WS-9788_44983_CA_RPTS_20180207_SS

CEDAR ROCK ENVIRONMENTAL, P.C.
107 Pioneer Trail ● Graham, North Carolina 27253
[phone]

November 23, 2017

Mr. Clay Hemric
2419 Pineway Drive
Burlington, NC 27215

Reference: Inspection of an underground storage tank (UST) located at 2419 Pineway Drive,
Burlington, North Carolina

Cedar Rock Project # 239322590

Dear Mr. Hemric:

Cedar Rock Environmental, P. C. (Cedar Rock) performed a site inspection on November 20, 2017 at the
above referenced location. The purpose of the inspection was to determine if a 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 1947 which is most likely when the UST was installed.

An inactive UST was observed to be located parallel to and centered approximately 4.0 feet off the western
foundation wall and about 6.5 feet west from the southwestern corner (closest to Dogwood Lane) of the
house. Both the fill and vent pipes were observed to be intact. The depth to the top of the UST is
approximately 22 inches below land surface (bls). The UST has a length of about 12 feet with a diameter
of approximately 45 inches and a capacity of about 1,000 gallons. The tank was measured to contain
approximately 531 gallons of fluid. White flagging was installed to mark the ends of the UST. No other
USTs on the property were discovered using a metal detector to survey along the outside perimeter of the
house where USTs would usually be located.

Once the orientation of the UST was determined, two soil borings were performed, one at each end of the
UST, using a 3.25 inch diameter stainless steel hand auger. Both borings were advanced to a depth of about
7.1 feet bls, approximately 1.5 feet below the bottom of the UST. The native soils underlying the UST
consist of an orange brown sandy silt. The soil at the north end of the UST exhibited a trace odor of
petroleum from a depth of about 5.5 to 6.0 feet bls. The soil at the south end of the UST exhibited a slight
to moderate petroleum odor from a depth of approximately 5.5 to 7.1 feet bls. A soil sample, CR-1, was
collected from the base of this boring and submitted for laboratory analysis using EPA Method 3550 for
Diesel Range Organics Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH). The results of the sampling detected TPH
at 3,420 parts per million (ppm) which exceeds the State Action Limit of 100 ppm. The laboratory
analytical report and chain-of-custody form are included as an attachment.

The property is serviced by a city water supply. No water supply wells were observed within 150 feet of
the observed soil contamination. For this reason, the subject property would be classified as “Low Risk”
by the State.

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, 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 the “Responsible Party” for any State required action relating to the UST
Mr. Clay Hemric
November 23, 2017
Page 2

leakage. Cedar Rock will submit a UST-61 form to satisfy the State’s notification requirement for the
release upon your request.

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 the DEQ has assigned a “Low Risk” classification to the property, 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 will 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, home
owner’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.

The presence of the soil contamination does not appear to pose any known health risk at this time. However,
to minimize the spread of further contamination we recommend the immediate in-place abandonment of
the UST. This 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, pressure wash
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 $3,900.00 plus $1.00 per gallon of
recovered fluid. 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 336-376-0394.

Sincerely,

Robert A. Payne, N.C. Licensed Geologist #0970

Attachment