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An evaluation of remote sensing technologies for the detection of residual contamination at ready-for-anticipated use sites

October 7, 2014

Operational problems with site access and information, XRF instrument operation, and imagery collections hampered the effective data collection and analysis process. Of the 24 sites imaged and analyzed, 17 appeared to be relatively clean with no discernible metal contamination, hydrocarbons, or asbestos in the soil. None of the samples for the sites in Louisiana had any result exceeding the appropriate industrial or residential standard for arsenic or lead. One site in South Carolina (North Street Dump) had two samples that exceeded the residential standard for lead. One site in Texas (Cadiz Street), and four sites in Florida (210 North 12th Street, Encore Retail Site, Clearwater Auto, and 22nd Street Mixed Use) were found to have some level of residual metal contamination above the applicable residential or commercial Risk-Based Concentration (RBC) standard. Three of the Florida sites showing metal contamination also showed a pattern of vegetation stress based on standard vegetation analysis techniques.

Publication Year 2014
Title An evaluation of remote sensing technologies for the detection of residual contamination at ready-for-anticipated use sites
DOI 10.3133/ofr20141197
Authors E. Terrence Slonecker, Gary B. Fisher
Publication Type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Series Title Open-File Report
Series Number 2014-1197
Index ID ofr20141197
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse
USGS Organization Eastern Geographic Science Center