Impacted Soil Remediation
The purpose of this project was to remediate impacted soil from the former operation of a chemical company located in west Michigan.
The 5-acre site was a bulk chemical transfer and repackaging plant from 1952 to 1991. Prior to 1963, the company discharged its wastewater into the ground. Chemical spillage and leaks from underground storage tanks also contributed to soil and groundwater contamination.
The soil and groundwater are contaminated with metals and several organic compounds including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), ethylbenzene, toluene, benzene, and xylene. In 1981, residential wells near the site were found to be contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In 1983, the site was declared a superfund.
The project highlights included:
• Demolishing abandoned buildings and sheds on the project site.• Excavation, transportation and disposal of nearly 69,000 tons of impacted soil.• Conducted regular odor (VOC) control measures to prevent fugitive odors on adjacent residential properties.• Provided temporary excavation support around the perimeter allowing vertical excavation walls to a depth up to 20 feet below ground level.• Backfilled excavation with approximately 52,000 cubic yards of clean sand backfill.• Placed and mixed 750 tons of Bio-Absorbent Media (BAM) in the bottom two feet of the excavation to absorb and remediate remnant VOC’s from the underlying groundwater.• Removed multiple unanticipated obstructions to work including purge and monitoring wells and abandoned underground storage tanks. Of particular importance was preventing disruption to the adjacent school and residential properties near the site. Once all excavation was complete and backfilled with sand, a layer of topsoil was placed and graded to provide appropriate coverage for hydroseeding. Despite multiple delays at the beginning of the project while waiting for the local utility disconnects, the project was completed ahead of schedule and under budget.