MO-9562_40993_CA_O_20200220_Tank Inspection

Cedar Rock
ENVIRONMENTAL
February 20, 2020
Ms. Deborah McRae
2136 Bay Street
Charlotte, NC 28205
CEDAR ROCK ENVIRONMENTAL, P.C.
107 Pioneer Trail
Graham, NC 27253
[phone]
Reference: Inspection of an underground storage tank (UST) located at 2136 Bay Street,
Charlotte, North Carolina
Cedar Rock Project # 287822590
Dear Ms. McRae:
Cedar Rock Environmental, P. C. (Cedar Rock) performed a site inspection on February 19, 2020 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 1945 which is most likely when the UST was installed. On
February 7, 2020, 458 gallons of fluid were removed from the UST to prevent future overflow events.
An inactive UST was observed to be located parallel to and centered approximately 4.5 feet off the
northwestern foundation wall and about 8.4 feet northeast of the western corner of the original foundation
of the house (not the addition). The fill and vent pipes of the UST were observed to be intact (fillpipe
recently cut off at the cap) just above the ground surface. The depth to the top of the UST is approximately
26 inches below land surface (bls) on the northeastern end and about 22 inches bls on the southwestern end.
The UST has a length of about 93.5 inches with a diameter of approximately 42.5 inches and a capacity of
about 575 gallons. The UST was measured to contain approximately 471 gallons of fluid. White flagging
was used to mark the ends of the UST. No other USTs on the property were discovered using a metal
detector to survey the outside perimeter of the residence where USTs are usually located. Two copper fuel
delivery/return lines with an inline oil filter were observed extending about 20 feet into the basement where
they were cut and crimped at the former furnace location. No petroleum odors or stains were observed in
the basement.
Once the orientation of the UST was determined, a soil boring was performed at the southwestern end of
the UST using a 3.25-inch diameter stainless steel hand auger. The soil boring was advanced to a depth of
approximately 5.4 feet bls, near the bottom of the UST. The borehole was not advanced farther as a result
of water entering the borehole. A strong petroleum odor and discoloration was observed in the soils from
a depth of approximately 5.0 to 5.4 feet bls suggesting significant leakage from the UST has occurred. The
soils at the base of the boring consist of a grayish orangish brown micaceous sandy silt.
Some light surface leakage was observed that extended from the fill and vent pipes down to a small retaining
wall about 10 feet southwest. The observed leakage was surficial and should naturally attenuate without
any environmental remediation necessary. We recommend disposing of and replacing the pine straw in
this area.
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.

Ms. Deborah McRae
February 20, 2020
Page 2
Based on the results of this investigation, significant contamination of the soils underlying the UST has
been confirmed. Current law (NCGS 143-215.85 (a) and (b)) requires that any significant release of
contamination be immediately reported to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ),
Division of Waste Management, Mooresville Regional Office (704-663-1699). According to State law,
upon reporting the release, the current property owner where a release is discovered is identified by the
State as 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 Mecklenburg 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 any initial abatement or remedial action regarding the release of heating
oil from a UST on a "Low Risk" property. However, 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 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 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 all tank and fuel line contents, cleaning of
the tank interior, and filling the tank with an 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 $3,300.00 plus $1.25 per gallon of recovered
fluids. Preparing and filing the NRP and performing the Public Notification requirement will cost an
additional $1,250.00.
Included with this report is our invoice. 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 336-376-0394.
Sincerely,
Robert A. Payne, N.C�ic�ensed Geologist #0970
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Beverly, Trudy
From: Beverly, Trudy
Sent: Monday, February 24, 2020 10:03 AM
To: Josiah Payne
Cc: Damien Callaghan; Bob Payne
Subject: RE: [External] UST-61 form submission for the Deborah McRae Property, 2136 Bay
Street, Charlotte
Josiah —Thank you for sending the inspection report with stamped receptor information.
Trudy
From: Josiah Payne [mailto:[e-mail]]
Sent: Monday, February 24, 2020 9:53 AM
To: Beverly, Trudy <[e-mail]>
Cc: Damien Callaghan <damien [e-mail]>; Bob Payne <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: [External] UST-61 form submission for the Deborah McRae Property, 2136 Bay Street, Charlotte
• ,I External email. Do not click links or open attachments unless you verify. Send all suspicious email as an attachment to
[e-mail]
Trudy, please see the attached inspection report. Thanks!
Josiah Payne
Cedar Rock
ENVIRONMENTAL