Waste Characterization

Geochemical Testing has a laboratory department dedicated solely to the characterization of solid waste. Any material that is slated for disposal or potential beneficial use may be analyzed to find the presence or quantification of various chemical components.  Geochemical Testing can analyze PA Form U type analysis with a rapid TAT (Turn Around Time) of 3 business days if your sample is scheduled for a rush. We can also go to your site to collect a representative sample whether it is Drill Cuttings, Sludge, Industrial byproduct or contaminated soil. Please contact us here.

Marcellus/Utica Shale

GEOCHEMICAL TESTING provides a wide variety of testing services related to Marcellus Shale and Utica Shale gas exploration and production. Geochemical Testing is NELAP accredited by the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Council in drinking water, non-potable water and the solid and chemical categories. This certification positions us to work with Oil and Gas Exploration companies and individuals associated with the Marcellus/Utica Shale Gas Industry.

We routinely test drinking water in Pennsylvania for homeowners and for gas Exploration & Production (E&P) companies for pre-drill surveys. The pre-drill surveys provide a baseline or status of the water prior to any drilling in the area which can then be used for comparison with results of tests taken after drilling or production has commenced. This way any potential change can be addressed and monitored.

We routinely test drill cuttings, drilling mud, sand and other soil materials that result from gas drilling operations. E&P companies need to know the components and composition of this material so that they are able to comply with regulations on proper disposal of or treatment of this material. We typically analyze drill cuttings for the requirements specified in PA Form U which is the request to PADEP to process or dispose of residual waste. The parameters include pH, Ignitability, reactive Sulfide and Cyanide, Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Properties known as “TCLP” as found in 40 CFR 261.24, as incorporated by reference at PA Code 261a.1 Additional parameters are generally provided such as TCLP for Cu, Ni, Zn, also free liquids, PCBs, Water Leaching Procedure (ASTM Method D3987) –COD, Total Solids, Oil and Grease or Petroleum Hydrocarbons and Ammonia-Nitrogen, plus Total Solids, Total Volatile Solids, Total Oil and Grease or Petroleum Hydrocarbons. Additional parameters are sometimes required depending on the specific requirements of the residual waste disposal facility that is being used or as a condition of the drilling permit.

We routinely test wastewaters that result from drilling, completion and production processes of Marcellus or Utica Shale Gas Wells. Gas well drilling and production processes result in fracturing fluids that must be tested for the purpose of disposal, treatment or reuse. We commonly analyze these fluids for the parameters specified in PA Form 26R Section d. which include Acidity, Alkalinity, Hardness, Total Dissolved Solids, Total Suspended Solids, Biological Oxygen Demand, Chemical Oxygen Demand, Nutrients including Br, Cl, S, Amnonia Nitrogen, Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen, Radiologicals (subcontracted) Radium 226, Radium 228, Gross Alpha and Gross Beta, Oil and Grease, Phenolics, Volatile Organic Compounds, Total Metals(25), Dissolved Metals, and ethylene Glycol.

Landfills

GEOCHEMICAL TESTING tests groundwater samples from monitoring wells at landfills and other facilities that need to comply with environmental monitoring regulations. This represents a major portion of our business; incidentally, we provide sampling and or analytical services to over 120 landfills in thirteen states.   Whether it is background monitoring,  assessment monitoring,  homeowner monitoring or leachate monitoring we have the decades of experience to know and understand your needs. In fact we authored the addendum format used by most major landfills to address the complicated schedule needed to keep track of multiple sites with numerous sampling points of varying sampling timetables.

GEOCHEMICAL TESTING provides additional services to the Waste and related industries with its analysis of any materials scheduled for disposal such as production by-products, residual and other solid waste. Waste Treatment Plants and Landfills generally have NPDES National Pollution Discharge Elimination System requirements that call for regular sampling and analysis. We can fulfill both the environmental sampling and the analysis portions of this requirement. Geochemical Testing's LIMS Laboratory Information Management System is one of the most advanced and reliable systems for data management that is available.

