Environmental Contamination
17/07/2023
Experience:
Strategic Property Analytics has played a crucial role in many internationally recognized environmental contamination cases through it's specialized proficiency in the review and administration of property value diminution appraisals. Our extensive experience covers property valuation in scenarios involving potential contamination by a diverse range of emerging contaminants, such as PFAS, 1,4 Dioxane, Perchlorates, TCE, DCE, PCE, Vinyl Chloride, VOCs, Gasoline, Fuel Oil, odors, and more. Outlined below are some examples of the cases we have been involved in. However, it's important to note that many of our projects are ongoing and confidentiality constraints limit the extent of details we can disclose.
Williamtown, Oakey, and Katherine
PFAS Contamination Class Actions - Australia: Three significant class action lawsuits required diminution in value studies regarding privately-owned properties in and around Williamtown, New South Wales, Oakey, Queensland, and Katherine, Northern Territory. These legal actions were were prompted by the presence of per-fluorinated substances (PFAS) originating from aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), a firefighting foam containing PFAS. These harmful substances were discovered to be migrating from nearby air force bases under the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth of Australia, Department of Defense.
Stringfellow Acid Pits
Jurupa Valley, California We conducted numerous property appraisals to assess the diminution in value for properties adjacent to the Stringfellow Acid Pits, recognized as one of the most notorious Superfund sites in U.S. history. The U.S. government enacted the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA), also known as the Superfund Act, due to the inability to locate responsible parties or their incapacity to finance the cleanup of the chemical waste dumps at the Stringfellow Acid Pits.
Unlicensed Landfill - Wilmington, CA
Evaluated the diminution in value of the property with only surface use due to contamination. Portions of the site are leased as an auto dismantling yard, radio transmission towers, and oil production.
Avila Beach Oil Spill
Computed property value diminution caused by a 300,000-gallon oil spill. According to a front-page article in the Los Angeles Times, Avila Beach is one of California’s largest contamination cases.
Hawaii Tank Farm Leak
Diminution in value resulting from a tank farm leak in Maui, Hawaii. Retained by Chevron, Shell, and Unocal.
NYC Explosive Soil Vapor Intrusion
Calculated property value diminution related to off-site petrochemical oil plume migration causing flammable soil vapor and associated fire/explosion risk in buildings in NYC.
Shell Fuel Distribution
Oakland, CA: Diminution in value study related to a site formerly owned and used by Shell as a fuel distribution petroleum. Related chemicals remained in the soil, soil gas and groundwater beneath the development.
Carousel Oil Tank Farm
Carson, California: property value diminution study of the environmentally contaminated Carousel housing tract in California, which sits on a former Shell Oil Co. and Dole Food Co., tank farm that left significant amounts of petroleum a few feet below the neighborhood's 285 homes. Vapor intrusion issues.
National Lead (NL) Industries
Sayreville, New Jersey: Study related to eminent domain procedures and soil and sediment pollution in Raritan River and NY harbor. Constituents of concern include radionuclides, heavy metals, polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).
Dow: Napalm & Agent Orange
Former Dow Chemical manufacturing facility, Torrance, California; Partial taking of land impacted by hazardous waste such as dioxins, by the City of Torrance.
Sour Gas Texas
Quintanilla and Paloma Ranch, Texas: Analysis of impaired values and diminution from Sour Gas attributed to the injection of fluids containing hydrogen sulfide into the earth’s crust as part of an oil and gas refinery operation
BNSF Hoyt Street Railyard
Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF), Portland, OR: Diminution in value study related to soil and groundwater contamination in the Northwest Industrial Area of downtown, which was to be redevelop as a high-density, mixed-use neighborhood, with parks as part of the city's River District.
Dole Pineapple Plantation
Hawaii: Computed the diminution in value, if any, resulting from the State’s largest contamination case involving pesticides
Monsanto
A case where toxins were illegally disposed in a creek and spread throughout a town. Many homes, churches, businesses, and schools were deserted or razed.
Whittaker Bermite
Analyzed the effect of unexploded ordinance and perchlorate contamination on 1,000 acres of undeveloped land.
Little Gas Shack Oil Spill
Kauai, Hawaii: Estimated the damages, if any, caused to multiple commercial properties because of a gasoline and oil spill in a resort bay.
LA Metro Mall Landfill
Estimated the effect of an encapsulated landfill on present and future commercial property values. The proposed retail development was to have been constructed on top of a contaminated solid waste landfill.