Environmental Consulting Services

INDUSTRIAL & MINING  FACILITIES

Grande River Environmental, LLC (GRE) staff have extensive experience at a wide variety of industrial facilities including manufacturing, proposed oil shale mines, coal mines, coal fired and hydroelectric power generation stations, and support facilities including sub-stations, office buildings, and equipment yards.  GRE personnel have worked for clients including: Colowyo Coal Company, Xcel Energy, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc., and Alstom Power.  Following are some brief descriptions of projects that we and our staff have completed at these industrial facilities.

Colowyo Coal Company

Various and Multiple Services

In 2015, GRE conducted hazardous materials identification, remediation design, contractor bid solicitation, project oversight, and final clearance monitoring prior to the demolition of an off-site facility and the former Administration Building located on the permitted mine site.  GRE staff complied with the MSHA Surface Miner training standards and is a successful, active participant in Browz Safety Program.

During previous employment, GRE personnel managed the preparation of the Colowyo South Taylor permit and conducted sampling for the baseline groundwater monitoring program to be utilized in the permit application to the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety which was approved and later defended in Federal Court in 2015.

GRE personnel have conducted numerous projects for Colowyo’s parent company, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc. and their sister company, New Horizon North Coal Company, as discussed later in this SOQ.

Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc.

New Horizon North Coal Mine Air Emissions Inventory

During previous employment, GRE staff worked at the New Horizon North Coal Mine to observe dust emissions as required in their Colorado Division of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) Air Pollution Control Division (APCD) permit.  Dust emissions were observed and reported daily for several weeks during the construction and initial operation phase of the new mine face.  The Site was inspected multiple times by APCD Representatives with no issues cited.

Confidential Client

Proposed Oil Shale Mine, Utah

During previous employment, GRE personnel implemented the surface- and ground-water monitoring program for a proposed oil shale mine.  The regulatory agency approved plan included installation of monitoring stations and collection of water samples from monitoring wells and surface locations quarterly and during flood events.  Field sampling operations included operation of submersible pumps in groundwater wells in a remote location.  Storm sampling events required driving in extreme condition environments with no incidents.  Sampling data for dozens of analytes were summarized and compared in quarterly monitoring reports prepared for the client.

Confidential Client

Operational Oil Refinery, Wyoming

GRE is currently under contract to manage the identification and proper remediation of hazardous materials including asbestos, lead paint, and heavy metals during an equipment upgrade on an active oil refinery.  GRE staff conduct a thorough inspection of each component planned for replacement or repair prior to beginning operations, then directs the remediation contractor in conducting the abatement, and finally conducts clearance monitoring for documentation of proper removal.  In addition, GRE is conducting exposure monitoring of personnel for various OSHA regulated hazardous materials.

Confidential Client

Coal-Fired Power Plant, Wyoming

In 2015, GRE performed hazardous materials removal oversight at an operational coal-fired power plant located in Wyoming.  GRE was under contract to the remediation contractor to assist them with safety and occupational exposure compliance.

Confidential Client

Industrial Manufacturing Facility

GRE conducted an exhaust ventilation system efficiency evaluation and personal breathing zone air sampling of employees during normal working conditions in an industrial welding shop where ski lift towers are constructed.  Monitoring included respirable dust, metals, and vapor sampling.  Results were summarized in a report along with recommendations for improved worker protection.

Xcel Energy

Hazardous Materials Removal Oversight and Monitoring

GRE staff were contracted by Xcel Energy to oversee and monitor asbestos and heavy metal paint abatement operations during the decommissioning and demolition of the Cameo Power Plant near Palisade, Colorado.  We conducted project oversight including containment integrity and adequacy inspections, ambient and personal monitoring, final visual inspections, and clearance air monitoring.  Abatement operations included removal of pipe and vessel insulation, gaskets, flooring materials, and various other coatings including cementitious coating on the exhaust stacks.  The project included abatement of the main two unit power plant and 23 associated outbuildings.  The power plant and other buildings were demolished in 2012.

Emergency Response and Abatement Oversight at Cameo Power Station

Prior to the decommissioning and demolition of the Cameo Power Station, GRE personnel conducted dozens of asbestos spill response operations at the facility as a result of pipe and vessel failures and repair operations.  GRE personnel conducted ambient and personal monitoring, final visual inspections, and clearance air monitoring.  Abatement operations frequently included the removal of heavy metal based paint for which we conducted worker exposure monitoring and documentation.

Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association

Asbestos Inspection and Air Monitoring at Coal Fired Power Plant

At the Nucla Generation Station, GRE personnel conducted an asbestos inspection of the boilers, bag houses, and coal handling facilities associated with Units 1 through 3 at the Nucla Power Station in Montrose County for Tri-State.  The boiler units were originally constructed to operate the individual steam turbines; however, all four turbines are now operated by the Unit 4 boilers and coal handling facilities; therefore, the boilers associated with Units 1 through 3 were shut down.

Based on the results of the inspection, GRE completed worker and ambient air monitoring during asbestos containing wiring removal in the control room during a shut-down.  Samples were collected from the work area and worker’s breathing zones and analyzed on-site by GRE by phase-contrast microscopy (PCM).  Special engineering controls were implemented to avoid wetting electrical wiring and circuitry.

Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association

Various Consulting Services Performed at Coal Fired Power Plant

GRE staff have conducted numerous asbestos inspections at the Craig Power Station in Moffat County for Tri-State.  The inspections are typically scheduled around a planned outage of one of the three units at the site.  The inspections have included wiring trays, thermal system insulation, renovation areas, and construction trailers.

Several of the inspections identified the presence of asbestos containing materials which resulted in abatement actions.  In support of these remediation actions, GRE personnel conducted ambient, personal, and clearance air monitoring as part of the contractor oversight.

GRE personnel assisted Tri-State with conducting quantitative respirator fit testing for all operations personnel at the plant.  The fit testing is part of their emergency preparedness program.  In addition, GRE personnel have conducted several worker industrial hygiene monitoring events for a multitude of operations including metal working, soil disturbance, chemical handling, and hazardous materials removal.

Emergency Response/ Abatement Oversight

The cooling tower associated with Unit #1 at the Craig Station catastrophically failed during a routine outage intended to allow for the tower to be rebuilt.  The partition and wind walls were lined with asbestos containing transite panels.  GRE staff worked with Tri-State and the abatement contractor to develop a work plan to address the demolition of the damaged section of the tower.  The plan was submitted to the CDPHE Air Pollution Control Division along with a request for a variance to the regulatory requirements.  The plan was promptly approved and the variance was granted.  On behalf of Tri-State, GRE personnel observed the demolition activities and conducted ambient and personal air monitoring.  In accordance with the plan, demolition debris was loaded into lined trucks and transported to a nearby landfill for disposal as non-friable asbestos waste.  We conducted site visits to the landfill during disposal to ensure proper handling and burial procedures to limit Tri-State’s potential future liability.  The removal was completed in an astounding seven days potentially saving Tri-State hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost production revenues.

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