WS-29814_48919_CA_RPTS_20230324_Site-Inspection

CEDAR ROCK ENVIRONMENTAL, P.C. 107 Pioneer Trail Graham, NC 27253 [phone] March 21, 2023
Mr. Jay Brame 7405 Laketree Drive
Raleigh, NC 27615 Reference: Inspection of an underground storage tank (UST) located at 2179 Woodland Avenue,
Burlington, North Carolina Cedar Rock Project # 361522590
Dear Mr. Brame: Cedar Rock Environmental, P. C. (Cedar Rock) performed a site inspection on March 21, 2023 at the above referenced location. The purpose of the inspection was to determine if the UST previously used for storing heating oil had leaked causing significant contamination of the underlying soils. It is our understanding the residence was built in 1955 which is most likely when the UST was installed. An inactive UST was discovered to be located as shown in the Site Sketch. Neither the fill nor vent pipes of the UST were observed. The depth to the top of the UST is approximately 12 inches below land surface (bls). The UST has a length of about 94 inches with an estimated diameter of approximately 41 inches and
an estimated capacity of about 560 gallons. A hole was dug to the top of the tank exposing the bunghole where the vent pipe was formerly attached as well as the two copper fuel delivery/return lines (see Photo 1). The vent pipe was found while digging to be disconnected and buried. The UST was observed to be
completely full with half being a solid material like concrete or rocks and the other half fluid. Plastic sheeting was also found inside the tank. White flagging was installed to mark both ends of the UST (see Photo 2). No other USTs used for storing heating oil were discovered on the property using a metal detector
to survey the outside perimeter of the residence where USTs are usually located. Two copper fuel delivery/return lines were observed in the crawlspace coiled up and crimped at the foundation wall adjacent to the tank. No petroleum odors or stains were observed in the crawlspace from the entry closest to the tank. Once the orientation of the UST was determined, a soil boring was performed at the southern end of the tank using a 3.25-inch diameter stainless steel hand auger. The boring was advanced to a depth of approximately 2.0 feet bls, about 2.4 feet above the bottom of the UST. A strong petroleum odor and discoloration was observed in the soils at the base of the boring suggesting leakage from the UST has occurred. The soils at the base of the boring consist of a grayish brown sandy silt. The property is currently serviced by a municipal water supply. No water supply wells were observed within 150 feet of the petroleum release. For this reason, the property should be classified as “Low Risk” by the State.
Based on the results of this investigation, contamination of the soils surrounding the UST has been confirmed. Current law (NCGS 143-215.85 (a) and (b)) requires that any significant release of petroleum
be immediately reported to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Division of Waste Management, Winston-Salem Regional Office (336-776-9800). According to State law, upon reporting the release, the current property owner where a release is discovered is identified by the State as
Cedar Rock
ENVIRONMENTAL
Mr. Jay Brame March 21, 2023
Page 2 the “Responsible Party” for any State required action relating to the UST leakage. Upon your request, Cedar Rock will submit a UST-61 form to satisfy the State’s notification requirement for the release. Currently, the property cannot be legally conveyed until a Notice of Residual Petroleum (NRP) is filed with
the Alamance County Register of Deeds office pursuant to NCGS 143B-279.11 (d). The NRP will contain applicable land use restrictions to minimize the risk of exposure to existing contamination. The land use restrictions prohibit any disturbance of site soils within a specified radius of the estimated extent of soil
contamination and prohibit the future operation or installation of any water supply wells on the property. Once classified as “Low Risk” and upon approval of the NRP, the DEQ will issue a “Conditional” Notice of No Further Action (NFA) letter to formally close out the release incident. The “Conditional”
provision in the NFA letter will be removed upon receiving a certified copy of the filed NRP and the completion of Public Notification requirements. Filing the NRP and performing Public Notification would not be required if all soil contamination exceeding applicable standards has been removed.
The State currently will not require initial abatement or remedial action of the soils regarding the release of heating oil from a UST on a “Low Risk” property, however, they will require removal of the tank contents and properly cleaning the tank interior to abate the petroleum release pursuant to 15A NCAC 2L .0106(b). Once the presence of the UST and confirmed contaminated soil is disclosed to other interested parties as required by State law, future buyers, homeowner’s insurance providers, or lenders may also require initial abatement and/or remedial actions relating to the UST prior to making any commitments towards the property. In addition, there exists a potential for further environmental impact to the property from continued leakage from the UST. Currently, the presence of the soil contamination does not appear to pose any known health risk. Attempting
to remove the UST and associated contaminated soils is costly, would be disruptive to the property and may not result in a clean closure. For these reasons, we recommend the proper in-place abandonment of the UST. The tank abandonment would consist of exposing a portion of the UST by hand excavation, cutting
a hole about two feet in diameter on the topside of the UST, removing fuel line contents, cleaning of the tank interior (to the best of our ability given the material already inside the tank), and finish filling the tank with a structurally supportive yet excavatable flowable fill cement slurry. A summary report signed by a
licensed geologist would be generated that would include photographs of each step of the abandonment process, including a photograph of the interior of the UST to show the UST was properly cleaned. Cedar Rock can provide this service for a charge of $3,900.00 plus $1.50 per gallon of recovered fluids. Preparing and filing the NRP and performing the Public Notification requirement will cost an additional $1,250.00. Attached is an invoice for the site inspection. We appreciate the opportunity to be of service to you. If you have any questions regarding the content of this report, please call me at 336-684-3836. Sincerely, Josiah D. Payne, N.C. Licensed Geologist #2825

Attachment
Mr. Jay Brame March 21, 2023
Page 3

Site Sketch. Sketch is to scale relative to itself.

N
House UST Location of soil boring
2.75 ft
4.25 ft
Front porch
Carport
Stoop Stoop
Mr. Jay Brame March 21, 2023
Page 4
Photo 1. View of the southern end of the UST marked with the white flag. Note the bunghole (bottom left of hole) where the vent pipe was attached, the two copper fuel delivery/return lines (to the right of bunghole), and some of the plastic sheeting (wrapped around drill auger bit) found inside the tank and the steel vent pipe that was found while digging.
Photo 2. View of the UST location. Both ends of the UST are marked with white flags.