Phase III Environmental
Site Characterization & Remediation

Phase 3 Environmental is a general term used for describing the site characterization and cleanup or remediation phase. This phase is typically conducted under the supervision of the Local Oversight Agency (LOA). Since most lenders require a closure or no further action letter from the LOA, this phase usually takes longer to complete. However, in some simpler cases, the cleanup can be conducted on a "self-directed" basis.

NWE designs and implements work plans, feasibility studies and remediation systems at sites that have significant soil and/or groundwater contamination problems that require cleanup. The most common type of cleanup is soil excavation and removal to an appropriate disposal facility (dig and haul). The second most common technique is a soil vapor extraction system (SVE), which includes the installation of soil vapor wells and utilizing a motorized vacuum. This system works well at volatile-contaminated sites with shallow sandy soil contamination.

If a contamination plume can be shown to not be a human-health risk and the source has been removed, monitored natural attenuation and passive biodegradation can be effective. This is often done in concurrence with a deed restriction at industrial properties. The land-use limitation, deed restriction or conveyance will state that any redevelopment or change in use will require cleanup in the future.