Client: Related Midwest / LR Development | Location: Chicago, IL
After an extensive interview process, Pioneer was selected as the environmental consultant for the redevelopment of a Former CTA Bus garage in Chicago. The proposed plans included the demolition of a former CTA Bus Maintenance Facility and subsequent redevelopment and construction of condominiums, single family homes, an assisted-care living facility and retail space. Pioneer identified several environmental concerns after reviewing various environmental reports prepared by another consultant. These concerns included the presence of USTs, above ground storage tanks and drum/chemical storage areas associated with the historical use(s).
Subsequently, Pioneer completed subsurface investigations in order to evaluate if the site had been impacted by the identified concerns. Pioneer concluded that three main areas had been impacted and required further investigation and/or remediation, including: leaking USTs (LUSTs), areas where suspect USTs may have been located, and a former dry cleaning operation. Pioneer prepared a scope of work to remove and properly close USTs, develop site-specific remediation objectives consistent with the proposed end use of the site using a risk-based approach (TACO), remediate higher levels of soil and groundwater contamination, and perform off-site free product recovery.
Within the first several months of receiving the contract, the USTs were removed, the site was predominately assessed and removal of impacted soil from on-site areas was completed. Approximately six months into the project, Pioneer finalized the design and installation of a dual-phase extraction remediation system to recover over 2-feet of free product diesel fuel that had migrated off site and was identified in the backyards of a residential area. Approximately 1.5 years after system startup, Pioneer successfully recovered 3,300 gallons of diesel fuel from the subsurface, submitted for reimbursement of almost $900,000 in eligible remediation costs, and obtained a comprehensive No Further Remediation (NFR) letter from the State for the non-LUST issues.