Your data is handled with extreme care via our QA/QC Quality-Assurance/Quality-Control Department; the results go through multiple steps of review to attest to the integrity of the results and provide you with repeatable legally defensible data. This data, current and historical, is available to our clients through a secure link on this website, which enables authorized representatives of your company complete access. Within the portal you may register for email exceedence notices giving you instant notification of any results that exceed your permitted analyte levels. These notices are sent using the preliminary raw data to give you the most lead time in the event of a potential exceedence.

A large area of concern for many industries is the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) monitoring and reporting. Geochemical Testing has the decades of experience to know and understand your NPDES requirements. We have the skilled field proven technicians and equipment required to carry out your monitoring. We have a state of the art facility with instruments and proficiency tested technicians to perform the analysis using today's exacting standards. Here are a few of the basic areas of analysis for this industry. NPDES Monitoring Influent/Effluent Monitoring, Total Toxic Organics (TTO) Analysis, Priority Pollutants Analysis, Wastewater Analysis, and Industrial Process Control.

GEOCHEMICAL TESTING maintains accreditation for more than 300 analytes and extractions in regards to solid and chemical analysis and over 700 analytes for drinking water and non-potable water. Whether your analytical needs are for general analysis, reuse purposes, remediation or to process or dispose of waste, we have the capabilities to meet your requirements.

Routine Solid Analysis:  Toxic Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) Extraction,  American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Extraction,  Synthetic Precipitation Leaching Procedure (SPLP) Extraction,  Hazardous Waste Determination,  Short List of Petroleum Products Analysis,  Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in Soil,  Underground Storage Tank Analysis,  Clean Fill Parameters (partial),  Act II Parameters (partial),  Pennsylvania Form U,  Pennsylvania Form U-CS,  Pennsylvania Form FC-1,  Remediation,  Brownfields,  Sludge Analysis.

State Specific Routine Landfill Parameter Lists:  Pennsylvania Form 8 Quarterly & Annual,  Pennsylvania Form 14 Quarterly & Annual,  Pennsylvania Form 19 Quarterly & Annual,  Pennsylvania Form 21,  Pennsylvania Form 50,  Pennsylvania Form 52,  Indiana Table 1A,  Indiana Table 1B,  Indiana Table 2,  Detection Zone Monitoring,  Discharge Monitoring,  Gas Condensates Monitoring,  Dustfall Monitoring,  Ohio Appendix I,  Ohio Appendix II,  West Virginia Appendix I,  West Virginia Appendix II,  Virginia Appendix 5.5,  Virginia Appendix 5.1,  Maryland Appendix I,  Maryland Appendix II,  Michigan Type II Landfills,  Michigan Type III Landfills

Government Contracting

Coal and Environmental Services, Inc

dba  GEOCHEMICAL TESTING

We are incorporated in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as Coal and Environmental Services, Inc. and we do business as Geochemical Testing.

Capability Statement - Click here to download the PDF

GEOCHEMICAL TESTING is classified as a small business as defined under NAICS 541380: Laboratory Testing.  Annual sales are between $5 Million and $10 Million.  We currently have over 100 employees.

NAICS: 541380 Laboratory Testing

DUNS: 010443216

CAGE: 0HFV1

Current Federal Government Clients:

GEOCHEMICAL TESTING is proud to serve the US Department of Interior's Office of Surface Mining, United States Geological Survey, and the USAF at Wright Patterson AFB.

US Government PSC we participate in:

B532 Soil Studies, B533 Water Quality Studies, B543 Energy Studies, F104 Technical Support Related to Water Pollution, F105 Pesticide Support services, F106 Toxic Substances Support Services, F107 Hazardous substance analysis, F109 UST Support Services, F111 Technical Support for Multiple Pollutants, F999 Other Environmental Services, Studies and Analytical Support, H391 Inspection and Laboratory Services: Fuels, Lubes, Oils and Waxes, H396 Inspection and Laboratory Services: Ores, Minerals and their Primary Products, H399 Inspection and Laboratory Services: Miscellaneous, R499 Other Professional Services, R532 Research Soil Studies, R533 Research Water Studies

Payment Options:

We participate in the IPP, Ariba (required by some states), WAWF, and most platforms necessary to do business with the government.  We accept purchase cards from Government Agencies.  We accept payments on Visa.

