Brownfields

Challenge. Address a free-phase petroleum hydrocarbon plume to allow construction of a new judicial complex to proceed

Solution. During construction of the Judge Steve Herrera Judicial Complex (the Judicial Complex), a light non-aqueous phase liquid (LNAPL) plume was discovered at the water table beneath the site. As a result, Santa Fe County (the County) stopped work to develop and implement a remedy to address this contamination. INTERA completed a soil and groundwater investigation that showed the LNAPL plume was predominately present in the proposed location of the subsurface parking garage. Furthermore, it was determined that the LNAPL was the direct result of leaking from underground storage tanks located at several former gasoline service stations in the area. The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) Petroleum Storage Tank Bureau (PSTB) operates a soil vapor extraction system for the areas outside of the Judicial Complex excavation to remediate the historic contamination. To address contamination within the excavation area, INTERA designed a remediation work plan that included isolating the site from the area-wide LNAPL plume using a grout injection barrier wall. The barrier wall was designed to prevent LNAPL from flowing back into the excavation during remediation and construction activities. As part of the on-site remedy, INTERA removed approximately 27,000 tons of petroleum contaminated soil (PCS) within the excavation footprint of the parking garage. INTERA provided oversight of the PCS excavation activities and collected confirmatory soil samples at the base of the excavation to ensure that all targeted soil was excavated and removed. INTERA then worked with the County to develop a long-term monitoring plan for soil vapor and groundwater for the Judicial Complex that is now being implemented. On behalf of the County, we entered the site into NMED’s Voluntary Remediation Program (VRP) and a Certificate of Completion is pending. INTERA’s success in delineating and remediating the soil and groundwater contamination beneath the site enabled the County to resume construction, and the Judicial Complex was opened to the public in 2013.

Challenge. Investigate recognized environmental conditions (RECs) identified during Phase I environmental site assessment (ESA) and receive Certificate of Completion under state Voluntary Remediation Program (VRP)

Solution. The Hyder Property was a vacant site located in downtown Albuquerque where previous uses included a dry cleaning facility and gasoline service station. Based on the results of a Phase I ESA completed on behalf of the City of Albuquerque by another environmental consulting firm, INTERA performed a Phase II site investigation (SI) consisting of a geophysical survey and investigative excavations. The geophysical survey identified six anomalies at the site. These anomalies were further investigated through exploratory excavations that located five underground petroleum storage tanks (PSTs). After the PSTs were removed by the City of Albuquerque, INTERA conducted surface and subsurface soil and groundwater sampling using direct-push investigation methods (i.e., Geoprobe®). No significant environmental contamination was encountered. INTERA submitted a VRP Completion Report to the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) following the completion of the Phase II SI. We also updated the Phase I ESA to fulfill the NMED requirement that a current Phase I ESA be submitted for any site being considered for VRP completion. The Hyder Property received a Certificate of Completion from the NMED VRP and is now the site of the Imperial Building—a $20 million mixed-use project consisting of a 12,000-square-foot grocery store, three upper stories with 74 living units (both affordable and market rate), a parking garage concealed by the building, and other commercial tenants with traditional storefronts facing adjacent streets. The building name honors The Imperial Laundry Company, which occupied the site for decades in the early 20th century. As part of the building construction, INTERA supported the site developer, YES Housing, by providing oversight during the excavation of soils to determine if any contamination was present. We also secure d a Covenant Not to Sue from the NMED VRP.

Challenge. Evaluate remediation options to enable renovation of the last remaining historic hotel in downtown Albuquerque

Solution. The historic Hotel La Posada de Albuquerque in downtown Albuquerque was built in 1939 by Conrad Hilton and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. The hotel is in a metropolitan redevelopment area and its renovation is a major catalyst in revitalizing the entire downtown Albuquerque area. INTERA prepared an Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis (EE/CA) to evaluate various remediation options. Significant quantities of asbestos and lead-based paint (LBP) were present throughout the hotel. The EE/CA was conducted to support the use of funds from the City of Albuquerque’s Brownfields Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund for a portion of the remediation efforts at the hotel. The EE/CA documented the alternative selection process for a non-time critical removal action and was completed in accordance with 40 CFR 300.415 of the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan. The EE/CA included: an evaluation of the environmental hazards associated with rehabilitating the hotel; estimates of the cost for removal/ abatement of the hazardous components of the facility; identification of the Removal Action Alternatives (RAAs) necessary to meet the objectives of the EE/CA; a detailed analysis of the RAAs using the criteria of effectiveness, implementability, and cost; and recommendation of an appropriate removal action. INTERA also provided project management for the asbestos and LBP abatement during the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified renovation and prepared a self-certification document, submitted to the U.S. EPA, for the voluntary remediation activities. The results of our work supported a $30 million full-scale renovation of the hotel which has re-opened under a new name, Hotel Andaluz. It is the first historic hotel in the United States to be renovated and receive LEED certification.

Challenge. Investigate and mitigate recognized environmental conditions (RECs) to allow reuse of property as a mixed-use residential and retail development

Solution. INTERA conducted a Phase II ESA and provided remedial planning under the NWNMCOG Coalition Brownfields Assessment Grant at a lot located near the intersection of Coal Avenue and Puerco Drive (Coal & Puerco Site). Community Area Resource Enterprise 66 proposed to redevelop the site by constructing a mixed-use residential/retail development. While the property is primarily a vacant and undeveloped plot of land, it also includes a two-story building—the former Liberty Hotel. The property was also formerly used by a number of radio, refrigeration, and auto body service and supply companies. To address the RECs identified during a Phase I ESA, we performed a Phase II assessment that included preparing a Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) Addendum (since the project was federally-funded) that integrated the conceptual site model and sampling and analysis plan (SAP). Potential contaminants of concern at the Coal & Puerco Site included volatile organic compounds, petroleum hydrocarbons, and heavy metals. INTERA’s Phase II ESA field activities included a geophysical survey, soil boring and sampling, and installing and sampling four monitoring wells. Our Phase II ESA activities identified perchloroethylene (PCE) in groundwater and soil vapor beneath the site. A passive soil gas survey was performed to determine if the source of the PERC was on- or off-site. As part of the Phase II ESA, INTERA also worked with the NWNMCOG and the New Mexico Environment Department to develop a plan for protecting the proposed development and to investigate impacts to groundwater in the immediate area. The distribution of the PCE in groundwater and the results of the passive soil gas survey were used to conclude that a dry-cleaning facility, located immediately to the north of the property, was the source of PCE. To address this issue, INTERA developed a conceptual plan for preventing soil vapor from negatively impacting the indoor air quality of the new building being planned as part of the site redevelopment. Based on the results of the Phase II ESA, we recommended that a subsurface vapor ventilation system be installed around the Liberty Hotel to mitigate the accumulation of harmful vapors within the building, a synthetic barrier and soil venting system be installed for any future structures on the property to protect against soil vapor intrusion, and further investigation activities be performed to delineate PERC in groundwater in the area northwest of the Coal & Puerco Site. INTERA subsequently worked with NMED and the responsible party (a dry-cleaner owner/operator) to determine the vertical and lateral extent of the PCE groundwater plume and evaluate long-term remedial options.