BROWNFIELD REMEDIATION

LOCATION:  WOODBRIDGE TOWNSHIP, NJ

CLIENT: CONFIDENTIAL

MARKET SECTOR: ENERGY UTILITY

THE OPPORTUNITY

This former site of a chemical manufacturing facility had been vacant for several years due to ongoing environmental issues. Environmental remedial investigations and a previous remedial action workplan (RAW), specified engineering controls to address onsite contamination impacts. PS&S was first contracted in 2011 to provide a focused geotechnical investigation to confirm subsurface conditions and provide engineering assistance with construction of a Hydraulic Barrier Wall Working Platform. PS&S’s scope expanded to provide construction quality assurance (CQA) services, surveying, geotechnical engineering and civil engineering services.

 

THE CHALLENGE

Located along the Raritan River, site challenges included uncontrolled fill material, buried soft and weak river sediments, a relatively shallow groundwater table and the mandatory restoration of a significant amount of tidally influenced wetlands. PS&S was also tasked with designing a 13-acre water quality feature that would serve as habitat for native species while managing the majority of the site’s surface water runoff.

THE PS&S SOLUTION

PS&S initially performed geotechnical studies and developed a ground improvement program to facilitate construction of an earthen working platform that would support heavy equipment needed to construct a soil-bentonite Hydraulic Barrier Wall (HBW). PS&S then provided the geotechnical design and CQA services for the nearly 7,100 foot long low-permeably HBW and protective clay cap that was required by the RAW to prevent horizontal migration of site contaminants. PS&S’s integrated engineering approach enabled our client to complete their remedial objectives despite site constraints and challenging conditions.