Expert Services for Former Plating Company Site
Challenge
During a routine inspection of a former plating company dating back to the 1950s, the State of California Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) noticed stained soil in the vicinity of a drum storage area on-site. The site had been used to manufacture and electro-plate aircraft components, automobile parts, locking mechanisms, and other similar products for more than 40 years. Chlorinated solvents and vapor degreasers were used at several locations at the site over the years for cleaning parts before electro-plating. New and spent solvents were kept onsite at the drum storage area designated in the company’s southern parking lot. The RWQCB ultimately requested the company to complete several soil and groundwater investigations to delineate soil, soil vapor, and groundwater quality at the property. Impacts due to solvent use and storage were identified at several locations at the site.
Solutions
Geo-Logic Associates (GLA) was retained to provide expert services in the insurance litigation case resulting from the soil and groundwater investigations to ascertain whether insurance coverage was applicable to site solvent releases. GLA staff were asked to provide an opinion on the location, nature, and timing of site solvent releases, if any. We provided an expert opinion at trial as to the timing and location of solvent releases to the subsurface based on witness testimony regarding the history of solvent use at the site, site aerial photo reviews, the history of solvent detections in site subsurface media samples, and modeling of solvent release travel times. Our expert also opined as to whether subsurface solvents were present as dense nonaqueous phase liquids. GLA staff also accompanied defense attorneys in the courtroom during trial to provide ongoing consulting services regarding live witness testimony.
Results
The California State Superior Court decided in favor of our client based on our detailed scientific analysis and expert testimony on the nature, location, and timing of solvent release at the property.
