Site Investigations

A good site investigation includes upfront planning, so that the results are informative and useful. At SciTechMS, our investigation designs are built upon the answers to critical questions:

• What is the primary goal of the investigation?
• Are there secondary goals that should also be addressed  by the investigation?
• What are the contaminants, and what was the most likely migration pathway for each?
• What are the critical data gaps about the contamination?
• What are the schedule and cost constraints for the investigation, and how are these best balanced with investigation goals?  
• Is there or may there be regulatory agency involvement with the investigation or the conditions being investigated?   
• Will procedures, results, and reports be appropriate for the people who will review the investigation and its findings?  
• Does the current and planned site use place constraints upon schedule and investigative procedures?
• What are the site and situational safety considerations that must be managed?
• Are proposed sampling locations, intervals, and depths consistent with the known or suspected contamination?
• If investigation results will be used for remediation, is the sample spacing designed so as to minimize overall project cost?
• How will derived waste (soil cuttings, purged groundwater) be managed so that it is compliant with regulations but not onerous? 

Investigation protocols typically include a sampling and analysis plan, as well as quality control procedures for field and laboratory personnel.

On your behalf, SciTechMS can prepare and submit investigation work plans (such as Remedial Investigation Work Plans for Brownfield Cleanup Program sites) to applicable regulatory agencies.

SciTechMS conducts soil, groundwater, surface water, sediment, and soil vapor sampling.  When collecting soil samples or installing groundwater monitoring wells, our field scientist prepare field logs of the subsurface characteristics.  Groundwater and surface water sampling protocols are consistent with regulatory agency guidelines.  We utilize appropriately-certified laboratories for analysis.  

Targeted delineation can provide the basis for efficient and effective remediation and facilitate appropriate health and safety planning.  Utilizing data that we collect, existing data, or both, we prepare maps and three dimensional representations of the extent and concentration of contaminated media.  Additionally, if historical data is available, we can assess trends in contaminant migration. 

Throughout a project, SciTechMS will provide you timely updates about key activities and findings.  At the completion of an investigation, we will submit a draft report to you.  After receiving and addressing your feedback, we will repair a final report to you.  We will also inform you if requisite reporting requirements are triggered by the findings.  If reporting is required, we can fulfill reporting requirements on your behalf, at your request.