Source: Albuquerque Journal (NM), April 8, 2012 Posted on: http://envfpn.advisen.com Groundwater pollution got a lot of attention in recent years, as Santa Fe County found itself having to clean up petroleumcontaminated dirt and water in the construction of the new courthouse at Montezuma Avenue and Sandoval Street. But that’s not the only pollution plume in […]

Source: Rockhill Environmental/NECC Newsletter A class action lawsuit was filed by 45 claimants against a waste facility alleging they contributed to off-site contamination next to a waste disposal owned by the facility. The suit alleged the contamination migrated onto the claimants’ properties, contaminating their homes, crops, and livestock. The claim was settled in the high five […]

Source: Rockhill Environmental/NECC Newsletter A utility contractor was subject to clean-up costs after vandals opened an on-site mobile refueling tank causing diesel fuel to be released onto virgin soil.

Source: Rockhill Environmental/NECC Newsletter A utility contractor left an unfinished concrete vault open over the weekend. Heavy rains washed away sediment controls allowing sand and silt to be released from the unfinished vault into the adjacent bay. The contractor was subsequently fined by a regulatory agency for natural resource damage resulting from the release of sediments […]

Source: Rockhill Environmental/NECC Newsletter A street and road contractor was hired to re-pave a 25-mile section of highway. During the project, one of the contractor’s dump trucks accidentally backed into and ruptured a mobile refueling tank. 300 gallons of diesel fuel was released onto the surface and migrated into a nearby storm drain.

Source: Rockhill Environmental/NECC Newsletter Inadequate erosion control measures implemented during construction of an abutment for a highway overpass resulted in petroleum -impacted sediment to be deposited into a pristine waterway. The street and road contractor was required to pay for clean-up costs and natural resource damages.

Source: Rockhill Environmental/NECC Newsletter During construction activities, a crane used to lift concrete barriers overturned. The accident ruptured the crane’s hydraulic hoses spilling all its fluid onto the ground. The contractor was required to pay for clean-up costs arising from the spill.

Source: Rockhill Environmental/NECC Newsletter A steel erection contractor accidently caused a release of diesel fuel at a construction site when a crane operator dropped a steel beam. The beam landed on a small tanker truck that was brought onto the site to refuel other construction equipment. The cost of the emergency clean-up was in excess of […]

Source: Rockhill Environmental/NECC Newsletter A subcontractor working for a street and road contractor performed abrasive sandblasting on a bridge located near a residential area. Lead paint chips and dust from the sandblasting became airborne and migrated onto residential properties, requiring clean-up. The residents filed property damage claims against the street and road contractor and the subcontractor for […]

Source: Rockhill Environmental/NECC Newsletter A roofing contractor applied polyurethane foam along with layers of elastomeric protective coatings to a roof of a commercial building. After completion of the building, workers in the building began to suffer respiratory problems caused by irritants in the coatings. Suits for bodily injury and business interruption were filed against the general […]

Source: Rockhill Environmental/NECC Newsletter A plumbing contractor installing a lawn sprinkler system did not install adequate vacuum breakers on the discharge side of the water supply valves. When pressure in a drinking water system fed by the same water main fell below atmospheric pressure, a vacuum was created which caused back-siphonage of stagnant water from the […]

Source: Rockhill Environmental/NECC Newsletter A pile driving contractor punctured an unknown underground storage tank which resulted in the release of waste oil. The waste oil impacted adjacent soils and forced the job to stop until the materials could be delineated, excavated and properly disposed.