August/September 2011

We were recently asked by a client about the requirements for on-site oil storage at auto salvage/recycling facilities and the need for Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plans.  The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has simplified the requirements for SPCC Plans for facilities that qualify.  Like Rule 6 Storm Water Permitting, developing and implementing an SPCC Plan is time consuming and can be expensive; however, the cost of an SPCC Plan and its implementation is likely much less than the costs that could be incurred from spill clean-up, fines and civil liabilities.    

So to start off: What is an SPCC Plan?  An SPCC Plan is not an Oil Spill Contingency Plan.  An Oil Spill Contingency Plan describes the actions taken once an oil spill has occurred.  An SPCC Plan focuses on prevention and management practices to ensure that oil is not discharged into navigable waters of the United States or adjoining shorelines.  

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June 23, 2011

Under Indiana law, Fields Environmental owner Rudy Fields will not be able to legally possess the building until this fall at the earliest, and Moore could choose to pay the back taxes and repossess the property.

Even if Fields does take possession of the property, plans for the site are still in limbo, as the actual environmental condition of the it is not yet know.

“The uncertainty associated with the environmental condition of the property is one of the factors,” Fields said. “The level of renovation or demolition, or just what it would take to get the place in a position to be ready to go, will be a lot of money, and that’s always going to be the challenge.”

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June/July 2011

We would like to start by thanking Veldman’s Auto Parts, Michelle Lechner and the ARI Board of Directors for hosting such a great Spring Fling Event.  We were able to attend and it was fun, informative and inspirational – and we won a great basket in the auction.  We met several interesting people, with good ideas, great stories and admirable businesses.  Ms. Carol Mihalik of the Secretary of State (SOS) spoke as well as Ms. Theresa Bordenkecher of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM).  We enjoyed and understood what these ladies talked about.  We also heard a presentation from the gentleman at Car-Part.com.  This part of the industry eludes us somewhat but we can definitely appreciate the positive impact the internet has had.  We are going to focus more on the parts that we understand. 

The main focuses of Ms. Mihalik’s talk were gypsy scrappers and titling issues with salvage vehicles.  She told a story of how Rudy Giuliani (former mayor of New York City) affected a decrease in the murder rate in the subway by ticketing people who jumped the turnstile and did not pay to ride.  The moral of this story is: a small change can often have a large and unexpected impact.  Often times we assume that the regulators and legislators know and understand the issues that face our particular industry.  Unfortunately, this is not always the case.  It was clear that Ms. Mihalik is interested and wants to seek a solution; however, she was not aware of many of the issues that recyclers face.  As an industry it is our responsibility to educate the regulators.    

As recyclers you are the experts.  You know the way business runs and you know the problems that face the industry.  When you see a problem, particularly when you see that an illegal activity is having a negative effect on your business, write it down.  Write about the problem: who is doing it (doesn’t have to be a person), what are they doing, how are they doing it, why are they doing it and how can the government stop them with an existing law or a new law?  

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April/May 2011

Storm water monitoring in the automotive recycling industry, as required by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) includes both quantitative and qualitative elements.  Visual inspection, or qualitative analysis, helps to determine the presence or absence of chemical compounds in storm water runoff.  Analytical testing, or quantitative analysis, is used to determine if and at what concentration chemical compounds are present.  If chemical compounds are present at concentrations that exceed published guidelines or benchmarks the recycler may be required to implement control measures to reduce or eliminate pollutants in the storm water runoff from the facility.  These control measures are a part of the facility’s Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWP3).  Good sampling techniques are imperative to ensure that unnecessary control measures are not required due to contamination or uncertainty introduced as a result of poor sampling practices.      

Qualitative analysis in the form of visual inspections of each storm water outfall should take place quarterly. The data from the outfall inspection is not required to be submitted to IDEM in the form of a report; however, documentation is maintained at the facility as part of the SWP3.  Visual inspections are a quick and inexpensive way to observe the conditions at the facility and be alerted to a problem if one arises.  First, determine whether or not the outfall is operating properly: is the area free of clutter and debris, is the outfall clogged?  Secondly, observe the water flowing through the outfall.  Watch for foam on the water, a stirred up or muddy appearance (turbidity), matter floating on the surface, oil sheen, color of the water and any odors observed.  Observations are noted on a Quarterly SWP3 Site Inspection Checklist and maintained with the SWP3.  

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ARI News, February/March 2011

Mercury is a heavy, silver-white metal; it is also known as Quicksilver.  It is the only metal that is liquid at standard temperature and pressure.  It does not conduct heat well but it does conduct electricity.  Due to its liquid form and ability to condut electricity, it was widely used in the past in positional, electrical switches.  Mercury is highly toxic and effects plants, animals and humans that are exposed to it.  Improper mercury disposal techniques have led to widespread environmental contamination.  Environmental regulations exist today in hopes of reducing the amount of mercury that is released to the environment.  Mercury contamination is regulated under the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act. 

Mercury switches or mercury tilt switches are electrical switches that interupt the flow of current based on alignment or physical position.  The switch is made of a sealed glass or metal pellet that contains a drop of mercury.  The pellet has one or more sets of electrical contacts that when in contact with the mercury form a completed circuit. 

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December 2010/January 2011

We are a new Associate Member of the Automotive Recyclers of Indiana and new consultants in the field of automotive recycling.  We have been working with Salvage Yard owners since March 2010 and have several clients in the field.  Over the last ten years our organization has dealt with investigation and remediation projects involving soil, groundwater, indoor air and the regulatory compliance that goes along with each in the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) Office of Land Quality (OLQ).  We have also been a front runner in the field of Brownfield redevelopment and to date have purchased and redeveloped three Brownfield properties.  We are located in Bloomington, Indiana.  Our office is located on a Brownfield site that was formerly occupied by a salvage yard.  We are a small organization owned by Rudy Fields, a Licensed Professional Geologist in the State of Indiana.  We have low overhead and maintain low consulting rates in order to remain competitive in today’s market. 

Becoming involved with the Recycling industry has been an exciting addition to our organization - one that we really enjoy.  We have met many people involved with the Recycling Industry and so far they are all good, hardworking and intelligent people that are simply having difficulty understanding, navigating and finding the time to reach regulatory compliance.  We have also learned that no two yards are alike, even two yards owned by the same organization.  Each owner/operator has unique property, processes and goals for their organization.  Assisting recyclers to reach environmental compliance is not something that can be accomplished with a cookie cutter solution.  Just as each yard is unique, each plan of action to reach compliance and improve business must also be unique.  At each yard we represent, we first focus on getting to know the owner and employees, the facility, the processes, the neighborhood, the regulatory compliance status and then set to work finding a feasible and cost effective solution to reach environmental compliance and hopefully help the operator improve business simultaneously.         

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May 2005

Designed to spur investment in blighted properties and assist in revitalizing communities, the Federal Brownfields Tax Incentive can serve as a critical tool in brownfields cleanup and redevelopment efforts.

As a small environmental cleanup business in Bloomington, IN, Fields Environmental is constantly looking for new opportunities. In 1997, the company became aware of the Federal Brownfields Tax Incentive through email correspondence with other environmental consultants. Knowing that Bloomington had several brownfields, Fields saw the chance to put the Tax Incentive to use. The company identified an abandoned site contaminated with foundry waste from its former use as a recycling center. In a purchase that became the first public/private partnership to use low-interest financing under a recently enacted state Brownfields financing program, Fields Environmental purchased the site in a tax sale from Monroe County.

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Special Edition 2001, Issue 12

Also in Monroe County, the RCI project was presented by Rudy Fields, President of Fields Environmental, Inc. and creator of Brownfields, LLC. He purchased the RCI property, a known brownfield, and then entered it in the IDEM Voluntary Remediation Program (VRP) to conduct a cleanup. RCI is another great example of how successful partnerships can facilitate brownfields redevelopment. This was the first site in Indiana where a private company paired up with a government entity, Monroe County, to receive an Indiana Brownfields Low Interest Loan through IDEM and IDFA.

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