USDA
Beltsville Agricultural Research Center
Beltsville, Maryland
Releases from polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) oil-containing electrical
transformers and other equipment resulted in broad shallow areas of
soil contamination at one of the United States Department of
Agriculture’s (USDA) maintenance and storage compounds
located in Beltsville, MD.
CGS was subcontracted to perform
the Time-Critical Soil Removal Action at the site. Both hazardous and
non-hazardous PCB-contaminated soil, PCB-contaminated debris, and
building demolition debris were disposed of at multiple permitted
off-site facilities. CGS procured and installed sediment and erosion
controls including over 2,000 feet of silt fence, polywrapped straw
bales for use as soil stockpile berms, as well as filter fabric and
gravel for a stabilized construction entrance. CGS also arranged for
the transportation and disposal of debris from a barn that was
demolished by USDA.
Soil excavation commenced after
the sediment and erosion controls were installed to the satisfaction of
the Client and inspected by MDE. A tracked excavator was utilized to
load soil into dump trucks which then dumped the soil in a central
staging area.
Storm water that accumulated in
the excavations was sampled to ensure it was not contaminated, was
pumped from the excavations, filtered to remove sediment, and
discharged into the site storm water management system.
Loading of the contaminated soil
was conducted concurrently with on-going soil excavation. Stockpiled
soil was loaded in dump trucks and dump trailers using a wheeled
loader. Non-hazardous PCB soil was transported to a soil recycling
facility located in Doswell, Virginia. Hazardous PCB-contaminated soil
was transported to a permitted landfill located in Wayne, Michigan.
Non-hazardous PCB-contaminated debris (i.e. tree stumps, concrete, and
metal) were transported to a landfill in King George, Virginia. A total
of over 8,550 tons of non-hazardous PCB soil, over 830 tons of
hazardous PCB soil, and over 100 tons of non-hazardous PCB debris were
transported off site for recycling and disposal.
CGS procured, coordinated the
transportation of, and placed a number of differing types of backfill
for various areas at the site including recycled concrete (RC- 6),
crushed stone (AASHTO No. 57), rip rap, excess fill from another USDA
project, and screened topsoil.
After the completion of
backfilling, site restoration was completed by spreading topsoil,
seeding, and covering the exposed ground surface with straw.
Contaminated Soil Excavation |
Loading Contaminated Soil on Stabilized Constructed Entrance |
ADDITIONAL PROJECT
SUMMARIES:
