The Challenge:

Site soils at the former the U.S. Army Reserve Center in Rio Vista, California were contaminated with metals and hydrocarbons as the result of 78 years of industrial activities including marine engine and hull repair, scraping and repainting of vessels and steel pontoons, maintenance of propellers and rudders, and installation and testing of marine equipment.  The Army had initiated investigations at the site as early as 1995; however, little to no progress had been made toward regulatory closure.  In January 2000, ARCADIS began work on the project as a guaranteed, fixed-price remediation contract.

The Solution:

ARCADIS used a streamlined approach that was predicated on acceptable risk estimates and included the early and proactive involvement of the regulatory agencies in the closure process.  The main focus of the remedy selection process was to achieve regulatory closure based on acceptable risk.  Specific tasks included:

• Remedial investigations to assess the nature and extent of impacted soils and groundwater.
• Interim removal actions to remove impacted soils and eliminate potential sources of impacts to groundwater and surface water.
• A water quality assessment to determine if groundwater quality at the site had been, or could potentially be, impacted by historical site activities.
• Evaluation of the potential risks to human health and potential ecological receptors associated with residual concentrations of any constituents of concern at the site.

ARCADIS managed all aspects of the project including investigations and cleanup, risk assessment, agency meetings, coordination with the local Land Reuse Authority (LRA), and public relations.  Many tasks were implemented concurrently, and although the project was complicated by the involvement of three separate agencies (U.S. EPA, California Department of Toxic Substances Control, and the Regional Water Quality Control Board), a No-Further-Action Record of Decision (ROD) was negotiation and granted.