Air Quality
Multiple Locations, USA
Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA)
67 Properties
Vertex performed Phase I ESAs at a portfolio of sixty-seven properties located across the country. Properties assessed included retail and office developments, high-rise apartment and condominium buildings in cities including New York, NY, Los Angeles, CA, and Phoenix, AZ.
In addition to standard Phase I ESA scope items, Vertex also assessed potential concerns regarding radon, asbestos-containing materials, lead-based paint, and microbial growth. Vertex provided the client with detailed reports of individual sites and a comprehensive table summarizing the portfolio as a whole. Vertex completed the portfolio within the client-directed three week turn-around time.
Virginia, Maryland & New York
Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA)
51 Properties
In support of a proposed acquisition, Vertex performed Phase I ESAs at fifty-one self-storage facilities in Virginia, Maryland, and New York. In addition to ASTM-scope assessment items, Vertex also assessed the sites for potential microbial (mold) impacts and the potential for on-site clandestine drug laboratories.
Woburn, MA
Environmental Consulting Services
Vertex performed Environmental Consulting services to assist in the redevelopment of a vacant
parcel once occupied by a leather tannery. On behalf of our client, Vertex conducted a subsurface
investigation within sixty days to identify impacted areas of high chromium, lead and arsenic. We
also estimated the costs associated with remediation activities prior to our client's involvement with
the site. Vertex established a remedial development plan that included "Hot Spot" removal and the
installation of a Geomembrane barrier to cap residual impacted material. The remediation
development plan provided the cost savings to the project necessary to facilitate the development
of the site as a multifamily apartment complex. Vertex completed the project by submitting a
Response Action Outcome (RAO) and implementing the institutional controls and Activity Use
Limitation (AUL). We also provided our client with post site closure consulting services to facilitate
the sale of the property.
Massachusetts
Water Damage & Mold Assessment
Vertex assessed the extent of water damage and mold impacts throughout an unoccupied, framed 3-story apartment building. It was determined that water intrusion was caused by a rain event that occurred during construction when the roof and walls were not yet complete. Following assessment, Vertex developed a Mold Remediation Specification for submittal to the remediation contractors. Additionally, Vertex solicited competitive abatement proposals. We documented baseline moisture conditions, and monitored the remedial progress to ensure compliance with work specifications and industry standard abatement guidelines. Upon completion of remediation, Vertex performed the post-remedial visual clearance inspections.
Multiple Cities, California
Claims Management
Vertex was retained to manage and oversee third party claims associated with a major crude oil
spill off of the coast of California. The spill occurred from the ruptured flange of a submarine
pipeline connecting an oil platform to a processing facility on-shore. This spill caused injuries to
natural resources including marine mammals, marine and shore birds, shoreline rocky intertidal,
sand beach, and estuarine habitats.
Vertex's responsibilities included review of all response costs submitted by the insured and
responding county, state, and federal agencies. As part of the cost review process, we identified
and removed $1.5 to $2 million in excluded, duplicative, and/or unrelated costs submitted by the
insured for reimbursement. Vertex coordinated the cause of loss investigation and conducted a
subrogation investigation. Several contractors responsible for the construction and testing of the
pipeline were identified. Vertex worked closely with both first and third party carriers to properly
allocate property and casualty loses which totaled several million dollars.
Vertex served as the technical lead for the responsible party in the Natural Resource Damage
Assessment (NRDA) claim asserted by a Trustee group consisting of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the U.S. Department of Interior (U.S. Fish and Wildlife), U.S.
Department of Defense (Vandenberg Air Force Base), California Department of Fish and Game /
Office of Spill Response and Prevention (OSPR), California State Lands Commission, and others.
Vertex developed a strong and convincing technical case that minimized the Trustees' claims and
achieved a reasonable settlement.
