FAQ

What is ARM?

Assessment, Remediation, and Monitoring (ARM) incorporates a broad range of services aimed at addressing the release or threat of hazardous substances at your project site. This environmental remediation process consists of three steps to identify, address, and remove harmful materials. These substances can originate from a variety of sources and are commonly found at manufacturing facilities, oil and gas sites, waste facilities, brownfields, and more. 

Chemical byproducts and petroleum that result from the operations of these sites may be released into the surrounding area, contaminating the soil, groundwater, and air. The presence of these substances can pose a threat to the health and ecology of the region. ARM is performed in these situations requiring environmental due diligence, such as real estate development and redevelopment, site closures, and more.

Step 1: Assessment

This first step of ARM involves a physical assessment to determine the release or threat of release of a hazardous substance, also known as a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA). A trained professional examines the designated property, taking notes and capturing images of their observations. 

Issues, conditions, implications, and/or evidence are recorded for further evaluation of the potential of hazardous substances.

This audit also details facility compliance certifications, equipment maintenance records, and related documentation of the property. Owners of the property, both past and present, are interviewed to collect further information regarding potential environmental concerns. If the information and evidence gathered signal the potential for an existing or historical presence of hazardous substances, the ARM process continues.

Follow-Up Step

A Phase II ESA uses gathered observations, evidence, and information from the Phase I ESA to begin a site characterization, which enables skilled experts to comprehend the nature of the problem by interpreting the geologic and hydrologic characteristics of a property.  

These professionals execute feasibility studies to understand the extent of the issue and to select the appropriate remedy. Technology screening includes sampling suspected soil, rocks, groundwater, sediment, and air to determine the specific types of present contaminants. Multiple rounds of investigation allow experts to fill data gaps on what is known about the site to create a greater understanding of the issues at hand. At the end of this process, the applicable remedial strategy is determined.

Step 2: Remediation

Once the best plan of action has been established, a remediation system is designed and implemented. Explicit remediation strategies exist for specific problems in the form of active and passive remediation systems. 

Active remediation includes solutions that can be applied relatively quickly to resolve contamination. Often taking the form of a hands-on approach, contaminated media is removed from the site to be disposed of at a designated disposal site. Contaminated groundwater can be pumped and treated before being sent to a local sewer system. 

It is crucial that treated media is disposed of at an appropriate disposal site that adheres to environmental regulations. Regulations and disposal procedures differ from state to state.

Passive remediation involves the installation of a system that treats contamination over time. These systems require time and patience for the remediation to occur. An example of passive remediation is Targeted Microbial Applications (TMA), which utilizes an In Situ Bioreactor (ISBR) system that employs bio-augmented microbes to render contaminants harmless throughout a period of time.

Step 3: Monitoring

After a remediation system has been implemented, constant monitoring is the key tool for analyzing the effectiveness of the solution. Long-term trends in the chemistry of the soil, groundwater, and air quality are evaluated. The site will also be assessed for additional threats that may or may not have presented themselves. If a new threat is detected, it is first examined, and an appropriate remediation system is then designed and applied.

Read more about ARM here.

Operating with significant environmental liabilities and risks presents a constant potential for complications to arise. Don't let these dilemmas hinder your organization. Cameron-Cole's environmental experts are trained to craft solutions that reduce your risks while keeping your projects on track.