Hazardous Materials Assessments
For the project pictured here, Ellis first reviewed all material safety data sheets associated with the stored waste. We then profiled the waste. Finally, we administered and documented it its pickup, transport and proper disposal. These services were provided in central California for a client based in Ohio. They relied on Ellis to complete the project successfully without them being present.
Services Offered
- Emergency Response
- Containerized Waste Evaluation
- Waste Management
Background, Ellis' Qualifications
Ellis has several registered environmental assessors on staff to manage hazardous materials assessment projects.
In August of 1996, a set construction crew was cleaning an alley behind a vacant office building prior to filming. The workers used a water tank truck, using a high-pressure sprayer to apply 5,000 gallons of water to the alley surface.
The water drained directly into the basement of the building, rising to a level of approximately 4 feet above the basement floor. Two hours later, one of the workers noticed that a vapor was emanating from the water's surface. They also noted a film of oil or other petroleum product floating on the water.
Ellis was called to the site. We quickly identified the vapor as steam; the water had been heating rapidly as soon as it began to infiltrate live electrical equipment. The city was immediately notified and power was shut off to the building. We then sampled the film of oil floating on top of the water and identified it as diesel, displaced when water flowed into an emergency generator tank beneath the basement floor. After profiling the spill, Ellis quickly contacted a hazardous materials waste hauler and successfully negotiated a fair unit price for removal and recycling of the oil/water/waste product. We then worked with the city's hazmat team, the location and unit production manager to insure that work could be renewed with no delays in the construction or filming schedule.