A remedial construction company requested Braun Intertec services for supplemental soft sediment sampling at a former Naval Air Station in Texas. The sampling was required to assess areas where sediments required removal to meet TCEQ cleanup criteria. Braun Intertec project managers coordinated with the Client to discuss the scope of sampling required, parameters for sample analysis, equipment needs and best practices for navigating the Site.
Braun Intertec collected shallow (0 to 0.5 feet) sediment samples from 22 individual locations for laboratory analysis using a Mini-Ponar sediment sampler. The sediment depths were measured prior to sampling using high accuracy sonar equipment so that the sediment sample was collected from the correct interval. The samples were analyzed for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and selected metals. A Johnboat was utilized to collect samples from greater depths of water.
To confirm no cross-contamination between samples, equipment was decontaminated between sampling locations. Quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) samples consisting of duplicate samples at a frequency of 10%, trip blanks and equipment blanks were collected over the course of sampling. Braun Intertec provided a 55-gallon drum allocated for investigation derived waste (IDW,) personal protective equipment (PPE) and decontamination water.
Braun Intertec staff delivered the samples to Client staff onshore at agreed intervals for detailed logging, jarring, labeling and completion of appropriate chain-of-custody forms for the laboratory. Additionally, Braun Intertec prepared a summary of all relevant sampling data for use by the Client, including sample designation, sample depth, sample description and consistency.
