Case Scenario

The Situation:

You are working as an environmental consultant and one of your largest clients has called requesting your services. Your client is interested in purchasing a large parcel of land that includes a former airplane manufacturing facility. In total there are 7 major buildings on this property with minor support buildings as well. Your task is to conduct a pre-purchase environmental audit of the property and provide your client with your recommendations.

You have done all your research and scoured all the records and you are now making one last walk-through of the property with the caretaker when you notice a door on the side of what is commonly referred to as

the paint hanger. The door happens to have a large, fairly old padlock on it keeping it shut tight. At first you are told it is just a side entrance to the main hanger floor, but based upon the contour of the building your better judgment does not agree.

You ask for the key to the lock and are immediately told that no one has the key. So, you get the bolt cutters and open the door. You are immediately greeted with an over-whelming vapor cloud that has the distinct scent of some form of a petroleum product. After you let the room air out, you discover a cache of ten 55-gallon drums (unlabeled), an old solvent bin with product still inside; an old tank approximately 100 gallon size labeled

Used Oil, and a large assortment of 5-gallon buckets, all without labels.

What is your recommendation to your client?

The Questions:

1. If your client is set on purchasing this property what advice shall you provide?

2. If your client assumes the responsibility for clean-up and wants you to head the clean-up effort, what are some of your first steps?