RME provides regulatory and technical solutions to a diverse client base, each of which have unique issues or challenges. We recognize the importance of approaching each project in a unique way while using our broad experience as a frame of reference. The following categories provide a perspective on the diversity of RME's general environmental consulting experience.

•  Indoor Air Quality
•  Permitting
•  Risk Assessment
•  Brownfield
•  Investigations
•  Hazardous Waste Combustion

INDOOR AIR QUALITY

RME has conducted Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) projects at more than 1,000 locations including single and multi-family residential, light and heavy commercial, retail, school buildings, and high-rise offices. RME has performed IAQ assessments in support of insurance claims, property transactions, remodeling projects, litigation, employee complaints, terrorist impacts, and impacts caused by natural disasters. RME has conducted these projects for both Biological and Chemical contamination.

The scope of an IAQ project typically includes Assessment, Sampling, Cause and Extent, development of Remediation Protocol, Construction Management, and Post Remediation Verification (PRV). RME uses standard IAQ techniques and conducts its work in accordance with state (if applicable) and federal guidance including the US EPA, New York State, Louisiana, and Texas Guidelines. Example projects performed by RME include the following:

Single Family Residential
RME has conducted more than 900 IAQ projects for numerous insurance companies in Texas and Oklahoma at residential structures that were impacted with Biological Contaminants. A typical project consists of Assessment, development of a Remediation Protocol, and Post Remediation Verification (PRV). The majority of this work was conducted between 1998 and 2002 and prior to the change in state Legislation as related to insurance policies. During this period of time, RME conducted these IAQ projects following the US EPA and New York Sate Guidance.

Former Circuit Board Manufacturing Building
In support of due diligence, RME conducted a chemical and biological IAQ assessment at a Former Circuit Board Manufacturing Building. The 100,000 sq. ft. building was in operation from 1982 through 2001. In support of its extensive visual assessment, RME collected samples to quantify the extent of potential contamination (i.e. VOC, SVOC, Metals, and Fungi) in the indoor air, on surfaces, and from HVAC equipment. RME prepared Risk Based Action Levels (RBAL) specific to air and surfaces for each contaminant identified and established the clean standards for the intended use of the Building. RME also prepared an independent remediation cost estimate to clean the Building to the RBALs.

South Texas School Building
For a private client, RME conducted a biological IAQ assessment of a 200,000 sq. ft. School Building located in South Texas. Under this project, RME collected detailed ambient air data including relative humidity, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide.

RME also collected air samples for viable, non-viable, and bacteria analysis. RME reviewed and provided interpretation of the air data and samples, prepared a biological assessment report, and prepared the remediation protocol and cost estimate.

In addition, RME sampled a non-complaint school located in the same school district, and showed that the air quality and mold in the HVAC system in the complaint school were no different from the non-complaint school.

Multi-Family Residential Building
RME conducted a detailed Biological Contamination Assessment of a 300 unit apartment building in support of a property transaction. The assessment included detailed photographic analysis and the collection of air and source samples. RME also prepared a remediation protocol and remediation cost estimate to support the final negotiations related to building price.

High Rise Office Building
RME investigated indoor air quality complaints in a high rise office building to help resolve a dispute between a building tenant and owner. RME conducted a thorough visual inspection and collected air and source samples. Although retained by the tenant, RME's investigation did not identify biological contamination associated with the event that was the cause of the dispute.

Regulatory Permitting and Compliance

RME has reviewed and prepared permits for more than 200 facilities located in the five state Area of EPA Region 6, Georgia, Ohio, Missouri, and Pennsylvania. The types of permits have included CAA, RCRA, and Water. RME has also provided technical consulting to facilities for regulatory compliance as related to the CAA on a national basis and Voluntary Cleanup Programs in the state of Texas.

Example projects performed by RME include the following:

Municipal Setting Designation Application
RME prepared a Municipal Setting Designation (MSD) Application for a municipal client. This is the first MSD Application that has been prepared by and for a municipality in the state of Texas. This MSD Application was specific to a former electronic circuit board manufacturing facility that was being managed under the TCEQ VCP Program due to groundwater contamination in a Class II Aquifer.

The MSD Application for this facility established a buffer around the facility, and through a local Ordinance, restricts the use of groundwater within this buffer. RME demonstrated that the contamination in the groundwater will not move outside the buffer at concentrations that will impact surface water or ecological receptors.

Upon approval of the MSD Application by the TCEQ, the municipal client will receive a Certification of Closure and will not be required to incur the expense of additional investigation and monitoring the groundwater as required by the VCP.

Hazardous Waste Combustion
RME uses a holistic approach to hazardous waste combustion focused on achieving the goals of the Client - maximum operating flexibility for the least cost. RME is uniquely qualified to support hazardous waste combustion projects because it has worked on both sides of the permitting fence.