Hyannis, MA
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Services / Asbestos Abatement
Vertex has a long standing relationship with Cape Cod Hospital and has performed a myriad of IAQ
consulting services on an on-going, as-needed basis. These services have included the
completion of a facility-wide comprehensive asbestos survey; preparation of asbestos abatement
work plans in conjunction with ongoing scheduled renovation activities; full-time asbestos project
monitoring during abatement activities and final clearance inspections/testing; water intrusion
cause and origin investigations; microbial growth assessments and preparation of mold
remediation protocols; mold remediation oversight and post remediation verification criteria; and
numerous IAQ assessments in response to complaints of reposed chronic illnesses, discomfort
and odors. On all aspects of activities performed at the hospital, Vertex works in concert with the
Environmental Health and Safety Officer to comply with Hospital Infection Control protocols.
Medfield, MA
Asbestos and Regulated Materials Consulting
$1M
Vertex completed a comprehensive asbestos containing materials and regulated materials survey
of the Medfield State Hospital salvage yard buildings and debris piles in preparation of demolition
activities. We deployed a Licensed Inspector (State of MA) to the site to collect samples of suspect
asbestos containing materials and to catalogue identified regulated materials located both inside
and outside of the buildings. Our results and findings were detailed in our survey report with an
attached response action determination schedule to control the release of potentially dangerous
materials. Upon the client's review and approval, Vertex was contracted to prepare abatement
specifications for all asbestos containing materials identified prior to the commencement of
demolition activities and formatted to fit client requirements.
Quincy, MA
Asbestos / Lead / Hazardous Materials Consulting
$100M
Vertex was retained to conduct a full range of hazardous materials identification, including
asbestos, lead-based paint and regulated materials in the occupied building in lieu of planned
demolition activities. Upon completion of the comprehensive survey, detailed abatement
specifications were prepared for the safe, legal removal and disposal of the various materials
identified. Plans and drawings were marked up and special consideration was given for materials
unidentifiable without considerable destructive testing. Vertex maintained full-time on-site
presence to conduct air sampling and analysis, constant visual and inspectional duties during the
entire abatement of hazardous materials, and dust monitoring during the gradual and systematic
demolition of the building to assure that the historical neighborhood residents and structures
remained protected.
Boston, MA
Asbestos / Lead / Regulated Materials Survey
$5M
Vertex was contracted to perform a comprehensive asbestos survey of the occupied Healey Library located in Boston, MA. Vertex deployed an
inspection team to inspect, quantify, assess and develop a detailed asbestos regulated materials survey report with a comprehensive operations and maintenance program to
address the confirmed materials. Hundreds of suspect samples were collected and analyzed to
assure that there would be no possible release of hazardous materials during the project. The
report served as an instrument for the various trades involved with the project to avert the potential
for damaging the materials during system installation. Detailed and color-coded floor plans were
integrated into the report for immediate identification of "hot" areas to be avoided as well as the
implementation of a site specific Operations & Maintenance Program for on-site personnel to refer
to if any of the identified material was to be affected.
Danvers, MA
Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) / Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Services
Vertex implemented an investigation that included a Phase I ESA, subsurface explorations, soil
and groundwater sampling and testing, soil gas sampling and testing, and indoor air sampling and
testing. Mercury vapor was identified in the indoor air at levels in excess of applicable MADEP and
US EPA indoor air standards. Vertex designed and implemented remedial response actions which
included demolition and removal for off-site disposal of the mercury impacted concrete floors of the
building, performance of a Limited Removal Action (LRA) to remove impacted mercury soils around
floor drains, demolition of to evaluate the potential for re-occupancy of the building considering an
interior mezzanine and installation of new 90,000 square foot concrete floors, decontamination of
the entire 30 foot high interior space and final clearance testing. Vertex also provided continuous
monitoring of the indoor air and the ambient air to ensure the implementation of appropriate
protective measures to prevent human exposure to mercury vapors and particulate matter. Finally,
Vertex performed a post-remediation closure survey of the surfaces and indoor air of the building,
the results of which indicated that the indoor air quality meets the MADEP and US EPA indoor air
standards. This serves to illustrate Vertex's environmental strategy abilities and our ability to
deliver a significant remediation project on time and within budget.