Electronic Data Delivery:

We communicate our data through most EDD platforms and our goal is to exceed your deliverable expectations by providing data in a format suited to your needs.

NPDES

National Pollution Discharge Elimination System

The Clean Water Act regulates the discharge and treatment of wastewater. The EPA issues permits for all wastewater dischargers and wastewater treatment facilities.  Those facilities must comply with the monitoring and reporting requirements established in the permit for its particular site. Geochemical Testing can assist with the collection of water samples and provide the appropriate analysis needed for you specific permit. We compose easy to read reports and we can provide direct inputting of data into state forms in many cases.  Your data is available to you 24/7 in our client portal where you can search, compile historical data for statistical analysis, sign up for preliminary exceedence notices among many other features.  We have extensive experience in this area, please contact us for more information.

Drinking Water Testing

Whether you have well water, spring water, tap water, or bottled water; in today’s environment you need to know all about the water that you’re drinking.  Many people wonder: Is it safe?  Is something in there that shouldn’t be? Who should test? How often? What do I test for?

The US EPA  suggests (epa.gov) that homeowners with private wells test their water annually for nitrate and coliform bacteria. Penn State University recommends all private wells and springs to be tested for coliform bacteria, pH, total dissolved solids and any pollutants specific to land use activities near the water source. It is recommended that you test more frequently if you suspect a problem.  Be aware of activities in your watershed area that may affect the water quality of your well, especially if you are surrounded by private septic systems or industrial usage. Take a look at the chart below for reasons to test your water or follow the link to: epa.gov

Conditions or nearby activities and recommended tests

1. Recurrent gastrointestinal illness
   1. Coliform bacteria
2. Household plumbing contains lead
   1. pH, Lead
3. Radon in indoor air or region is radon rich
   1. Radon
4. Scaly residues, soaps don’t lather
   1. Hardness
5. Water softener needed to treat hardness
   1. Manganese, Iron
6. Stained plumbing fixtures, laundry
   1. Iron, Copper, Manganese
7. Objectionable taste or smell
   1. Hydrogen sulfide, corrosion, metals
8. Water appears cloudy, frothy or colored
   1. Color, detergents
9. Corrosion of pipes, plumbing
   1. Corrosion, pH, Lead
10. Rapid wear of water treatment equipment
    1. pH, Corrosion
11. Nearby areas of intensive agriculture
    1. Nitrate, pesticides, coliform, bacteria
12. Coal or other mining operation nearby
    1. Chloride, Sodium, Barium, Strontium
13. Gas drilling nearby
    1. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
14. Dump, junkyard, landfill, factory, or dry-cleaning operation nearby
    1. VOC, Total dissolved solids, (TDS) , pH, sulfate, chloride, metals
15. Salty taste and seawater, or heavily salted roadway nearby
    1. Chloride, TDS, sodium

Environmental Services

GEOCHEMICAL TESTING works with many environmental consultants and environmental engineers in the Eastern USA who represent companies that are seeking permits or are in the process of maintaining compliance with environmental regulations. We provide analysis (and sampling if needed) of groundwater, storm water runoff, stream and pond waters, leachates and other liquids.  We provide sampling and analysis of soil and solids where contamination is suspected or remediation is needed, and where cleanup and remediation efforts need to be verified and documented.

If you are in an industry that needs to comply with NPDES (National Pollution Discharge Elimination System) requirements we can review your permit to ascertain what test methods are best suited to the detection limits that are required within your permit. We will make sure your reporting forms are accurately completed and submitted. We also give you online secure access to all of your historical data and provide a framework for you to analyze and process that data within our Client Portal. We can alert you by email if there are any irregularities in your results that could need your immediate attention. If you wish, all of your data can be delivered electronically with appropriate data input on the required state reporting forms along with a paper copy mailed to you if desired.

We partner well with environmental consultants and engineers; whether you are a multinational firm or a two man office, we give you each the priority and individual service you need.