Phase I ESA Report in Accord with ASTM E 1527-05 Using the Best Efforts of Environmental Professionals and Information Available at the Time of Preparation
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PHASE I ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ASSESSMENT REPORT Ann Coleman Gallery 23 West Main Street Wilmington, Vermont 05363 May 6, 2013 Document User: Ann Coleman Gallery C/o Joseph Specht and Ann Coleman Specht 437 Maple Drive Whitingham, Vermont 05361 With funding and support from: Windham Regional Commission 139 Main Street, Suite 505 Brattleboro, VT 05301 Prepared by: P.O. Box 787 368 Avenue D, Suite 15 Williston, VT 05495 (802) 383-0486 (802) 383-0490 fax [email protected] KAS Project #503130295 Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Report Ann Coleman Gallery, 23 West Main Street, Wilmington, Vermont TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION PAGE 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY __________________________________________________1 2.0 INTRODUCTION ________________________________________________________1 3.0 SITE DESCRIPTION _____________________________________________________3 4.0 USER SUPPLIED INFORMATION _________________________________________4 5.0 RECORDS REVIEW ______________________________________________________6 6.0 SITE RECONAISSANCE _________________________________________________10 7.0 INTERVIEWS __________________________________________________________14 8.0 FINDINGS _____________________________________________________________15 9.0 OPINION ______________________________________________________________15 10.0 CONCLUSIONS _______________________________________________________16 11.0 DEVIATIONS _________________________________________________________16 12.0 ADDITIONAL SERVICES ______________________________________________17 13.0 REFERENCES ________________________________________________________17 14.0 SIGNATURES OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROFESSIONALS __________________19 15.0 QUALIFICATIONS OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROFESSIONALS ______________19 16.0 APPENDICIES _______________________________________________________20 May 6, 2013 i KAS Project # 503130295 Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Report Ann Coleman Gallery, 23 West Main Street, Wilmington, Vermont 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY KAS, Inc. (KAS) conducted a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) of a 0.016 acre parcel located at 23 West Main Street in the Town of Wilmington, Vermont. The ESA was conducted pursuant to the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standard Practice for Environmental Site Assessments: Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Process (ASTM E 1527-05). The work was commissioned by the Windham Regional Commission (WRC), using funding from the US Environmental Protection Agency Brownfields Grant # BF-96151401. The warranty deed holder of the property is the Mount Snow Regional Chamber of Commerce and the property is subject to a 99-year lease which began in 2009 and was amended in 2013. The lessees are Joseph Specht and Ann Coleman Specht. The user of this document is Ann Coleman Gallery. The Phase I ESA is being performed in response to the discovery of an apparent subsurface void space surrounded by metal, below the property’s ground surface. The Phase I ESA is a required first step in the Brownfields Assessment process of making a determination of what this space consists of. The property consists of an approximately 0.016 acre parcel which is completely surrounded by lands of the Mount Snow Regional Chamber of Commerce. As of April 2013 the property was vacant and not in use. The property reportedly hosted a single-story building last used as an art gallery, which was destroyed by Tropical Storm Irene. Historically, the property and the adjacent property were both part of a gasoline filling service station. The property’s other documented historic use has been as a storage building/livery stable, auto storage garage, vacant land, a school and an art gallery. KAS has identified one REC on the property as defined by ASTM, the historic use of the property as part of a service station/filling station operation. The void space found below the property needs to be further investigated to determine if there is an UST on the property. If an UST is found then it would be considered to be a REC per ASTM. May 6, 2013 1 KAS Project # 503130295 Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Report Ann Coleman Gallery, 23 West Main Street, Wilmington, Vermont 2.0 INTRODUCTION KAS, Inc. of Williston, Vermont (KAS) conducted a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) of a 0.016 acre parcel1 located at 23 West Main Street in the Town of Wilmington, Windham County, Vermont (property; see Appendix A Site Location Map and Appendix B Site Plan). The ESA was conducted pursuant to the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standard Practice for Environmental Site Assessments: Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Process (ASTM E 1527-05). The work was commissioned by the Windham Regional Commission (WRC), using funding from the US Environmental Protection Agency Brownfields Grant # BF-96151401. The warranty deed holder of the property is the Mount Snow Regional Chamber of Commerce2 and the property is subject to a 99-year lease which began in 2009 and was amended in 2013. The lessees are Joseph Specht and Ann Coleman Specht.3 The user of this document is Ann Coleman Gallery. 