Investigative Services Study
The Veterans Affairs Medical Center selected Howard R. Green Company (HR Green) to perform an Investigative Services study to assess Buildings 3 & 28 prior to their demolition. Since these buildings were previously used as biomedical research laboratories, a risk based approach to decommissioning these buildings was necessary.

The Investigative Services effort included on-site survey to determine types of material present and levels of contamination that may exist in Buildings 3 & 28 that required remediation prior to building demolition. The survey included the following activities:

Asbestos Assessment
Review and update previous building asbestos surveys conducted by the Veterans Affairs Medical Center on Buildings 3 and 28.

Civil/Utility Assessment
Full review of civil/utilities was undertaken including: review existing VAMC documentation of site utility services to Buildings 3 & 28; identify utilities requiring removal, capping, and/or relocation resulting from demolition of Buildings 3 and 28; identify utilities that need to be reconnected to adjacent buildings to maintain services; update VAMC furnished topographic survey information needed for new parking lot design and construction.

Radiological Assessment
Conduct a Comprehensive Multi-Agency Radiation Survey & Site Investigation Manual (MARSSIM) – type survey of Buildings 3 and 28.

Bio-Hazard Assessment
Survey Buildings 3 and 28 to document ventilation, plumbing, lab hoods, and other equipment that had potential to present a biological hazard during building demolition.

RCRA (Resource Conservation & Recovery Act) Hazard Assessment
Survey Buildings 3 and 28 to document any chemicals, chemical containers, or items than may be contaminated by hazardous chemicals and will require disposal in accordance with Resource Conservation & Recovery Act (RCRA) regulations.

Lead Paint Assessment
Conduct a survey for lead paint using an X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) Spectrometer. Areas of Building 3 and 28 which had lead levels in excess of the regulated limits were documented so the appropriate precautions were specified for the demolition activities.