Services

Nutting Engineers | Nutting Environmental

Nutting Engineers of Florida, Inc. provides a wide variety of engineering and materials testing services. These services can be grouped into three categories:

Geotechnical Engineering Services

Geotechnical engineering services include investigations, analysis, and recommendations for site feasibility, foundations, embankments, pavements, retention structures, and other earthworks projects. A project engineer is assigned to all projects under the general direction of the chief engineer. Subsurface investigations are performed using our specialized soils and rock drilling equipment operated by experienced drill technicians. We have the capability of mobilizing 10 soil test boring rigs. Our modern soil and material laboratory is staffed with two (2) full time technicians and provides all testing necessary for completing geotechnical studies and construction materials testing.

Laboratory services include:

• soil classification;
• moisture density (proctor);
• limerock bearing ratio;
• Florida bearing value;
• material gradation;
• calcium carbonate;
• organic content;
• Atterberg limit;
• water content;
• concrete and grout compression;
• soil and rock compression;
• consolidation;
• chemical;
• asphaltic concrete;
• masonry.

Field testing services include:

• soil density by nuclear gauge;
• concrete cylinders, slump and air content tests;
• precast plant testing and inspection;
• asphaltic concrete coring and thickness tests;
• structural concrete coring;
• windsor probe and swiss hammer tests;
• bolt torquing;
• pachometer testing (re-steel location and size);
• roofing fasteners;
• percolation tests for exfiltration and septic systems (SFWMD and FDOT);
• HRS soil profiles for septic systems;
• in-situ pressure testing and pump testing; and
• other special testing such as hand rails.

Technician and inspector vehicles are two-way radio dispatched; therefore, daily test and inspection schedules can be readily changed to best serve our client needs. This also provides direct communication to key personnel in the office for problem resolution.

Construction Services

Construction materials quality control inspection and testing is performed by experienced and certified technicians. Areas of expertise include:

• fill and demucking operations;
• paving;
• concrete;
• reinforcing steel;
• structural steel;
• piling installation;
• pile load tests;
• soil load bearing tests;
• ground improvement techniques;
• footing preparation;
• precast yard; and
• fire proofing inspections.

Our personnel are continuously trained by the technical operations manager and project engineers under the general supervision of the chief engineer. Certifications include: American Concrete Institute, Troxler Nuclear and Florida Department of Transportation.

Materials Testing Services

Structural building inspections are provided by our certified building inspectors under the general supervision of the in-house special inspector and a project engineer. Inspections are provided for both threshold and non threshold buildings either full time or most often on an as required basis. All building inspectors are experienced in various construction techniques and are graduate engineers, licensed general contractors or certified by Southern Building Code Congress International.

Nutting Environmental of Florida, Inc. provides a wide variety of environmental services. These services can be grouped into five categories:

Due Diligence

Due diligence projects include Phase I Environmental Property Assessments, Phase II Environmental Property Assessments, Phase III Environmental Property Assessments, Transaction Screening Inspections, Radon Testing, Asbestos and Lead Based Paint testing, and other services typically requested by parties involved in the sale of commercial property.

Background

In today's regulatory and legal climate, the nature and scope of potential environmental liability associated with hazardous substances and waste has become a major concern. In the mid 1980s, the United States Congress expanded Superfund regulations by enacting the Superfund Amendment and Reauthorization Act (SARA). The SARA regulations establish strict liability for property operators, owners, both current and former, if contamination is found.

The commercial real estate market has long attracted developers, investors and financial lenders to Florida. With recent changes in federal, state and municipal environmental laws, new areas of liability have emerged in the transaction of properties contaminated with hazardous substances and waste. Given the substantial costs sometimes associated with rehabilitation of contaminated properties, it is prudent to determine the general risk of such regulated materials existing on the site prior to acquisition.

Liability for the cleanup of contaminated sites currently extends to four classes of entities:

• any existing owner or operator of a hazardous facility;
• any entity who previously owned or operated a facility at the time of disposal of the hazardous substance any hazardous substance generator including those who arrange to have toxic materials taken to a facility for disposal or treatment, and
• any entity who physically transports hazardous substances to a facility for disposal or treatment.

The SARA amendment does not relieve lenders from liability under CERCLA. The broad unavailability of environmental liability insurance may necessitate consultation with an experienced environmental riskñassessment firm. Environmental concerns should be completely understood to provide facts upon which to base management decisions regarding the level of risk facing lenders, owners or purchasers.

Phase I Environmental Property Assessments

NEF conducts Phase I Environmental Property Assessment investigations in accordance with the current industry standard, American Society of Testing and Materials Practice E-1527. This standard provides a definition for "recognized environmental conditions" as follows:

"The presence or likely presence of any hazardous substances or petroleum products on a property under conditions that indicate an existing release, a past release, or a material threat of release of any hazardous substances or petroleum products into structures on the property or into the ground, groundwater or surface water of the property. The term includes hazardous substances or petroleum products even under conditions in compliance with laws. The term is not intended to include de minimis conditions that generally do not present a material risk of harm to public health or the environment and that generally would not be the subject of an enforcement action if brought to the attention of appropriate governmental agencies."

