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SHA has developed extensive experience working at international locations completing environmental assessment as well as design and implementation of site remediation. To date, SHA has completed projects in the following geographic areas:
- Europe - The United Kingdom, The Netherlands, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, The Czech Republic, and Poland
- South America - Brazil
- Asia - Peoples Republic of China and Japan
- Canada
Additional engineering reviews and general consulting have involved projects in Romania and Israel. Typically, though not exclusively, these projects are completed for US clients who wish to maintain a consistency of approach at international locations, and take advantage of SHA's network of legal, technical, and administrative international contacts to facilitate an understanding of international environmental regulations. We have been able to effectively cut through communication and cultural barriers as well, saving time and energy for our clients. We have also adopted innovative approaches to completion of field work in geographically remote locations. Depending on the project needs, SHA has acted both independently and also as a part of project teams with competent foreign professional firms. Although SHA can operate on worldwide basis from our US-based offices, SHA uses its United Kingdom office, located in London, to facilitate work throughout the UK and continental Europe.
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Second Opinion Review
Industrial Site - Near Glasgow, Scotland
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 SHA was retained by a U.S.-based client to perform a second opinion review of environmental assessment services conducted by others. Our review included a site visit to interview facility employees and engineering consultants familiar with past site investigations and to reconnoiter the site and surrounding area. The review culminated in a second opinion review report that included an opinion as to the adequacy of prior characterization efforts and recommendations for additional investigation to fill identified data gaps. SHA worked cooperatively with our client's local consultant to implement a field program that included: a soil vapor survey; drilling bedrock borings and collecting core samples; installation of multi-level monitoring wells; and groundwater sampling. The data collected from the investigation activities were forwarded to SHA for analysis and preparation of a Site Investigation (SI) report. The results of the investigation indicated that potential exposure risks were below regulatory limits established by the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA). Based on review of our SI report, and regulator meetings in which we participated with our client, the Local Authority and SEPA agreed to an approach of monitoring natural attenuation.
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Second Opinion Review
Industrial Site - Southern France
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 SHA was retained by a U.S.-based client to perform a second opinion review of environmental assessment services conducted by others. Our review included a site visit to interview facility employees and engineering consultants familiar with past site investigations and to reconnoiter the site and surrounding area. The review culminated in a second opinion review report that included an opinion as to the adequacy of prior characterization efforts and recommendations for additional investigation to fill identified data gaps. Specific recommendations included a soil vapor survey; drilling borings and collecting soil samples; installation of multi-level monitoring wells; hydraulic testing of the formation; groundwater sampling; and an updated exposure risk assessment. SHA's future involvement will include coordination and oversight of fieldwork to be completed by local consultants and contractors retained by our client. The field data will be analyzed by SHA to identify the potential need for remedial measures. The review was facilitated by the participation of a project manager with our firm who is a French national and a fluent French speaker.
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Subsurface Petroleum Hydrocarbon Investigation
Industrial Site - Ontario, Canada
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 SHA was retained by a U.S.-based client to complete an extensive subsurface investigation at an industrial facility with a history of heavy petroleum hydrocarbon usage dating back to the 1940s. Our services included a review of current and former potential sources of subsurface petroleum hydrocarbon contamination; multiple phases of drilling and monitoring well installation; and soil, groundwater, and free-phase petroleum product sampling and analysis to evaluate the identified potential sources and delineate the extent of subsurface impacts, as well as recovery well installation and testing. SHA has made presentations to local and provincial authorities, and has been retained to initiate the evaluation and design of remedial systems at this site.
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Acquisition-Related Services
Three Industrial Sites - Near Rouen, Caen and Orleans, France
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 As part of the acquisition of three manufacturing plants, SHA has been assisting an industrial client with assessing potential subsurface contamination present at their newly acquired sites. On behalf of the new owner, SHA has been monitoring investigation and remediation activities undertaken by the former owner to address preexisting environmental conditions. Tasks completed to date have included: identifying potential non compliance with French environmental regulations; completing Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) services and limited Phase II ESA field activities to identify potential data gaps in previously completed work; reviewing and commenting on additional environmental assessments, risk assessments and groundwater monitoring reports completed by others on behalf of former owner; and representing our client at meetings with the French regulatory authorities.
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Site Assessment and Groundwater Longevity Analysis
Industrial Site - Yinchuan, China
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 SHA was retained by a U.S.-based client to perform an environmental site assessment (ESA) at a manufacturing facility located in north-central China, at the edge of the Gobi Desert. The ESA was conducted to better understand the potential environmental liabilities our client may have faced if they entered into a joint venture agreement with the current Chinese owner. SHA performed a detailed reconnaissance of the facility. We also collected water samples from the facility's water supply wells, and performed on-site PCB testing of transformers. SHA provided an opinion as to how the site could potentially be regarded by national and local environmental authorities. Our services also included an engineering analysis of the longevity of groundwater supplies to provide over 2.5 million gallons of groundwater per day for manufacturing purposes.
