Synergy Adds Another LSRP to Staff

Synergy Environmental, Inc. is pleased to announce that David Robinson, LSRP has joined our staff as a Senior Associate, and will work out of our Cherry Hill, New Jersey office.

Mr. Robinson possesses over 20 years of experience as a project manager dealing with remediation of brownfields.  He is a recognized expert in the evaluation and application of innovative and sustainable technologies for site remediation.  David has successfully managed the investigation and remediation of one of New Jersey’s largest Brownfields Development Areas (BDA), and he holds several patents for utilizing chemical oxidation for environmental remediation.  David has published and presented his work in numerous articles and conferences including the prestigious International Conference on Remediation of Chlorinated and Recalcitrant Compounds.

Mr. Robinson was part of the inaugural group first designated by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection as a Licensed Site Remediation Professional (LSRP) in 2010.  He has been involved in pre-acquisition due diligence, litigation support, as well as ongoing investigation and remediation of both operating and abandoned industrial sites including Brownfields and other underutilized properties.  David brings a background of successful project experience and complements the Synergy Environmental staff by his focus on resolving the underlying business problems related to environmental conditions.

Ohio Approves Synergy’s UST Operator Training

On October 28, 2011 the Ohio Department of Commerce Bureau of Underground Storage Tanks (BUSTR) approved Synergy Environmental, Inc. as a certified Class A and B UST Operating Training organization.  This approval was one of the first awarded in Ohio, and Synergy becomes one of only 4 firms approved to provide the training in Ohio.  With this approval, Synergy’s training program is now accepted in OH, VA, PA and is pending in NJ and NY.

The Federal Energy Policy Act of 2005 mandated a number of new requirements for owners and operators of petroleum storage facilities.  One of the final implementation steps applies to the management of Underground Storage Tank (UST) systems. The Act, to be implemented at the state level, requires all UST owners/operators to receive state certified training in UST operation, safety, best management practices and emergency response procedure

Training can be offered either in person or online.  For more information, contact .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

UST Compliance Violations Cost Chevron More than $25 Million

“This area of litigation is a very unique, complicated area of litigation,” Scully said. ......” It was a long-term investment.”

This is a quote from Sacramento County, CA district attorney Jan Scully following her victory in prosecuting a UST compliance litigation against Chevron and Shell and receiving a settlement of over $25 million dollars.  The lawsuit, alleging damages to groundwater from MTBE from 580 stations across Sacramento County, was first initiated in 2003.  As state coffers dwindle in these challenging economic times, this type of “investment” strategy is expected to provide a blueprint for similar actions by state and local governments across the country.

While Chevron admitted no fault in the groundwater contamination claim, Scully’s complaint alleged a laundry list of violations, such as failure to perform monthly tests, maintain records, and a number of other UST compliance deficiencies which could have easily been prevented if the Fuel-View UST management system from Synergy Environmental, Inc. had been in place.

Want to make sure you’re protected?  For a free consultation with one of our UST experts and a demonstration of how Fuel-View can help you avoid Chevron’s fate, CONTACT US
We can also provide a complete copy of the settlement agreement if you wish to read it for yourself.

Autumn Sessions for UST Operator Training announced - October 20th - November 17th - December 15th

Synergy has announced session dates for our UST Operator Training Class for the remainder of 2011.  See information below for details:

Synergy Environmental, Inc. and Tanksurance have developed one of the first training courses certified by Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection for UST Operator Training.  We hope you are able to attend one of our courses soon.

The Federal Energy Policy Act of 2005 mandated a number of new requirements for owners and operators of petroleum storage facilities.  One of the final implementation steps applies to the management of Underground Storage Tank (UST) systems. The Act, to be implemented at the state level, requires all UST owners/operators to receive state certified training in UST operation, safety, best management practices and emergency response procedures. The class satisfies this requirement.

Details of the courses being offered are listed below:
Class A and B Operator Training -
3 hour interactive classroom instruction
Registration is open NOW – choose from any of the following dates:
A) Thursday, October 20th -    9:00 AM – 12:00 NOON
B) Thursday, November 17th -    9:00 AM – 12:00 NOON
C) Thursday, December 15th - 9:00 AM – 12:00 NOON
Registration cost - $225 (Discounts available for multiple company personnel)

Course Location:
Synergy Environmental, Inc.

155 Railroad Plaza
Royersford, PA 19468

For directions: http://www.synergyenvinc.com/index.php/contact/

Register via email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
or by phone: (717) 303 - 3065

Please indicate the preferred date in your email, along with contact information.

Thank you and we look forward to seeing you at your training session.

Meet us next week in Atlantic City - at the Atlantic Region Energy Expo

The Atlantic Region Energy Expo is taking place next week at the Convention Center in Atlantic City, NJ from May 3 - 5th, and Synergy Environmental will be there.  Please come visit us at booth #641.  Over 4,000 energy industry representatives will be on hand

At the show, we will be demonstrating Fuel-View both at our booth, and at a featured “sales pit presentation”.  For more info, click:FUEL-VIEW SALES PIT PRESENTATION

For other details about the AREE conference visit the trade show website, with these targeted links:

For online registration information :  AREE Registration information

For the exhibit floor plan with links to exhibitors (We’re at booth #641, near the food court) : AREE Trade Show Floor Plan - See Synergy at Booth #641

Look forward to seeing you at AREE!  For more information about the show feel free to CONTACT US

New Spill Plan (SPCC) Requirements - What Facility Buyers Need to Know

An SPCC Plan is a Federal (US EPA)  regulatory requirement for certain oil storage facilities.  The facility need not be in the business of distributing petroleum, it may in fact be a golf course, educational facility, or a family farm, or any number of other types with oil storage on premises. 

The historical distinguishing feature of a facility which determines a requirement for an SPCC plan are:

-  individual on site oil storage container size greater than or equal to 55 gallons
- aggregrate above ground capacity of greater than 1320 gallons of oil
-  and/or 42,000 gallons of underground volume (only if not otherwise regulated as a UST)*

*as an example, a facility has 3 - 15,000 gallon UNDERGROUND tanks that contain heating oil for consumptive use.  These tanks are not regulated as underground storage tanks, so therefore the facility would be required to have an SPCC plan.

Beginning in November of 2011 ,  some major changes take effect which will affect facility operators’ SPCC requirements.

1) All underground storage tanks as well as above ground tanks must be included in the facility drawing.  This applies whether your UST’s are reportable under the SPCC plan or not.  In other words, while regulated UST’s don’t necessarily create an SPCC requirement, if a plan is required (for the reasons stated above), then all UST’s must be depicted in the facility drawing.  The purpose for this is so that emergency responders can be made aware of all bulk storage in critical situations by referencing the SPCC diagram.

2)  Facilities are no longer automatically required to have a third party professional engineer prepare the SPCC plans.  If a facility has not had a reportable release in two years,  the owner can self perform or designate their own representative to prepare a plan, according to the somewhat precscriptive SPCC guidelines.

SPCC regulations can be confusing, and you may still be unclear about whether you need one our not.  For a free evaluation of your SPCC needs, feel free to Contact Synergy

UST Class A and B Operator Training Classes offered - Spring 2011

Synergy Environmental, Inc. and Tanksurance have developed one of the first training courses certified by Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection for UST Operator Training.  We hope you are able to attend one of our courses soon.

The Federal Energy Policy Act of 2005 mandated a number of new requirements for owners and operators of petroleum storage facilities.  One of the final implementation steps applies to the management of Underground Storage Tank (UST) systems. The Act, to be implemented at the state level, requires all UST owners/operators to receive state certified training in UST operation, safety, best management practices and emergency response procedures. The class satisfies this requirement.

Details of the courses being offered are listed below:
Class A and B Operator Training -
3 hour interactive classroom instruction
Registration is open NOW – choose from any of the following dates:
A) Thursday, March 24th - 9:00 AM – 12:00 NOON
B) Thursday, April 21st   - 9:00 AM – 12:00 NOON
C) Thursday, May 26th   - 9:00 AM – 12:00 NOON
Registration cost - $225 (Discounts available for multiple company personnel)

Course Location:
Synergy Environmental, Inc.

155 Railroad Plaza
Royersford, PA 19468

For directions: http://www.synergyenvinc.com/index.php/contact/

Register via email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
or by phone: (717) 303 - 3065

Please indicate the preferred date in your email, along with contact information.

Thank you and we look forward to seeing you at your training session.