Ekotech Site Remediation

"Conducting Soil Remediation Effectively"

How can a former oil refinery implement remediation efforts quickly, safely and cost-efficiently?

That was MWH's job for the Petrochem/Ekotek Superfund Site in Salt Lake City, Utah. The remedial project was completed a year ahead of schedule — and one-half the original cost estimate.

Contaminated Soil

From 1953-1988, the site had operated as a used oil refinery and oil reclaiming/recycle facility. MWH designed and provided engineering oversight for the excavation, characterization and disposal of:

• 126,600 tons of contaminated soil
• 186 drums of solid waste
• 4,200 gallons of liquid waste
• 13,900 gallons of light non-aqueous phase liquids (primarily waste oil)
• 188 truck loads of demolition debris, trees and scrap metal
• 938 tons of contaminated debris
• 430 tons of contaminated sludge
• 6 USTs

Contaminants included organic substances such as waste oil that contained VOCs, including 1,1,1-trichloroethane, 1,2-dichloroethene, vinyl chloride, SVOCs, PCBs, dioxins, furans and heavy metals.

MWH's investigations and technical evaluations led us to demonstrate that intrinsic remediation was more appropriate for the chlorinated hydrocarbon contamination in the groundwater, than the selected pump and treat technology. This saved the client an estimated $10 million. Our experts were also responsible for overseeing and implementing the full remediation project.

Saved Millions of Dollars

Before implementing fieldwork, MWH provided technical arguments to EPA, which resulted in more favorable soil cleanup standards. This reduced the volume and costs of soil remediation. MWH was able to clearly depict and understand the vertical distribution of contaminants by using Diffusion Multi-Level Sampler (DMLS). This allows our experts to collect passive groundwater samples over discrete intervals and conduct micro-scale tracer tests.

The EPA-approved approach allowed the client to save millions of dollars in future groundwater compliance monitoring costs by focusing the groundwater monitoring to restricted portions of the aquifer. The EPA's oversight costs were decreased from nearly 30 percent to less than 5 percent.

MWH completed the project on an accelerated schedule by working closely with the regulatory agencies. This allowed the work to be completed one year ahead of the EPA's schedule and at half the original cost estimate.

By achieving a clean closure, the property can now be resold as a valuable asset.