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Hydrogeologic Investigations and Remediation
Industrial Sites - Haute-Savoie and Ille-et-Vilaine Districts, France
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 Hydrogeologic investigations were completed at two industrial sites where releases of chlorinated volatile organic compounds and petroleum hydrocarbons were found to have occurred. Due to the nature of these assignments and the availability of equipment to support field explorations, pragmatic approaches were used to assess subsurface conditions. At both sites, soil gas and groundwater analyses were used to characterize the extent of contamination, complete an exposure assessment of impacts to human and environmental receptors, and to develop remedial plans for contaminant mass removal and hydraulic containment. SHA has made presentations to regulatory authorities in both regions, and has completed final design of remediation systems at these sites. At one site, the remediation system has been successfully installed and is operational; at the second site, installation is waiting final regulatory approval.
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Site Closure
60-Acre Industrial Site - England
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 SHA completed a successful three-year environmental assessment and remediation program associated with closure of a 60-year old, 50-acre industrial facility in the UK Midlands, which included significant input to redevelopment master planning, interface with local and national regulators (Environment Agency), and assistance to the legal team. Our services involved assessment of the distribution of chlorinated volatile organic compounds and hydrocarbons in a multi-aquifer bedrock system; completion of contaminant transport analyses and a quantitative risk assessment using the latest UK guidance; completion of a multi-well pump test and pilot groundwater treatment test; and completion of final remedial system design. The site was successfully transferred to a redevelopment team.
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Environmental Site Review and Phase II Site Investigation Work Plan Preparation
Industrial Site - Fujisawa, Japan
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SHA was retained by a U.S.-based client to perform an environmental site review at a manufacturing facility located in east-central Japan, near Tokyo. Our work included review of over ten years of site investigations and remedial activities performed in response to past releases of chlorinated solvents at the facility and a nearby facility.
Results of our review were used to develop a work plan for due diligence Phase II investigations to be completed by a Japan-based engineering firm prior to our client's sale of the property. Our review and work plan development included a site visit to interview facility employees and engineering consultants familiar with past site investigations and remedial activities, assess the current status of the facility with national and local regulatory agencies, and perform a field reconnaissance of the facility and surrounding region. The findings of our site visit were used to prioritize possible Phase II investigation tasks, and to provide recommended modifications to past site investigation protocols and existing remedial measures. Phase II investigations are currently underway with SHA serving on behalf of our client as a project reviewer.
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Environmental Investigation
500,000-ft2 Heavy Industrial Complex - Northwest Germany
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 SHA was retained by a U.S.-based client to complete an extensive Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessment at a World War II-vintage heavy industrial facility, with a history of extensive chlorinated solvent and petroleum hydrocarbon usage, that derives its water supply from five on-site wells. Our services included installation, sampling and testing of a monitoring well network; review of historical data and aquifer hydraulics; assessment of contaminant transport; and preparation of a full report that was presented to the German authorities. Based on review of our report, and regulator meetings in which we participated with our client, the German authorities agreed that no further environmental actions were required under the current site use.
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Free-product Hydrocarbon Recovery Design
Industrial Facility - Brazil
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 SHA was requested to complete an environmental investigation and design a remediation system to address the presence of subsurface hydrocarbons at an industrial facility in Brazil. We developed a Work Plan for approval by State regulatory authority Delegacia do Meio Abiente and have subsequently worked under oversight by the State technical regulatory branch CETESB. SHA designed, in collaboration with Brazilian civil engineers, a 1,000-foot physical containment barrier wall system, with an interior stone-lined collection trench. SHA subsequently directed and tested a series of mechanical extraction technologies, and performed a cost analysis to assist with final component selection. SHA has completed design of the hydrocarbon removal system, and has assisted with its installation and operation.
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Chlorinated Solvent Investigation and Urgency Determination
Industrial Site - North Holland, The Netherlands
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 SHA was requested to provide site characterization services at the site of release of chlorinated solvents in North Holland. SHA designed and executed an extensive investigation with the assistance of a Dutch teaming partner. Our work included assessment of complicated groundwater flow regime resulting from regional dewatering to depress groundwater levels below sea level; contaminant transport and fate analyses; and a receptor evaluation. Work was completed pursuant to the 1996 Dutch Soil Protection Act and under review of Provincial regulatory authorities.
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Site Assessment and Mining Subsidence Review
42-Acre Industrial Site - Southern Poland
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 SHA completed Phase II Environmental Site Assessment activities associated with due diligence being performed by our client in association with purchase of this site with manufacturing operations at the site reportedly dating back to 1882. In addition to a detailed site reconnaissance and file review, we directed the drilling of soil borings and installation of monitoring wells, and completed associated soil and groundwater sampling. Additionally, since the area around the site had been heavily affected by coal mining activities, we completed a review of regional groundwater withdrawals from mining shafts, and assessed how these withdrawals may be affecting hydrogeologic, environmental, and geotechnical (ground subsidence) conditions at the site. Our conclusions were used to assist our client with negotiating the purchase of this facility. The facility is currently a successful operation.
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