Idaho DEQ’s Grangaard meets with TerraGraphics

I recently experienced an enlightening and encouraging day with Idaho Department of Environmental Quality’s technical contractor, TerraGraphics Environmental Engineering, the contractor responsible for part of the residential yard cleanup program. My goal was to better understand the homeowner’s perspective, to see the program in action, and familiarize myself with the connection between technical crews and homeowners. The day started early at the TerraGraphics Environmental Engineering office in Kellogg, Idaho. I stood shoulder-to-shoulder with about 25 field-crew members for a debriefing by crew boss Tarita Harju on the day’s work ahead, the season’s progress, and a daily health and safety message. Crews paired up and scattered in their familiar fashion while I dug out my itinerary and oriented myself toward the day’s direction. An Initial Site Visit Crew is the first team to approach a homeowner during the Basin Property Remediation Program (BPRP) to replace contaminated property soils with clean soils. At this point in the process, the homeowner had already received a letter requesting participation in the BPRP and had scheduled an appointment with the Initial Site Visit Crew. I met with experienced crew members, Taryn Massey, Mathew Pendergast, Debra Griffiths and Randie Melton, who said that spending time with homeowners, answering questions, and listening to concerns helps smooth make the process smooth. Taryn and Debra reported that many homeowners are nervous, but approachable, and just want to talk things over. The homeowner familiarizes the crew with the landscaping materials, play areas, locations of utilities, and property corners. Initial Site Visit Crews measure the property and request a vacuum bag sample (more on this below) and a water sample from private water system users. The water sample is collected to make sure the drinking water is safe. If the water exceeds standards for metals, the property owner is provided a filtration system. After the Initial Site Visit, TerraGraphics creates a map and schedules soil sampling. The second TerraGraphics team to contact the homeowner is the Soil Sampling Crew. Soil sample team members Jim O’Connell and Pat Dawson described their interactions with homeowners and sampling procedures. Homeowners often schedule a time to review the sample location plan with TerraGraphics and set a time for sampling. Jim and Pat explained that most homeowners are cordial, want to be well informed, and are a pleasure to work with. Crews use hand tools to dig several 18 to 24-inch sample holes. They then package up small amounts of soil and place the remaining soil back in the hole. Crews label each sample with property identification numbers for the lab to analyze. Silver Valley Analytical Lab (SVL) in Smelterville, Idaho processes samples for DEQ. Samples are then analyzed at SVL or at another certified laboratory. Once DEQ receives sample results, DEQ sends the homeowner a letter indicating if remediation is needed. If the sample results justify remediation, a Project Representative meets with the homeowner to walk through the areas in the yard needing remediation. Shawn Hollis, a seasoned TerraGraphics Project Representative, works with homeowners and construction contractors. I asked Shawn how most homeowners react when construction starts. Shawn explained that homeowners are familiar with what work needs to be done, but that it is different when the equipment arrives and digging starts. Many homeowners are just curious and want to know more about what is going on, so they ask questions. I asked Shawn how homeowners can get the best answers to questions about the construction on their property. Shawn indicated that Project Representatives assigned to each homeowner are the best initial checkpoint for questions. DEQ often receives questions about the timing of this process. DEQ strives for customer service and a high quality product. Our procedures help standardize a remediation timeline; however, schedules can be impacted by priorities such as quality assurance checks, weather conditions, soil management, and prioritizing high-risk properties. We appreciate you, the homeowner, working with us. Our goal is to leave remediated areas in their original or better condition when we are done. The Dust Mat Sampling Program is an additional way to help monitor lead levels in soil. I joined Dust Mat Sample Crew members Diane Albinola, Carrie Waldron, and Jason Williams to ask homeowners if we could place a floor mat inside their front door. This program identifies how much lead is tracked into the house, the most likely place where kids may be exposed. The floor mats are in place for about a month, until crews return to pick them up. Each homeowner receives a letter with test results. If high levels of lead are found, the Panhandle Health District offers free consultations with a homeowner to find ways to reduce the amount of lead entering the home. As I was out with the crew, I noted that many homeowners volunteer their doorsteps from year-to-year and people are very polite whether or not they choose to volunteer. The Dust Mat Crew also asks to take a vacuum cleaner bag to sample indoor dust. As mentioned earlier, the Initial Site Visit Crew asks for these bags as well. We want to gather as many samples as we can because the lead in vacuum dust is a good indicator of overall cleanup progress. Shadowing field crews for the day helped me better understand the process. I met new people, talked with homeowners, and enjoyed a friendly day in the field. I witnessed person-to-person communication as supportive for homeowners and staff members alike. I recognized homeowners as gracious and curious. “Thank you, homeowners!” for asking questions, telling your story, and participating in these programs. “Thank you, TerraGraphics field crews!” for welcoming my questions and showing me how the process works at ground level. Thank you both for caring. I think we have a good thing going.