Screenings and Preliminary Assessments

PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT: BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Site Description

1. Brief description of current site operations.
2. Size of site in acres.
3. Number, type, location of buildings, hazardous substance/waste storage, disposal and treatment areas.
4. Unique land or site features - sink holes, site situated in a gravel pit, etc.
5. Adjacent land use – a description of structures and activities on property within 1,000 feet of contaminated or potentially contaminated area (agricultural, residential, industrial, etc.)
6. Site security - fenced, 24-hour guard, locked/open gate, etc.?
7. Site location map - The site location map should be a copy of a topographic map that indicates the location of the site in relation to the rest of the state. Specifically, the map should include the following: outline of site boundaries; site name; overland route to nearest surface water; surface water intakes (if applicable); nearest well; nearest residence; 2-mile surface water target distance limit (if possible); unique points of interest (e.g., Sensitive Environments); and adjacent land use.
8. Site/facility map - The site map can either be a drawing made during the site visit, or a facility layout map supplied by the subject facility. It should include the following: site boundaries - fencing, gate location, or any structure that prohibits entrance; building locations, names, and functions, including interior/exterior process areas, chemical/waste storage/disposal areas, spill location, homes, well houses, etc.; sources of hazardous substances - both active, inactive, and historical; flow direction of on-site drainage; unique features; location of any wells on-site, including production, injection, abandoned, or monitoring wells; and storage tanks (above and below ground) - past and present locations.

Ownership and Operational History

1. Ownership history - dates of ownership/operators, names, type (federal, private, state, etc.), leased, owned, etc., as far back as possible.
2. Operating history - past and current practices, dates of operations, hazardous substances used, production processes, as far back as possible. As applicable, manufacturing, waste disposal, and storage process flow diagrams are helpful.
3. Discussion of known or potential problem(s) - known or potential contaminants of concern; summary of existing analytical data; emergency or remedial actions that have occurred; pathways affected or of concern (groundwater, surface water, air, or direct contact); documented problems: drinking water, groundwater, or surface water contamination, documented releases, etc.; potential problems: (e.g., wastes dumped on-site, indicating possible groundwater contamination, but sample data is unavailable); unique problems potentially associated with contamination: e.g., an abnormally high death rate in cattle that drink from the creek downstream of site, high incidence of cancer among area residents, odor or strange color in well water, etc.
4. Sample location map(s) - if applicable, this map will compile all past sampling events, using codes to distinguish between different sampling media and events. The codes should correspond to the table of analytical results found in the PA. More than one map may be needed to indicate locations. These maps are typically copies of the site/facility map and/or site location map, with sample locations added.

Regulatory History

1. Permits - type, issuing agency, dates of issue and expiration, compliance/noncompliance status, etc. For noncompliance: state date, nature, and corrective action(s) taken.
2. Past inspections - inspecting party (DEQ, EPA, OSHA, owner/operator, etc.), inspection results, sample collection, analytical results, etc. Include table(s) of analytical results. This section includes not only official government inspections, but any inspection performed at the facility, such as by consultants on behalf of owner/operators or lending institutions.
3. Summary of site visit - a brief summary of discussions and/or key observations made during the site visit.

[print version]