AMERICAN ENVIRONMENTAL & CONSTRUCTION SERVICES, INC.

(AECS)

Project Experience - Contaminated Soil Disposal

Project Description

AECS was contracted by the US Navy through one of its Remedial Action Contract (RAC) contractors to excavate, load, transport, and dispose of approximately 120 tons of PCB-contaminated soil from a drainage ditch at the NCBC in Gulfport.

The project involved sealing off the drainage ditch and rerouting flow around the excavation area until the excavation of material had been completed, removal and subsequent replacement of a foot bridge across the ditch, backfilling the excavation, and site restoration.  PCB Test kits were to be used to make a field assessment of the levels of contamination as the excavation progressed.  Contact water and any groundwater getting into the excavation were to be pumped out, stored and eventually disposed of at a proper disposal facility.

As the excavation progressed, it became evident that there was considerably more contamination at significantly higher levels than originally anticipated. In addition, the Gulf Coast  was hit by a series of very severe storms, requiring extraordinary efforts to control the storm water and prevent the contamination from being carried throughout the installation.  Eventually thirteen 23,000-gallon Frac Tanks were mobilized to the site to receive contact water and groundwater, all of which contained high levels of PCB contamination.  380 tons of highly PCB-contaminated soil was ultimately excavated, stored in rolloff boxes, and transported and disposed of at an approved disposal facility.

AECS was also contracted to treat the contaminated water on site for eventual release into the base sewer system.  We mobilized to the site a PC13 Carbon Cell, a Filter Media (Gravel) Cell, and 2 Sand Cells to treat the water. The highly contaminated water required several treatments and the employment of a Clarifier to get the water to a level where it was safe for release into the local system.                        

The ditch excavation was lined and backfilled, the footbridge was replaced, and the site was restored to its original condition.