The following activities are generally conducted as a part of a Phase I Environmental Property Assessment investigation by NEF:

Property Inventory:

Research of regulatory agency records at federal, state, county and local levels. Current and historical review of the subject property and adjoining area land use. Aerial photograph review. Regional and site specific geological and hydrogeological data evaluation. Chain of ownership developed for the site based upon information provided by the client.

Site Inspection:

Visual classification of hazardous chemicals or wastes observed on the site. If hazardous chemicals or wastes are identified, suitability of chemical storage compliance is evaluated. Manual augering of four soil borings (subject to limitations of physical site conditions) to collect soil/groundwater interface samples for field screening for volatile organic compounds with a flame ionization detector. Screening for substantial concentrations of certain carbonate thiophosphate and organophosphate pesticides with a field test kit, when deemed appropriate. Interview of individuals associated with the property for information regarding current and historical site use.

Prepare Assessment Report:

A report of findings and recommendations is prepared for each property. An opinion is rendered as to the likelihood of "recognized environmental conditions" being present on each property.

Phase I Environmental Property Assessments are now routinely conducted as a part of property transfers by many institutions in order to document the site conditions at the time of sale. Additionally, long term environmental monitoring programs can be initiated to minimize the environmental liability stemming from discharges which may occur on or adjacent to the property.

Phase II Environmental Property Assessments

Phase II Environmental Property Assessments are conducted based on evidence of "recognized environmental conditions" on the subject property. Phase II investigations can include soil testing, groundwater testing, and site rehabilitation activities. In cases where periodic monitoring is requested by the client, staff will design and install a soil and/or groundwater monitoring system. The system allows for sample extraction at any time, providing flexibility to conduct expanded chemical testing for regulatory compliance monitoring.

NEF has conducted thousands of Phase I and II assessments for clients throughout Florida.

Compliance

Compliance projects include soil and and groundwater testing services, Contamination Assessments, Remedial Actions, and other services conducted at the request of the client to comply with requirements set forth by a Federal, State, or local regulatory agency.

Compliance services are conducted by NEF in cases where positive identification of contamination is made at a site, NEF can address the situation through follow up contamination assessment and remediation programs. Our trained staff is able to respond quickly with the necessary equipment and vehicles to commence assessment and clean up activities.

Among the many project teams maintained on staff, NEF also provides in house drilling and sampling equipment. The availability of in house resources allow us to respond quickly and cost effectively to sites necessitating environmental assessment activities.

NEF provides services to clients that are required to perform assessment and remedial activities by the regulatory agencies. Consulting services provided include:

• Storage Tank Closure Assessments
• Initial Remedial Actions
• Contamination Assessments
• Monitoring Only Programs
• Remedial Action Plans
• Soil and Groundwater Remediation services.

The experienced staff of NEF provides contamination assessment and remedial services to lenders, developers, operators and investors throughout Florida. NEF has conducted hundreds of assessments and remedial actions on a variety of properties in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 62-770 Florida Administrative Code. Our assessment reports have been instrumental in completing loan documentation and have assisted lenders and property owners during title transfer of contaminated properties. The costs of our expert services are very competitive and the results are confidential as requested. References are available upon request. Contact NEF to obtain a no obligation estimate or to answer any questions you have.

Soil Disposal

Soil disposal services include turn-key management of the excavation, containerization and disposal of contaminated media.

Soil disposal is necessary in some cases because State regulations stipulate that petroleum contaminated soil that exceeds the limits for "excessive soil contamination" must be removed and properly disposed. Currently only two approved disposal options are commonly practiced in our area: high temperature incineration and drum transport to a landfill. Land filling is not an attractive alternative given that the owner continues to be liable for the soil and is jointly responsible for the usage of space in a landfill. Incineration of petroleum contaminated soil is a more cost-effective option and the preferred method of disposal by regulatory agencies. Our professional Soil Incineration-Disposal Service provides many advantages that include the following standards:

Turnkey project coordination by a registered professional engineer. On-site supervision by experienced environmental specialists. Expedient soil testing before and after incineration. Licensed contractors experienced in material transport requirements. Complete project documentation from excavation to incineration disposal. Incineration by a permitted DEP facility. Manifest of soil removal for incineration along with complete project documentation starting at the point of excavation through incineration disposal.

Our strict quality assurance program allows us to offer these features at competitive prices, and with excellent turnaround time. Typical Incineration-Disposal projects can be completed in four weeks from start to finish.

SARA/OSHA

SARA/OSHA services are appropriate for businesses that have an avalanche of paperwork to be completed (including hazardous substance inventories, employee safety training, material safety data sheets, and Tier II Hazardous Material inventory forms) due to federal hazardous materials regulations.

Drilling

Drilling services, including the installation and sampling of monitoring wells and the performance of soil test borings, are available to other environmental consultants or for in house projects via our fleet of B-57 and B-59 mobile drill rigs.

Nutting Engineers | Nutting Environmental