Former Refinery to Confined Disposal Facility
Client: Confidential
Location: Midwest
Key Services: Historic data review and natural resource damage assessment
Background
Since 1917 an oil refinery operated on 280 acres along a highly industrialized ship canal connected to a large lake. The refinery operator filed for bankruptcy. The bankruptcy ordered the refinery demolished. This work was not consistent with requirements of the state regulatory agency. Significant organic, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), and inorganic contamination resulted in the soil and groundwater. The refinery is part of an Area of Concern (AoC); the only one listed as impaired for all 14 beneficial use categories.
Challenge
During demolition, soil and groundwater contamination spread across the site in an apparent random manner. Remediating all 280 acres was not practicable or economically feasible. The natural resource trustees were also seeking substantial compensation for environmental damages in the adjacent ship canal.
Solution
Extensive historic data was reviewed and presented to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. They agreed that the site would be a suitable as confined disposal facility (CDF) for 4.7 million cubic years of sediment dredged from the ship canal. An equitable payment was made to the trustees.
Benefit
Extensive and costly soil and groundwater remediation was avoided. The client’s liability at the site was eliminated. Dredging and placing sediment in the CDF will allow navigation along the ship canal for at least the next 30 years.
baseline assessment at marine oil terminal
Client: Confidential
Location: Caribbean
Key Services: Fate and transport modeling and underwater surveys
Background
Since 1982, a large oil transshipment terminal operated in the Caribbean. Over 11 million barrels of crude and refined oil were stored in over 50 above ground tanks. The terminal is visited by over 1,000 vessels per year.
Challenge
The terminal needed to quickly expand its capacity by 20 to 30 percent. They needed to install an offshore, single point mooring (SPM) to serve ultra large crude carriers. The SPM would be adjacent to a national marine park. The national regulatory agency needed baseline information on the marine community. They also required the terminal to prepare an oil spill response plan that addressed all of the oil types to be conveyed to and from the SPM.
Solution
Local experts were retained to conduct a baseline assessment of the marine community. SCUBA divers documented conditions along nine approved survey lines. The Natural Resource Damage Assessment Model for Coastal and Mine Environments (NRDAM/CME) was applied in a predictive, novel manner. The model was used to predict the fate and transport of the different oil types. Using these results and effective response was developed.
Benefit
The terminal received timely agency approval and was allowed to expand and install the SPM to meet the rising market demand.
Former metal fabricator to Brownfield redevelopment
Client: Confidential
Location: West Coast
Key Services: Site investigation, risk assessment, and soil remediation
Background
In 1943, tetal extrusion and forging began at the 67-acre site. Wartime employment peaked at about 1,000 people. The facility operated the largest extrusion press in the country. Struggles in the aerospace industry caused the facility to close in the early 1990s. There were numerous hazardous waste management units at the site. The soil contained elevated levels of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and inorganics, including hexavalent chromium.
Challenge
The site sat idle for several years with potential ongoing releases of contaminants. The regulatory agency began enforcement action to close the hazardous waste management units at the site. Recent development in the area made the presence of a large, idled manufacturing facility untenable.
Solution
Process vessel contents and hazardous waste were quickly removed from the site. Over 200 solid waste management units were identified. However, a site specific risk assessment demonstrated that only nine areas need remediation by the offsite disposal of surface soil. Existing buildings and structures were demolished. Restrictions on future groundwater use remain.
Benefit
The site was initially redeveloped into new factory buildings and warehouses. This prime real estate was subsequently transformed in a very successful retail shopping center.
coal dock to resort & conference center
Client: Confidential
Location: Midwest
Key Services: Site investigation, risk assessment, and soil remediation
Background
For over 100 years, a coal dock covered a 45-acre parcel at the confluence of an urban river and large lake. Uses also included shipbuilding, lumber storage, manufacturing, and bulk storage of petroleum, salt and fertilizer. Prior activities resulted in various soil and groundwater impacts.
Challenge
Fugitive dust emissions from the idled site were straining relations with nearby residences and businesses. The local community considered the site an eye sore blocking reuse of prime lakefront property. The city was threatening to seize the site by emanate domain.
Solution
Over 1,275 tons of contaminated soil were removed, about 30,000 cubic yards of soil reused onsite, and engineering barriers installed to prevent future direct contact with impacted soil and to reduce infiltration/leaching of constituents to the groundwater. The site received a liability exemption from the state to speed redevelopment.
Benefit
Over 1,275 tons of contaminated soil were removed, about 30,000 cubic yards of soil reused onsite, and engineering barriers installed to prevent future direct contact with impacted soil and to reduce infiltration/leaching of constituents to the groundwater. The site received a liability exemption from the state to speed redevelopment.
former steel works to brownfield redevelopment
Client: Confidential
Location: Midwest
Key Services: Site investigation, risk assessment, and soil remediation
Background
The steel works was built in 1875 on the banks of an urban river. The facility eventually grew to three blast furnaces, a basic oxygen furnace, and five mills producing 1.2 million tons of steel a year. Industrial activities resulted in various soil and groundwater impacts, including non-aqueous phase liquids (NAPLs), polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and inorganics.
Challenge
Changing economic conditions lead the company to bankruptcy. The property reverted to the prior owner, our confidential client. USEPA threatened to place the site on their Superfund list, which would have significantly delayed an eventually more expensive cleanup.
Solution
Assisted client with nominal payment to the U.S. Department of Commerce for future redevelopment. This keep the site off USEPA’s Superfund list. Conducted a site investigation, risk assessment and remedial actions. To minimize costs, an engineered, on-site Soil Management Zone (SMZ) was constructed to manage up to 17,000 cubic yards of soil and other debris.
Benefit
After remediation, a local company received $45 million in city recovery zone bonds plus county tax incentive to construct a 131 acre asphalt processing and shipment facility. The site’s ready access to transportations via river, rail and interstate highway were critical selling features. This new facility received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. About 35 to 40 new jobs were created. The mayor billed the project as a keystone of local revitalization.