RME principals established the Region 6 combustion strategy in the mid-1990's and authored key documents used in the permitting of hazardous waste combustion facilities including:

• Protocol for Human Health Risk Assessment at Hazardous Waste Combustion Facilities;
• Hazardous Waste Combustion Permitting Manual
• Region 6 Risk Management Strategy

RME has prepared hazardous waste combustion risk assessments for a wide variety of combustion systems including incinerators; gas, fuel-oil and coal-fired boilers, cement kilns; and industrial furnaces.

RME has prepared Trial Burn Plans, Comprehensive Performance Test Plans, and Quality Assurance Project Plans for hazardous waste combustion projects and supported the negotiation of risk-based permit limits and alternative monitoring requests with state and federal environmental agencies.

RME has provided training on these topics to Department of Defense contractors and state regulatory personnel and has been involved in over 50 projects working for either U.S. EPA or private industry.

Risk Management Plans (RMP)
For a Fortune 500 client, RME has prepared more than 30 RMPs for facilities that are located in Texas, New Mexico, Mississippi, Missouri, and Nebraska. As required under the CAA, RMPs were required for these facilities because they store, react, and sale anhydrous ammonia at quantities that exceed the regulatory threshold.

In preparation of the RMPs, RME has:

1. conducted site visits and detailed interviews with facility personnel,
2. documented detailed information related to the storage tanks and ancillary equipment and compliance with ANSI Standards,
3. evaluated and documented emergency shut-down procedures, and
4. identified potentially effected receptors.

In completing the RMP report, RME uses the SLAB model to evaluate worst-case and alterative case release scenarios, conducts an analysis of effected populations using the US Census 2000 database contained in the ARCVIEW program, prepares a detail report, and prepares the US EPA RMP Submit report.

RCRA Permitting
RME has reviewed and prepared RCRA Part B Permit Applications in US EPA Region 6 for a variety of facilities including, but not limited to, wood treating, petrochemical manufacturing, department of defense and energy, electroplating, universities, paper manufacturers, solvent recycling, and municipal utilities.

RME has reviewed the permit applications for completeness and has advised its clients on permit deficiencies. RME has also worked with the facilities and State and Federal Agencies to complete the permitting process.

RCRA Compliance
RME has conducted numerous RCRA Compliance and Enforcement Inspections, RCRA Facility Assessments, and has overseen RCRA Facility Investigations at numerous facilities throughout US EPA Region 6. RME:

• evaluated facilities as related to their historical solid and hazardous waste management practices,
• identified and visually assessed the Solid Waste Management Units (SWMU),
• evaluated the regulatory compliance related to the SWMUs and operations,
• prepared summary and comprehensive reports for its clients,
• worked with U.S. EPA in the development of Supplemental Environmental Initiatives (SEI).

RI/FS
RME has managed and performed remediation investigations and feasibility studies for a wide range of sites including municipal landfills, un-permitted waste disposal facilities, coal gasification plants, and ammunition manufacturing plants. RME has prepared enforcement strategies, collected data to identify PRPs, negotiated Administrative Orders, and prepared Records of Decision.

RME has presented technical information to community leaders and the general public on a wide range of technical topics including risk, remediation technologies, and liability.

Risk Assessments

RME has conducted Risk Assessments and prepared Risk Assessment reports in support of RCRA permits for the Hazardous Waste Combustion facilities, Soil and Drinking water exposures for Superfund Sites, and air exposures from emissions from Chemical Manufacturing Facilities.

RME has conducted these risk assessments in accordance with regulatory guidance and standard engineering techniques using regulatory accepted air and risk modeling tools. Example projects performed by RME include the following:

Hazardous Waste Combustion
RME has prepared multi-pathway risk assessments for hazardous waste burning incinerators and cement kilns. The risk assessments were prepared for both private and government clients. In addition, RME helps its private clients negotiate risk based permit limits, when necessary, that are based on common sense and recognize the inherent uncertainties in the modeling.

Soil and Drinking Water Exposures
RME has prepared risk assessments at NPL Superfund sites to evaluate the need for remedial action and establish remediation goals. RME prepared risk assessments involving dioxin and furans, PAHs, metals, SVOCs and other contaminants.

Air Exposures
RME has prepared risk assessments to evaluate risks associated with air emissions from Superfund sites and from various types of manufacturing processes including secondary metals smelting, particle board manufacturing, and petroleum storage.

Brownfield

RME has provided extensive support in the development of a Brownfield program for a municipality and has conducted expanded environmental assessments on Brownfield Properties. Example projects performed by RME include the following:

City of Garland, Texas Brownfield Pilot Assessment Program
Under a Contract with the City of Garland, Texas, RME conducted a comprehensive assessment of Brownfields throughout the City of Garland. The scope of the Contract consisted of: (1) preparing a comprehensive inventory of all Brownfield Properties, (2) conducting preliminary assessments at potential Brownfield properties, (3) development and application of ranking criteria to prioritize Brownfield sites, and (4) conducting Phase I and Phase II assessments on priority Brownfield properties.

