Leaaf Environmental, LLC (Leaaf) was contracted by the Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission (JEDCO) to perform Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs) for the Former Joshua Butler School located at 300 4th Street in Westwego, Louisiana. The assessments were initiated under the EPA’s Brownfield Assessment Coalition Cooperative Agreement in partnership with JEDCO, Jefferson Parish Government, and the City of Westwego. The primary objective was to evaluate environmental conditions at the 3.9-acre vacant school site to support redevelopment planning. Phase I included a regulatory and historical review to identify potential recognized environmental conditions (RECs), while Phase II focused on further investigation of those RECs through soil and groundwater sampling in accordance with ASTM and Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) Risk Evaluation / Corrective Action Program (RECAP) guidelines. The assessments were essential to determine the site’s suitability for future reuse and to address potential environmental liabilities.
Leaaf compiled and submitted two comprehensive environmental reports: the Phase I ESA in 2024 and the Phase II ESA in 2025. Each report was prepared in accordance with ASTM standards and LDEQ RECAP guidance and underwent internal Quality Assurance / Quality Control (QA/QC) review prior to delivery. The final Phase II report included detailed site maps, analytical summaries, and regulatory comparison tables. Supporting documents such as the Sampling and Analysis Plan (SAP), Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP), Health and Safety Plan (HASP), and waste disposal manifests were appended or separately transmitted as needed. Leaaf maintained active communication with JEDCO and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) project contacts throughout the project and remained available for consultation regarding reuse planning and potential grant compliance. No additional investigation or corrective action was recommended, and the site was deemed suitable for non-industrial redevelopment under existing environmental conditions.
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1. Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Report
Leaaf conducted a Phase I ESA in accordance with ASTM E1527-21 and EPA All Appropriate Inquiries (AAI) requirements. The assessment included historical and regulatory records reviews, site reconnaissance, interviews, and database research. The report identified two RECs associated with historic underground storage tanks (USTs) at adjoining properties. Additionally, the presence of asbestos-containing materials and lead-based paint within on-site structures were noted as business risks that may require mitigation prior to redevelopment.
2. Sampling and Analysis Plan (SAP)
The Sampling and Analysis Plan was developed to define the locations, methodologies, and quality standards for soil and groundwater sampling based on RECs identified in the Phase I ESA. The SAP adhered to ASTM E1903-19 and LDEQ RECAP guidance, detailing proposed boring locations, field methods, and contaminant-specific analyses required to evaluate potential impacts from adjacent UST sites.
3. Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP)
A site-specific QAPP was created in coordination with JEDCO and EPA and reviewed by Leaaf’s QA Manager. The QAPP outlined responsibilities, data quality objectives, QA/QC procedures, equipment calibration protocols, and data validation measures to ensure defensible analytical results throughout the investigation.
4. Health and Safety Plan (HASP)
Leaaf developed a HASP tailored to the site conditions to ensure safe field activities during the Phase II investigation. The plan included HAZWOPER requirements, hazard communication protocols, PPE specifications, and emergency procedures. It was finalized and distributed with the SAP/QAPP package before mobilization.
5. Field Sampling Event – Soil and Groundwater Investigation
On November 7–8, 2024, Leaaf conducted the Phase II field investigation, advancing four soil borings and converting two into temporary monitoring wells. Eleven soil samples and four groundwater samples were collected and screened for BTEX, PAHs, RECAP Metals, EPH, and VPH. The sampling targeted areas downgradient from the neighboring UST facilities, with QA/QC protocols followed throughout.
6. Laboratory Analytical Reports
Samples were submitted to SGS Laboratories, where analyses were conducted under LDEQ-certified protocols. Results indicated no exceedances of LDEQ RECAP Table 1 screening standards for non-industrial use. Elevated concentrations of some metals were observed in unfiltered groundwater but not in dissolved samples, suggesting turbidity interference rather than contaminant presence.
7. Phase II Environmental Site Assessment Report
The final Phase II ESA concluded that the RECs identified in the Phase I ESA did not result in contamination exceeding regulatory thresholds. The report summarized all field activities, laboratory findings, and QA/QC measures, and recommended no further action for the site under current non-industrial redevelopment plans.
8. Investigation Derived Waste (IDW) Management and Disposal
All IDW, including drill cuttings and purge water, was collected in drums, profiled for hazardous characteristics, and disposed of at River Birch Landfill. Waste profiling included TCLP, ignitability, corrosivity, and reactivity analyses.
