Location: New York
Brickhouse reviewed the previous reports, applied multiple lines of evidence to assess the validity of previous conclusions, prepared an expert report, and provided scientific defenses against the pending cost recovery actions from the NYSDEC. Our forensic review of groundwater and soil gas chemistry, groundwater flow, preferential pathways in the subsurface glacial deposits, and other factors identified that there were actually three source areas for TCE and other VOCs, and that the vast majority of chlorinated soil vapors beneath the residential neighborhood were from sources other than our client. A legal settlement was then successfully negotiated between our client and New York State Attorney General’s office, significantly reducing our client’s contribution costs and releasing them from future cleanup liability. The State also assumed all responsibility for future operation, maintenance and monitoring of residential vapor mitigation systems in the neighborhood.
