Design/Build – Assessment & Remediation of Hydrocarbon Impacts
Victoria VOR Station, Saltspring Island, British ColumbiaAEL was retained to conduct Environmental Site Assessment and remediation work at a site located in a remote mountaintop setting across the channel from Vancouver Island. In late 2006, during a major storm which interrupted power to the facility, a leaking fuel line servicing the remote emergency electrical generator resulted in an uncontrolled release of diesel fuel into the environment. In response to the clients need to manage the resulting environmental liability associated with the spill in a cost effective and comprehensive manner, AEL implemented a design/build approach to the project by combining the assessment and remedial components in a single step during one week on site. AEL was able to rely on their onsite testing and bioremediation experience to remediate the site and meet the client’s objectives.
Excavations of impacted soils were identified by onsite screening and confirmatory soil sampling. Impacted soils were collected, tested and verified from the sidewalls and floor of each excavation. AEL made use of bioremediation whereby contaminated stockpiles were treated onsite to minimize costs of disposal. With our onsite laboratory, we were able to determine the extent of contamination in a timely manner allowing the project to progress more rapidly.
The constructed biopile reached closure criteria within 4 months with a 98% reduction in original contaminant levels at the site. A single application of the microbial treatment was completed by AEL subcontractors at the time of construction. Monitoring of petroleum hydrocarbon levels by UVF was completed generally monthly from construction of the biopile in February 2007 until June 2007 when CCME cleanup standards were reached.