To identify and manage the Brownfield property inventory, RME designed a City of Garland Geographic Information System (GIS) database using the ARCVIEW(TM) software. RME created and populated multiple datasets in the GIS including Dallas County Appraisal District records, specific records from the City of Garland Tax database, aerial photographs for the entire City of Garland, Political Boundaries, and an environmental records database that was created for the entire City of Garland. RME identified more than 800 potential Brownfield sites, conducted more than 30 preliminary assessments, prepared a list of more than 45 Candidate Sites, and applied ranking criteria to prioritize and determine real Brownfield properties.

RME also conducted Phase I and Phase II assessments on two Brownfield properties that were determined to have the highest potential for redevelopment. RME completed this project within 2 years and within the approved budget.

Former Electronic Circuit Board Manufacturing Facility

As part of a Brownfield redevelopment project, RME conducted an assessment for safe occupancy (ASO) of a building interior subsequent to cleaning. In preparing for the ASO, RME prepared a QAPP and HASP, and established a sample grid for sample management and documentation. RME collected more than 150 samples, summarized the data into spreadsheets, compared the data against the clean standards, and provided interpretation and consultation as related to additional cleaning required too achieve the clean standard.

Closed Municipal Solid Waste Landfill

RME conducted an expanded site assessment on a 23-acre property that was reported to have received organic materials (i.e. tree branches, grass trimmings, brush, etc.) as part of historical fill activities. In addition to the standard ASTM Phase I Assessment, RME conducted a soil gas survey and collected soil and groundwater samples for chemical analysis. RME also conducted the regulatory research. Based on an analysis of the data, RME determined that:

1. approximately 60 percent of the property was covered with fill material,
2. soil gas was present within 80 percent of the soil gas borings,
3. soil gas concentrations exceeded the lower explosive limit at 30 percent of the soil gas borings, and
4. the site met the regulatory criteria of a Close Municipal Solid Waste Landfill (CMSWL).

Through this analysis, RME was able to assist the property owner in evaluating what the property could be used for. This assessment resulted in the property owner being able to sell a portion of the property for uses that did not include enclosed structures.

Investigations

RME has conducted numerous multi-media investigations at UST, Oil and Gas, RCRA, and Superfund sites located throughout the five state area of EPA Region 6.

In preparation for investigations, RME has prepared Health and Safety Plans (HASP), Sampling and Analysis Plans (SAP), and Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPP). RME is intimate with and designs its investigations using applicable ASTM, Federal, and State guidelines.

RME has installed hundreds of shallow and deep soil borings and groundwater wells, has collected hundreds of soil and groundwater samples, and has conducted sampling in accordance with the U.S. EPA Contracting Laboratory Program.

Example projects performed by RME include the following:

Oil and Gas Production Sites
For a private client, RME conducted a subsurface investigation at more than 30 production locations in West Texas. The scope of the subsurface assessment was to determine the vertical extent of contaminated soils and if groundwater (if encountered) had been impacted from gas condensate released from the old cisterns that had historically been used to collect the gas condensate from the production wellhead. RME used a combination of hollow-stem auger and air drilling methods to assess the vertical extent of contamination.

Natural Gas Compressor Station
For a private client, RME conducted an extensive subsurface soil and soil gas investigation at a 40-acre gas compressor station located in South Texas. The scope of this investigation was to characterize the vertical and horizontal extent of glycol contamination in soils and groundwater. Using a geoprobe(TM) RME collected soil gas, soil, and groundwater samples and conducted analysis on-site in a mobile laboratory using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry.

UST
RME has conducted investigations at numerous UST sites for private clients and the U.S. Navy. The scope of the investigations were to determine if releases of fuel had occurred from the USTs, and to characterize the vertical and horizontal extent of fuel contamination in soils and groundwater. The majority of the investigation work was conducted using geoprobe (TM) drilling technologies. RME has conducted these investigations at sites in Texas and California.

Superfund
RME has conducted subsurface investigations at multiple Superfund Sites in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Louisiana. The types of Superfund sites have included former surface impoundments that contained wasted from the petro-chemical and oil and gas industry, closed municipal landfills containing solvents and oil field wastes (oil, brine, drilling fluids), and DOD facilities where large releases of solvents had occurred.

RCRA
RME has conducted subsurface investigations at multiple RCRA Sites in Texas and Louisiana. The types of RCRA sites have included petrochemical facilities, poly-vinyl chloride manufacturing, and wood creosoting sites. Subsurface investigations were conducted to address RCRA Facility Investigation (RFI) conditions that were written into the RCRA Part B Permits.