POWER GENERATION AND TRANSMISSION PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

PROJECT 1: Industrial Hygiene Services for a Regional Power Generation and Transmission Cooperative

Landmark works in concert with local operations and corporate Environment, Health, and Safety personnel to develop feasible and cost-effective solutions to help mitigate risks and minimize downtime.

Landmark has provided a regional power generation and transmission cooperative with various industrial hygiene services over the past 20 years. These projects vary in scope from Indoor Air Quality Investigations to enhancing the company-wide hearing conservation program. Representative projects include:

Landmark conducted extensive air monitoring services during power station outages for asbestos, lead, and welding fumes, including hexavalent chromium. All sampling events were designed to minimize disruption to operations during time-critical outages while confirming proper procedures for occupational health and safety were maintained.
Landmark conducted comprehensive noise surveys in six power generation facilities that identified and clearly delineated areas of potential noise hazards. The pre-existing Hearing Conservation Program was enhanced by the collected data, and the results were technically evaluated and coordinated in a manner that promoted feasible implementation through the identification of practical noise hazard mitigation alternatives.
Landmark conducted an Indoor Air Quality Assessment of two buildings in response to employee complaints. After conducting interviews and a thorough review of related data and documents, Landmark developed a strategic Sampling and Analysis Plan to support the evaluation of options for response and building system upgrades. Project communications addressed sensitive Human Resource concerns in a professional and timely manner that supported improved employee relations.

PROJECT 2: Critical Evaluation of Asbestos Abatement Bids for Two Midwestern Power Generation Plants

Applying industry-specific knowledge of power plants, Landmark completed a critical review of abatement bids and developed a comprehensive abatement cost estimate, resulting in substantial savings to project costs.

Landmark developed specifications, solicited and evaluated bids for abatement of asbestos-containing materials (ACM) at the two 100-year old power plant sites in Chicago, Illinois. This project encompassed significant demolition activities, including the abatement of ACM and other Regulated Building Materials (RBMs). The project also included the recovery of equipment and scrap metals, with the client anticipating that the asset value of the plants would exceed the cost of RBM abatement and demolition.

Based on previous Hazardous Materials Assessment Surveys, Landmark developed a Technical Specification and ACM Abatement Bid Sheet, which was provided to several general contractors. The Bid Form included a net price to be paid by the bidders for the rights to the assets along with the obligation of completing the work described in this Technical Specification. The design approach to the project accommodated the discovery and management of unforeseen conditions, so that project workflows would not be interrupted.

During a review of the bids, Landmark identified certain items where potential data gaps in existing survey Reports, potential variability in the assumptions made by the bidders in completing the bids, and uncertainties regarding site conditions could result in significant impacts to opinions of probable abatement costs. Using the budgetary numbers provided by various bidders and refining those numbers based on relevant industry experience, Landmark prepared revised abatement cost estimates for each site, each resulting in substantial potential savings to the overall project based on clarification of bids with contingency and “to be defined” conceptual costs.

PROJECT 3: Asbestos Planning and Management Services for a Regional Power Generation and Transmission Cooperative

Landmark’s specialized knowledge of power plant characteristics allows strategic, cost-effective management of asbestos and abatement requirements.

Landmark worked under the direction of counsel to provide a thorough review of Colorado regulations regarding asbestos, building demolition, and how they relate to substation structures that a regional power generation and transmission cooperative own or operate. This culminated in a decision flowchart and whitepaper regarding the applicability of various Colorado regulations depending on the situation. Ultimately, this strategic consultation led to developing an in-house Standard Operating Procedure for how and when asbestos surveys are conducted, permits are required, and training.

In a separate project, Landmark designed and implemented a strategic in-field Asbestos Data Quality Verification Program that balanced the level of effort, accessibility, and desired outcomes in a timely and cost-effective approach. The project included a detailed review of extensive historical asbestos data and development of key concepts for future organization, so data sorting and data entry could be best facilitated. The effort involved bench-scale verification of more than 2,000 historical sample locations and 20,000 fields of sample information that were efficiently evaluated to effectively assess overall data quality. This project resulted in significantly improved asbestos data quality and associated cost analysis, which supported decision-making for construction and renovation projects. Key successes included standardization of protocols and descriptors for data input and data management systems for tracking wastes generated and areas abated over time.

PROJECT 4: Excavation IH and Waste Management Services for Natural Gas Pipeline Construction

Applying a practical Soils Characterization and Management Plan, Landmark rapidly completed an excavation of a natural gas pipeline trench within the footprint of an unregulated landfill.

Landmark was retained by a major electric and natural gas utility to complete the excavation and environmental oversight for a portion of a 24-inch natural gas pipeline being installed within the footprint of an unregulated former landfill. Since the excavation of the trench and associated bore pits had the potential to involve contact with landfill wastes containing regulated materials such as asbestos, Landmark was specifically retained to perform the excavation and environmental oversight within the landfill footprint.

Landmark developed a Soils Characterization and Management Plan, which presented the precautionary measures and contingency procedures for trenching associated with the natural gas pipeline. Landmark rapidly completed the excavation of the pipeline trench and associated bore pits within the footprint. Mixed soil and landfill waste were excavated, segregated and landfill debris transported to a local solid waste landfill for disposal. Following the excavation, no visible asbestos-containing or hazardous materials were present within the excavation, and pipeline installation proceeded.