ESI was retained by Witco Corporation to identify and address environmental issues at an active manufacturing facility to facilitate a pending property transaction. As part of our services, ESI conducted a Phase I audit/Phase II environmental site assessment and developed a preliminary remedial design and cost estimate to be used by both parties to negotiate contract conditions associated with the facility transfer.

Upon completion of the property transaction, ESI was requested to obtain regulatory closure of the identified environmental concerns, which included PCB impacted soil and sediment associated with two transformer substations.

Remedial actions included the excavation of PCB-impacted soil between five feet and nine feet below grade and the removal of PCB-impacted sediment from an adjacent stormwater runoff basin. The sediment was mixed with a reagent prior to loading for off-site disposal to facilitate material handling and landfilling as well as to minimize T&D costs through the reduction of water content (weight). Because the facility was active, ESI and our construction services partners worked closely with plant personnel to coordinate implementation of the remedial activities. Due to the depth and proximity of excavation to the active transformers, engineering controls were designed and implemented to eliminate the potential for undermining of the transformers foundation.

ESI engineers utilized a combination of shoring at the excavation and a crane attached to the transformer to relieve the ground pressure asserted by the weight of the transformer. Additional actions included the construction of institutional controls including concrete paving and fencing.

The work was successfully completed below the original preliminary cost estimate developed prior to the property transaction and without any safety incidence. Regulatory closure to risk based cleanup criteria was obtained from the IEPA