Category Archives: LandWatch

Helping West Virginia Screen One Call Excavation Tickets at Cleanup Sites

by Bob Wenzlau and Mike Sowinski | 07 / 21 / 2010 |

In both a progressive and unique move, the West Virginia DEP joined the state’s call-before-you dig, or “One Call” center to help screen for improper excavations at about 100 of the state’s environmental covenant sites.   The process requires a daily review of excavation tickets at or near these site which, in turn, allows DEP to [...]

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EPA Cleanup Proposal Relies on Institutional Control Monitoring

by Mike Sowinski | 07 / 18 / 2010 |

A recent EPA cleanup proposal directly recognizes what many have come to accept as a given – cleanups need institutional controls (ICs), monitoring of ICs is a critical component of cleanup remedies, and private sector landwatch services make monitoring effective. Recognizing the key role of IC monitoring, EPA’s June 2010 “proposed plan” for a Southern [...]

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Terradex Wins Patent “Method and Apparatus For Monitoring and Responding to Land Use Activities”

by Bob Wenzlau | 07 / 09 / 2010 |

Seven years ago, we created a new methodology for increasing the effectiveness of institutional controls, and as of June 29, 2010 this innovation is protected by a patent. So what led to the patent?  Failed approaches led to a new idea.  We knew a duty existed to monitor safe use of contaminated sites, but whose [...]

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Becoming Familiar with Terradex’s Real Estate Monitoring

by Bob Wenzlau | 06 / 28 / 2010 |

Terradex can monitor numerous transactional real estate data sources permitting the detection of problematic real estate scenarios at tracked properties.  The sources include monitoring new residential and commercial listings, new sold properties, pre-foreclosure actions, foreclosure actions, tax liens, bankruptcies, new easements and new occupants. Thorough real estate monitoring is critical when the responsible party no longer owns [...]

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Long-term Stewardship at Federal Facilities

by Bob Wenzlau | 03 / 28 / 2010 |

A strategic direction for Terradex has been to augment federal stewardship of environmental sites with our LandWatch service.  The Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Managers invited Terradex to present at their symposium Beyond Construction Completion:  Long-Term Protection of Human Health and Environment at Federal Facilities. Terradex LandWatch is monitoring numerous federal facilities including active [...]

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States Evaluate Institutional Control Monitoring and Oversight

by Mike Sowinski | 11 / 07 / 2009 |

States seek improved and efficient LUC monitoring.

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Enforcement First to Ensure Effective Institutional Controls at Superfund Sites

by Mike Sowinski | 06 / 30 / 2009 |

The United States Environmental Protection Agency has adopted an “enforcement first” policy for institutional controls, which will likely increase both recording and monitoring of ICs. The USEPA Office of Site Remediation and Enforcement has directed the agency’s program and enforcement staff, as well as Department of Justice, to pursue any action needed to ensure the [...]

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USEPA Releases Study Citing Terradex’s Protection of the Los Angeles Public Water Supply

by Bob Wenzlau | 06 / 30 / 2009 |

Terradex avoided a “disaster” threatening the potable water in Los Angeles, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The local permit agency approved the installation of a cathodic protection well. This type of deep well, used to prevent pipeline corrosion, has perforated walls and can thus allow groundwater to flow downward from a shallow [...]

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Working with Excavators Clearance Systems to Proactively Inform of Environmental and Health Hazards

by Bob Wenzlau | 06 / 30 / 2009 |

The excavation limits of a new water main are marked on the street. Consistent with state regulation, the excavator calls in the excavation limits to the One-Call System. Soon the street is marked with utility locations. Surprisingly, the excavator receives a fax describing that the excavation site as occurring in a zone of environmental contamination. [...]

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