During a site assessment, what kind of evidence should be looked for to indicate a release?

Visual and olfactory indicators are critical evidence to look for during a site assessment to indicate a release. These indicators can include signs such as stained soil, dead vegetation, or visible pooling of oil or other contaminants. Additionally, olfactory indicators such as the smell of heating oil or other hydrocarbons can provide strong evidence of a leak or spill, as these odors are typically associated with the presence of heating oil.

Identifying these physical signs plays an important role in assessing site conditions, as they can help pinpoint areas that require further investigation, remediation, or sampling. While other factors like documentation or soil samples may provide valuable context, they do not directly demonstrate the immediate presence of a release as clearly as visual and olfactory indicators do.