Animas Environmental Services, LLC. Environmental Engineering in Farmington, New Mexico

AES welcomes Shawna McKnight to our staff. She will be assisting with administrative and environmental projects.

Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) issued its Fall 2007 Arizona Office of Administrative Counsel Rulesletter. This issue contains additional important information about the proposed rule for No Further Action (NFA)/ Monitored Natural Attenuation (MNA), including implementation of a MNA account to cover continued monitoring and additional corrective actions after the State Assurance Fund sunsets on July 1, 2010. Read the full newsletter at www.azdeq.gov/function/laws/download/rulesletters/fall07.pdf

The U.S. EPA Office of Wastewater Management and the Center for Watershed Protection have posted a useful manual on "Urban Stormwater Retrofit Practices," dated July 2007. This publication identifies and outlines how to implement storm water retrofits, including bioretention filters, vegetated swales, etc. Download the manual at www.cwp.org/Downloads/ELC_USRM3.pdf. If you are interested in more Low Impact Development (LID) information, another helpful publication is “Reducing Stormwater Costs through Low Impact Development Strategies and Practices”, dated December 2007. Download at www.epa.gov/owow/nps/lid/costs07/documents/reducingstormwatercosts.pdf

On a local note, the City of Farmington is preparing to submit its annual report to the U.S. EPA for its Phase 2 Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit for storm water. More information on Farmington’s storm water efforts are available at www.fmtn.org/city_government/community_development/stormwater_management.html.

AES is pleased to announce that it was the recipient of a Step Up training grant through the New Mexico Economic Development Department in September. The grant will allow for additional training and enhancing technical capabilities of AES staff. Learn more about the program at http://www.edd.state.nm.us/.

Also in September, AES was nominated for an EDGE (Economic Development, Growth & Excellence) Award through San Juan Economic Development Services (SJEDS). The EDGE Award was created in 2002 by SJEDS as a way to thank and recognize the contribution of economic base companies to the economy of San Juan County. The criteria for the awards are based on excellence in four categories that include export, economic wage, import substitution and leadership. Learn more about SJEDS and the EDGE Award at http://www.sanjuaneds.com.

The USEPA Region 6 recently issued formal credentials to the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) to perform storm water inspections for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits on behalf of the USEPA. According to the NMED, the credentials will mean that more facilities can be inspected, and state inspectors will have the authority to assess federal provisions not currently covered by state law.

Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) has issued its Summer 2007 Arizona Office of Administrative Counsel Rulesletter, which contains important information about the proposed rule for No Further Action (NFA)/ Monitored Natural Attenuation (MNA), including implementation of a MNA account to cover continued monitoring and additional corrective actions after the State Assurance Fund sunsets on July 1, 2010. The proposed rule was published in the Arizona Administrative Register on August 17, 2007. Read the full newsletter at http://www.azdeq.gov/function/laws/download/rulesletters/summer07.pdf

Ross Kennemer of AES spent part of his recent vacation visiting Pursat, Cambodia, where he was able to see several water wells recently installed by Sustainable Cambodia (a nonprofit) as part of a community development project. He also spent a few days teaching English to older students. AES has enjoyed contributing to Sustainable Cambodia’s efforts to improve the lives of the Khmer people, one community at a time. http://www.sustainablecambodia.org

AES received preliminary approval from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) for a Corrective Action Plan (CAP) for site cleanup in Page, Arizona. Proposed remedial methods include soil excavation and disposal in conjunction with installation of oxygen diffusion canisters to treat remaining petroleum hydrocarbon contaminated groundwater.

The Colorado Division of Oil and Public Safety (OPS) Remediation Section has put out a new standardized Monitoring and Remediation Report (MMR) Form which will allow for electronic submittal of site data. The OPS has also completed a document entitled Petroleum Hydrocarbon Remediation by In-situ Chemical Oxidation at Colorado Sites, which provides an overview of the In-situ Chemical Oxidation (ISCO) process and an evaluation of ISCO success and failure at selected Colorado Leaking Underground Storage Tank sites. http://oil.cdle.state.co.us/OIL/Technical/Whats%20New%20Tech.asp

The Farmington Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) has started to develop a Bicycle/Pedestrian Plan for the MPO area (the urbanized area of San Juan County, including Farmington and Aztec) with the goal of improving path networks and facilities for bicyclists and pedestrians. A Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Group (BPAG) has been formed, and the general public is encouraged to participate. Learn more at http://www.farmingtonmpo.org/Bicycle_ped_plan.html

AES recently started up a remedial system in Shiprock, New Mexico, at a site with contaminated soil and groundwater. Between February and April 2007, over 28,000 lbs of petroleum hydrocarbons have been removed from the subsurface. Project oversight of site remediation is through the Navajo Nation Environmental Protection Agency (NNEPA) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA).

Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) has issued its Spring 2006 Arizona Office of Administrative Counsel Rulesletter, which contains important information about potential rules for No Further Action (NFA)/ Monitored Natural Attenuation (MNA), including implementation of a MNA account to cover continued monitoring and additional corrective actions after the State Assurance Fund sunsets on July 1, 2010. Soil Remediation Levels (SRLs) have also been revised and are effective May 5, 2007. Read about it at
http://www.azdeq.gov/function/laws/download/rulesletters/spring07.pdf

AES is completing the installation of a multi-phase extraction (MPE) system to treat contaminated groundwater and vadose zone soils at a site in Show Low, Arizona. The MPE remediation unit will consist of a SoilTherm® Mobile-THERM unit. The system installation will be complete and in full operation later this spring. Learn more about Soil-Therm® at http://www.soiltherm.com.

The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) Petroleum Storage Tank Bureau (PSTB) is embarking on a major effort to revise the Petroleum Storage Tank Regulations, 20.5 NMAC. This effort is in part required by the 2005 Federal Energy Policy Act, which imposes a series of new requirements for USTs. A stakeholders meeting is being held on Wednesday, May 9, 2007, 9:00 - 3:30 pm at the Albuquerque BLM Building, 4325 Montano NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Learn more http://www.nmenv.state.nm.us/ust/draftregs.html.

AES recently assisted the City of Farmington in updating its Storm Water Management Plan (SWMP) and Notice of Intent (NOI) for the USEPA’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase 2 Storm Water Permit for small municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s). This permit went into effect on January 1, 2007, and will be in effect through December 2012. http://www.epa.gov/region6/6wq/npdes/sw/ms4/index.htm.

Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) has issued its Winter 2006 Arizona Office of Administrative Counsel Rulesletter which outlines upcoming rule changes and developments in Air Quality, Tank Programs, Waste Programs and Water Quality. Note that there are upcoming changes on rules for No Further Action (NFA)/ Monitored Natural Attenuation (MNA); petroleum contaminated soil (PCS); and Soil Remediation Levels (SRLs). Read it at http://www.azdeq.gov/function/laws/download/rulesletters/winter06.pdf.

Although AES likes to act locally, one of our favorite volunteer projects has been with Sustainable Cambodia. We have assisted with the installation of several drinking water wells in Pursat, and we look forward to helping out with any other environmental issues as they arise. http://www.sustainablecambodia.org

AES is preparing to start up a newly installed soil and groundwater remediation system at a site in Shiprock, New Mexico. The system uses an internal combustion engine (ICE) for extraction of petroleum contaminated vapors and groundwater from the subsurface using multi-phase extraction (MPE). http://www.rsi-save.com

AES completed treatment of a former dry cleaner site contaminated with chlorinated solvents (PCE and TCE) in Farmington, New Mexico, in December 2006. AES utilized direct push and slurry injection of a hydrogen release compound (HRC®) to speed anaerobic degradation at the site. http://www.regenesis.com.

The U.S. EPA Region 6 has released interim guidance for developing an NPDES Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) for construction operators. This is a great document for those who are new to the world of storm water and construction activities or for those who just want to see some additional guidance documentation. Also included are a SWPPP Template and a Sample Inspection Report. Check out everything at:

http://www.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/sw_swppp_guide.pdf (Interim Guidance)

http://www.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/sw_swppp_template.doc (SWPPP Template)

http://www.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/sw_swppp_inspection_form.doc
(SWPPP Inspection Form)

Sally Burbridge, Gwen Frost and Elizabeth McNally were awarded scholarships for professional development from the Four Corners Professional Development Conference for 2007.

The U.S. EPA Administrator signed final Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) Rule amendments this month which streamline the federal requirements (in 40 CFR Part 112) for the owners/operators of certain low-risk facilities (like construction sites with aboveground oil storage capacities of 10,000 gallons or less) and certain equipment (like bulldozers) regulated under the rule. The amendments:

Provide the option to self-certify SPCC Plans in lieu of review and certification by a Professional Engineer for facilities that have an aboveground oil storage capacity of 10,000 gallons or less and meet other qualifying criteria.
Provide an alternative to the general secondary containment requirement without requiring a determination of impracticability for qualified oil-filled operational equipment.
Define and exempt particular vehicle fuel tanks and other on-board bulk oil storage containers (called motive power containers).
Exempt mobile refuelers from the sized secondary containment requirements for bulk storage containers.
Remove SPCC requirements for animal fats and vegetable oils for certain types of facilities.
Extend the SPCC compliance dates for farms.

The rule will be published in the Federal Register and becomes effective 60 days after publication in the Federal Register www.epa.gov/oilspill/spcc_dec06.htm#amendments.

AES was awarded funds from the New Mexico Economic Development Department (NMEDD) Job Training Incentive Program (JTIP) for expansion of the company as it continues to create new jobs in San Juan County. New Mexico Economic Development Department

Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) has issued its Fall 2006 Arizona Office of Administrative Counsel Rulesletter which outlines upcoming rule changes and developments in Air Quality, Tank Programs, Waste Programs and Water Quality. http://www.azdeq.gov/function/laws/download/rulesletters/fall06.pdf

The U.S. EPA has issued the final National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) General Permit (Phase II) for Discharges from Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s). The Permit is effective January 1, 2007, and MS4 Notices of Intent (NOIs) must be submitted to EPA by April 1, 2007 (no joke). Read more at http://www.epa.gov/region6/6wq/npdes/sw/ms4/index.htm.