MO-29960_49046_CA_O_20230607_UST Inspection

Cedar Rock
ENVIRONMENTAL
June 7, 2023
Ms. Cynthia Schwartz
2154 N. Pollard Street
Arlington, VA 22207
CEDAR ROCK ENVIRONMENTAL, P.C.
107 Pioneer Trail
Graham, NC 27253
[phone]
Reference: Inspection of an underground storage tank (UST) located at 421 Rensselaer Avenue,
Charlotte, North Carolina
Cedar Rock Project # 366622590
Dear Ms. Schwartz:
Cedar Rock Environmental, P. C. (Cedar Rock) performed a site inspection on June 7, 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 1931. The UST would have most likely been installed sometime in the 1950s.
An inactive UST was observed to be located as shown in the Site Map. Both the fill and vent pipes of the
UST were observed to be intact, however, the vent pipe was missing its cap. The depth to the top of the
UST is approximately 20 inches below land surface (bls). The UST has a length of about 92 inches with a
diameter of approximately 41.25 inches and a capacity of about 560 gallons. The UST was observed to be
dry containing no fluids. White flagging was installed to mark the ends of the UST (see Photo). 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. No copper fuel delivery/return lines, petroleum odors or stains
were observed in the basement/crawlspace, however, the crawlspace had plastic on the floor.
Once the orientation of the UST was determined, a soil boring was performed at the northeastern end of the
UST using a 3.25-inch diameter stainless steel hand auger. The soil boring was advanced to a depth of
approximately 5.5 feet bls, about 0.4 feet below the bottom of the UST. A strong petroleum odor and
discoloration was observed in the soils from a depth of approximately 4.5 to 5.5 feet bls suggesting
significant leakage from the UST has occurred. The native soils underlying the UST consist of an orange,
brown sandy silt. One soil sample, CR-1, was collected from the base of the boring and can be submitted
for laboratory analysis, if required.
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, 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
petroleum 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 request
by the property owner, Cedar Rock will submit a UST-61 form to satisfy the State's notification requirement
for the release.

Ms. Cynthia Schwartz
June 7, 2023
Page 2
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 14313- 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 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 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 $4,000.00 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. The total project cost should not exceed $5,310.00.
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,
6�
Josiah D. Payne, N.C. Licensed Geologist #2825
Attachment

Ms. Cynthia Schwartz
June 7, 2023
Page 3
Photo. View of the UST location. Both ends of the UST are marked with white flags.

1 inch = 10 feet
PROJECT: 421 Rensselaer Avenue Property CEDAR ROCK
INCIDENT#: Pending ENVIRONMENTAL, P. C.
LOCATION: 421 Rensselaer Avenue
• Sample Location (CR-1)
T1 = 560-Gallon UST
L----
SITE MAP
Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co. FILENAME: 3666-Figl.tcw
CRE PROJECT NUMBER: 366622590VERSION DATE: 6n/2023
FIGURE 1

Beverly, Trudy
From: Beverly, Trudy
Sent: Thursday, June 8, 2023 6:29 AM
To: Damien Callaghan
Cc: Josiah Payne; Bob Payne
Subject: RE: [External] UST-61 form submission for the Patricia Cowden Boyd Revocable Trust Property, 421
Rensselaer Ave, Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co.
Received.
Trudy
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Trudy Beverly, L.G.
Hydrogeologist, Division of Waste Management
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
UST Section, Mooresville Regional Office
704.235.2182 (Office)
Trudy.Beverlykdeq.nc.. og_v
Email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the
North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.
Office Mailing Address:
610 East Center Avenue, Suite 301
Mooresville, NC 28115
Branch's Underground Storage Tanks Website Address: https:Hdeg.nc.gov/about/divisions/waste-management/ust
Branch's Above Ground Storage Tanks Website Address: hit2s://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/waste-management/ust/ast-program
INTERACTIVE MAPS WITH DWM SITES AND PERMITTED FACILITIES:
https://deg.nc.gov/about/divisions/waste-management/waste-management-rules-data/waste-mana eg ment- ig s=mates
File Review Procedures:
https: //deq.nc. gov/about/divisions/waste-management/ust/file-review-procedures#mooresville-regional-office
ONLINE ACCESS TO UST SECTION DOCUMENTS (Laserfiche):
https://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/waste-manaizement/laserfiche
Document Submittal & UST File Names for Laserfiche Policies:
https://files.nc.¢ov/ncdea/Waste%20Mana¢ement/DWM/UST/W hatsNew/Final-Electronic-Document-Submittal-Policv.odf
https:Hfiles.nc.gov/ncdeq/Waste%20Management/DWM/UST/Corrective%2OAction/UST%2Ofile°/a20names°/`20for%2OLaserfiche.docx
From: Damien Callaghan <[e-mail]>
Sent: Wednesday, June 7, 2023 8:36 PM
To: Beverly, Trudy <[e-mail]>
Cc: Josiah Payne <[e-mail]>; Bob Payne <[e-mail]>
Subject: [External] UST-61 form submission for the Patricia Cowden Boyd Revocable Trust Property, 421 Rensselaer Ave,
Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co.
CAUTION: External email. Do not click links or open attachments unless verified. Report suspicious emails with the Report Message
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Hi Trudy
Attached is the UST-61 form for a release at the above property with a copy of our inspection report.
Damien Callaghan
Cedar Rock Environmental