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Improving the Environment, Strengthening Communities

Projects

Jul 27
Love4

Leaking Underground Storage Tank Cleanup and Recovery, Spring Lake, MI

By Storage Tanks

An equipment malfunction at a retail gasoline filling station resulted in an underground product release. Lakeshore Environmental determined the source of the release, the extent of free product plume, and the extent of groundwater and soil contamination. Lakeshore’s quick response resulted in the immediate recovery of most of the spilled gasoline. This recovered product was refined and sold as vehicle fuel. Lakeshore completed the following response activities:

  • Monitored public storm and sanitary sewers for petroleum infiltration
  • Represented the owner at contentious municipal and public meetings
  • Determined horizontal and vertical extents of contamination through monitoring wells and soil sampling
  • Inspected adjacent properties for evidence of contamination
  • Designed and installed the system that recovered over 25,000 gallons of unleaded gasoline
  • Reduced the owner’s liability through reduction of punitive fines and negotiated with insurance adjusters
  • Remedied the site to a level of “no remaining contamination.”

As a result of the project’s success, Lakeshore wrote the municipality’s first groundwater ordinance, addressing well abandonment and groundwater containment protocol.

Jul 27
Love4

Auto Parts Manufacturer – Regulatory Compliance

By Industrial Compliance

The world headquarters of an international automotive supplier contracted Lakeshore Environmental for guidance in preparing permits and programs to meet state and federal environmental regulatory and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations. Lakeshore navigated through the maze of regulatory requirements, minimizing the required submittals. After a series of onsite surveys, interviews and monitoring, the client was provided:

  • OSHA compliance and training seminars
  • Wastewater monitoring and wastewater quality reports
  • Annual SARA Title III (Community Emergency and Community Right-to-Know) reports
  • Spill and storm water contingency plans
  • Obtained air quality permits
  • A computerized compliance tracking system

Lakeshore’s industrial compliance experts met the client’s immediate needs in a timely and cost effective manner. To facilitate compliance, Lakeshore developed a tracking system to assist with compliance submittals.

Jul 27
Love3

Complex Hydrogeology Not Too Complex for Lakeshore Environmental

By Natural Resources

Michigan’s shallow aquifers are located in a variety of soils placed underground through the activities of ancient glaciers or the activity of man through backfilling.  As a result, the hydrogeology of many facilities in the state is complicated by varying layers of brick, wood, clay, silt, sand and gravel.

The staff of experienced geologists, hydrogeologists, and scientists at Lakeshore Environmental, Inc. (LEI) assisted a northern Michigan specialty crop food processor in the completion of a hydrogeological study and remedial investigation which provided the information needed by state regulators to avoid penalty and obtain a groundwater discharge permit.  This scenario is common in all parts of Michigan and LEI has demonstrated effective geological interpretation at a variety of facilities.

Jul 27
Love3

Invasive Species and Habitat Restoration Grant

By Environmental Incentives, Natural Resources

On behalf of a private mining company, Lakeshore Environmental, Inc. (LEI) obtained a $15,000 grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to eradicate invasive plant species (phragmites) that had overtaken an area of coastal waterfront known for its diverse migratory shorebird habitat.

The grant funds, along with an additional private investment of $5,000, were utilized to eliminate the phragmites, restore native vegetation, conduct educational workshops, and devise a long-term invasive species management plan for the mining company.

Jul 27
Love4

Water Quality Grant

By Environmental Incentives, Water Resources

Lakeshore Environmental, Inc. (LEI) assisted a West Michigan waterfront community in obtaining a $24,000 grant through the Coastal Zone Management Program administered by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.

The grant was used to compile local water quality data in a centralized document, conduct local workshops to educate the public on water quality concerns and remedies, and create a Clean Water Legacy Plan for future community waterfront planning efforts.

Jul 23
Love4

Groundwater Age Dating and Recharge Assessment

By Projects, Sustainability

Lakeshore Environmental, Inc. (LEI) was awarded a research grant from the National Ground Water Research and Educational Foundation to conduct an assessment of groundwater age and rate of recharge using environmental tracers.  The goal of the grant project was to determine the sustainability of groundwater use at a specific Muskegon County location.

LEI installed numerous shallow and deep nested monitoring wells at a large property for the purpose of collecting groundwater samples for laboratory analysis of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)-11, -12, and -113 parameters – key groundwater age indicators.  During recharge, water picks up a CFC signature based on the atmospheric concentration of CFCs, and groundwater retains its characteristic CFC concentration.

Laboratory analytical results indicated that the groundwater age in the shallow wells ranged from 21 years to 43 years and the groundwater age for the deep wells was approximately 58 years.  The topographic and hydraulic gradients, groundwater elevation data, and laboratory data indicate that the younger, shallow water mixes with the deeper older groundwater near the point of discharge.

The results of this research could aid in creating sustainable development concepts and decrease disruption to the aquifer recharge and the natural interaction of the groundwater/surface water interface.  Based on the results of this study, LEI has been retained by two businesses to assess whether their processes involving groundwater usage is sustainable.  This interest supports the growing concern for a sustainable water supply for current and future generations.

Jul 23
Love4

Commercial Nursery Cleanup

By Projects, Remediation

Lakeshore Environmental, Inc. (LEI) conducted a Phase I ESA at a commercial nursery and identified stained soils and the former presence of two underground storage tanks (USTs) on the Site.  To address these recognized environmental conditions, LEI completed an extensive Phase II Investigation to assess the condition of the soils and groundwater.  Significant gasoline-related soil and groundwater contamination was identified in the vicinity of the former USTs.  Corrective action activities to remediate the contamination involved excavation and disposal of nearly 350 tons of impacted soil; the design, construction, and operation of an air sparge/soil vapor extraction system; and the recovery of approximately 5,000 gallons of free product.

Headquarters

803 Verhoeks Street
Grand Haven, MI 49417

Muskegon Office

2341 Lakeshore Drive
Muskegon, MI 49440

Vestaburg Office

10335 E. McBride Road
Vestaburg, MI 48891

LOCAL: 616.844.5050 • TOLL FREE: 800.844.5050 • FAX: 616.844.5053

© 2017 Lakeshore Environmental, Inc.