areas in the proposed construction area.
o These contaminants do not pose an exposure risk for this project.
• PAHs – Low concern
o The analytical data indicate that impacts (particularly PAHs) are present in
both shallow soil (0 to 3 ft below ground surface, bgs) and deeper soil (14
to 31 ft bgs) in the southern portion of the site.
o As PAHs are unlikely to volatilize and the primarily routes of exposure are
inhalation, ingestion, and/or dermal contact, visual dust monitoring will be
required by the contractor to limit exposure.
o It is not expected that the boring work will generate a large amount of dust
in the air, and as such, the PAH exposure is low.
• Metals – No concern
o Elevated levels of arsenic were detected from HH-SB-7 above IHSB
Industrial SRG levels, which is within the proposed construction area.
However, this reading was detected at depths of 29-31 feet, which is well
below the proposed footing depths.

All contractors who will be working on the excavation and footer installation will be
provided a contractor brownfields information sheet (see enclosed), which includes a link
to the site EMP.

Construction relating to the LC expansion project is tentatively planned to begin in mid-
September. It is requested that approval to perform work without oversight be provided
before this time if possible.

Please contact me directly with questions or concerns with the report or other matters.

Sincerely,

Nick Ampe, CHMM
Environmental Health Specialist

New Belgium Brewing Company
500 Linden St.
Fort Collins, CO 80524
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

APPENDIX A – SITE MAP
LC outdoor expansion area

APPENDIX B – CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS