Let's Talk Remediation

In this 72nd episode, I discuss "What Is Environmental Remediation and What's It's Purpose?" As I say in every episode, "The Purpose of This Podcast, Is To Have A Positive Impact On The Environmental Remediation Industry."  "But what is it and what does that mean?" Environmental remediation is the process of removing, treating, or containing pollution and ha...

In this 71st episode, I discuss "What's The Difference Between In-Situ and Ex-Situ Remediation?" In-Situ means "in place."  So when contamination is remediated where it is, then In-Situ Remediation is taking place.  This can be performed by the introduction of additives to perform destructive remediation where the contamination sits, rather than further disrupting the alre...

In this 70th episode, I discuss "What Is The Proper Way To Perform Solid Surface Remediation?" In order to properly perform solid surface remediation, a systematic plan needs to be created and put into action. The systematic plan should include, An Initial Site Assessment, Research of Environmental Compliance, A Feasibility Evaluation, A Remediation Design, Implementation of The Design P...

In this 69th episode, I discuss "What Is The Proper Way To Perform Water Remediation?" In order to properly perform water remediation, a systematic plan needs to be created and put into action. The systematic plan should include, An Initial Site Assessment, Research of Environmental Compliance, A Feasibility Evaluation, A Remediation Design, Implementation of The Design Plan and Finally,...

In this 68th episode, I discuss "What Is The Proper Way To Perform Soil Remediation?" In order to properly perform soil remediation, a systematic plan needs to be created and put into action. The systematic plan should include, An Initial Site Assessment, Research of Environmental Compliance, A Feasibility Evaluation, A Remediation Design, Implementation of The Design Plan and Finally, C...

In this "67th" ("6-7") episode, I discuss "Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)?" Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are carbon-based chemicals that vaporize into the air at room temperature, posing major concerns for indoor air quality, groundwater safety, and ground-level smog formation. VOCs are the lighter parts of crude oils, refined fuels, paints and thinners, vanis...

In this 66th episode, I discuss "What Is Meant by BTEX?" BTEX stands for Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, and Xylenes, which are a group of volatile organic compounds commonly found in petroleum products like crude oils and refined fuels like gasoline, diesel and jet fuel. BTEX aromatics are toxic chemicals that are known to be carcinogenic and thus are a cause of concern to human health...

In this 65th episode, I discuss "What Are Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons aka PAHs?" PAHs stands for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons.  Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons are 1,000s of chemical compounds that are created during the incomplete combustion or burning of physical materials.  The Ashes generated during the combustion process are full of PAHs. PAHs have many Benzene rings in th...

In this 64th episode, I discuss "What Are PolyChlorinated Biphenyls aka PCBs?" PCBs stands for PolyChlorinated Biphenyls.  PolyChlorinated Biphenyls are man-made organic chemicals used widely as electrical insulators and coolants until banned in the U.S. in 1979 due to high toxicity and environmental persistence. PCBs were found to be probable carcinogens and due tot he fact that they do...

In this Episode 63, I discuss "What Is Meant by Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons aka TPH?" TPH stands for Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons.  TOTAL means ANY and ALL captured and provided in a single measurement. Petroleum is derived from Crude Oil extracted from the ground.  Once extracted, it is moved to a refinery for the distillation process of adding heat to it, to separate it into different...

In this 62nd episode, I discuss the topic of What Is The Value Proposition Provided By The Use of Hanby Environmental Field Test Kits? Hanby Environmental's Field Test Kits provide FAST, ACCURATE and ECONOMICAL results that you CAN rely on. Reliable field results is the key.  Not just Field Data, but Reliable Field Data from which to make a decision.  Our Hanby Field Test Kits have been doing...

In this 61st episode, I discuss RESULTS FROM - Large Scale Demonstration of "The New Remediation Paradigm" in Odessa, Texas on 7/15/2026. Lighthouse Environmental hosted Hanby Environmental and OMG Solutions to perform a large scale remediation demonstration.  The remediation area was contaminated by a combination of Crude Oil and Production Water (aka Produced Water, Brine Water, Salt W...

In this 60th episode, I discuss the topic of What Does "Cradle to Grave" Mean? "Cradle to Grave" means that Hazardous Waste Generators have full responsibility for the Hazardous Waste that they Generated (or Created "Cradle") through its's entire lifecycle until it is put in it's "Grave" by Remediating (breaking it down from Hazardous to make it No...

In this 59th episode, I discuss the topic Relocation aka "Dig/Vacuum and Haul" is NOT Remediation. The old traditional default thought to dealing with contaminated soil is to dig and haul it off to a waste disposal facility.  Similarly, vacuuming up contaminated water and transporting it to a disposal facility.  In both of these case, the contamination is only being relocated.  It is NOT...

In this 58th episode, I discuss A Future Event - Large Scale Demonstration of "The New Remediation Paradigm" in Odessa, Texas. Here's an opportunity that you don't want to miss.  It's the opportunity to see a large scale remediation in real time, implementing "The New Remediation Paradigm." When:  The event is taking place on July 15, 2026 at 10 am. Where:  Light...

In this 57th episode, I discuss How Does Ground Water Get Contaminated? Ground Water typically gets contaminated through soil seeping ro leaching contamination from the soil down into the Ground Water as gravity pulls down on it.  Sometimes there is a direct line from the surface to get contamination directly into the Ground Water, like an old water well. The typical sources of Ground Water Contam...

In this 56th episode, I discuss Why is it Important to Remediate Chlorides? Chlorides, Sodium Chlorides (NaCl), Salt.  Brine Water, Produced Water, Production Water is Water with high amounts of Salt in it.  Much higher salt content than that of Ocean Water. Brine Water is brought up out of the ground when extracting oil from ground.  When "producing" oil, for every barrel of oil obtaine...

In this 55th episode, I discuss Soil Remediation Sampling - Grab vs. Composite. When Soil Remediation is being performed, Soil Sampling is needed to monitor and document the remediation and it's effectiveness. In performing soil sampling, there are two types of samples; Grab and Composite. Grab samples are samples taken a very specific location. Composite samples are a collection of multiple...

In this 54th episode, I discuss a Current Event - Hanby Environmental and OMG Solutions in The Oil & Gas Mecca (Midland/Odessa Texas) Demonstrating The New Remediation Paradigm on TPH and Chlorides. Today we traveled to Lighthouse Environmental a Remediation Contractor in "The Mecca."  Lighthouse provided a field sample that they knew was contaminated with Chlorides and Total Petrole...

In this 53rd episode, I discuss "Who is The Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) and What is Rule 91?" The Railroad Commission of Texas is The State of Texas' Regulatory Body governing The Oil & Gas Industry. One of the main governing regulations it uses is called "Rule 91." Rule 91 sets the notification, clean up and reporting requirements.  Rule 91 provides tiered requ...

In this 52nd episode, I discuss a Current Event:  "TCEQ ETF" (Texas Commission of Environmental Quality - Environmental Trade Fair. The TCEQ ETF is the premier annual conference for all things Environmental. As the old saying goes, "Everything is Bigger in Texas," The TCEQ ETF is the largest environmental conference in The United States. The TCEQ ETF is always held in mid May a...

In this 51st episode, I discuss a Current Event:  "The New Chlorides Remediation Paradigm!" Chlorides are a big problem, particularly in The Oilfield.  Also known as Production Water, Produced Water, Brine Water and Salt Water, during the extraction of Crude Oil, this high salinity water is also extracted and most often is volumes 2-5 times the amount of Crude Oil. As such, it must be de...

In this 50th episode, I discuss some "Best Practices for Field Soil Sampling." One of the most important considerations is to remember that Soil Contamination, is not always sitting on the surface as horizontal contamination.  The longer the contamination is in soil, the more gravity begins to work on it, causing migration or the traveling of the contamination vertically. Another importa...

In this 49th episode, I review an article I wrote a little over two years ago entitled "The Fundamentals of Field Sampling." In short, the keys are to have reliable field measurements to guide you to know when to knowledgeably send samples to The Laboratory for Third Party Validation as "Confirmatory Samples," confirming what you were able to see in the filed while performing t...

In this 48th episode, I discuss The Goal of Environmental Site Assessments.  Final Report and Closure. The Goal of performing Environmental Site Assessments is to generate a Final Report to be submitted to the necessary Regulatory bodies to obtain a Closure Report that indicated No Further Remediation is required. In order to obtain this, a final Report must be prepared and submitted to the necess...