2.1. Purpose The purpose of this ESA was to identify recognized environmental conditions (RECs), historic RECs and de minimis conditions in association with the property as defined and described in the ASTM standard. 2.2. Detailed Scope-of-Services KAS was engaged by client to conduct a Phase I ESA as defined in ASTM E 1527-05. The Phase I ESA work scope included the following elements: A general description of the site and vicinity, current property and adjoining property uses, description of improvements. An evaluation of user supplied information including land records, liens, limitations, specialized knowledge, and valuation information. A review of practically reviewable regulatory and historic records in connection with the property. A site reconnaissance including general site setting, interior and exterior observations. Interviews with owner, site manager, occupants, local government officials and others as available. Presentation of Findings, Opinion, Conclusions, Deviations and the results of any out of scope contract obligations between client and KAS. Unless otherwise stated in Section 12.0 of this document, no invasive environmental testing was conducted, and no assessment or testing of asbestos, lead paint, radon or other structural environmental hazards was conducted. If any of these tasks were contracted between KAS and 1 Property dimensions based on information in the Wilmington Land Records at V. 274, Pg. 345. 2 Wilmington Land Records at V. 156, Pg. 122. 3 Wilmington Land Records at V. 301, Pg. 162 and V. 274, Pg. 345. May 6, 2013 2 KAS Project # 503130295 Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Report Ann Coleman Gallery, 23 West Main Street, Wilmington, Vermont client, the methodology, limitations and results of such tasks may be presented in Section 12.0 of this document. 3.0 SITE DESCRIPTION 3.1. Location and Legal Description The property consists of an approximately 0.016 acre parcel which is completely surrounded by lands of the Mount Snow Regional Chamber of Commerce. The property coordinates are 42° 52’ 9’’ north latitude and 72° 52’ 21” west longitude.4 The property is a 99 year leasehold of land owned by the Mount Snow Regional Chamber of Commerce. There is more information regarding the property legal description in Section 4.0. 3.2. Site and Vicinity General Characteristics The property is on the north side of the Deerfield River, on an apparent first-level river terrace. No surface water was noted on the property, the river is the closet surface water approximately 100’ to the south. No wetlands or exposed bedrock were noted. The estimated depth to groundwater is less than 10’ based on the property’s proximity to the steep bank to the north and the Deerfield River to the south. Groundwater was encountered during the removal of a nearby underground storage tank (UST) at 8-13’ depth.5 The groundwater flow direction beneath the property is most likely toward the south based on nearby investigations, the surface topography and the location of surface waters. The depth to groundwater and predicted flow direction were not confirmed during this Phase I ESA. 3.3. Current Use of the Property As of April 2013 the property was vacant and not in use. The property reportedly hosted a single- story building last used as an art gallery, which was destroyed by Tropical Storm Irene. 3.4. Descriptions of On-Site Structures, Roads and Other Improvements There were no on-property structures, roads or other improvements at the time of the site reconnaissance in April 2013. West Main Street (Vermont Route 9) is approximately 10’ south of the property’s southern boundary. The area is served by buried water and sewer service, and by overhead electric lines. None of these utilities were actively serving the property during the site reconnaissance. 4 EDR at page 5. 5 KAS, 2006; DB, 2012. May 6, 2013 3 KAS Project # 503130295 Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Report Ann Coleman Gallery, 23 West Main Street, Wilmington, Vermont 3.5. Current Uses of Adjoining Properties North, south, east and west the property is surrounded by lands owned by the Mount Snow Regional Chamber of Commerce. Beyond the boundaries of the Chamber’s land the following land uses were noted. Differing historic land uses on adjoining properties were not visually evident. • North: a steep bank upward to undeveloped land and residences • East: a book store and other historic buildings along West Main Street. • South: