States issuing guidances on soil vapor intrusion

Since the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a draft guidance on soil-vapor intrusion in 2002, a number of states have issued their own guidelines. Among them are: California, Connecticut, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Colorado and Massachusetts issued guidances prior to the EPA’s issuance.   According to Richard Entz, principal specialist in Lancaster Laboratories’ Environmental Sciences Division, soil-vapor intrusion continues to be a hot topic for those doing remediation work, site investigations, or those working with a known chemical or petroleum-based releases near an inhabited building.   “It’s the newest wrinkle that must be dealt with when looking at environmental contamination,” says Entz. “We’ve seen interest growing over the past four years, and have boosted capacity to keep pace with analytical demands. And we try to stay on top of any new states that might be issuing guidances along with any changes in the previously issued guidances.”  Entz’s advice to clients is to first check state guidances, if any, and to follow the EPA guidances if the state in question has not yet issued them. Links to the EPA’s and specific state’s issuances can be found on the company’s Web site at www.lancasterlabs.com. The Web site also contains directions for sample collection.  Those who’d like to discuss soilvapor intrusion with Entz can reach him at (717) 656-2308, ext. 1559, or at rcentz@lancasterlabs.com.