Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
site to a sandy beach, it was decided to establish an in-line skating facility. The oil site was
to be capped with concrete and the remediation costs, and the improvements made would
enable the facility to be economically viable. The plan consisted of (a) an environmental
site assessment, (b) waste removal for all surface soils, liquid wastes and sludges, (c) demo-
lition plan for the pipeline and other structures and tanks, (d) construction plan for a
skating facility, (e) possible restoration of the beach, (f) establishment of other facilities,
and (g) negotiation of a risk management plan with the Regional Board for remediation
objectives and standards. By 2000, environmental assessments and cost estimates were
completed and the construction of the boardwalks was initiated. The brownield blocked
the view of the ocean. The Department of Recreation and Parks acquired the site for public
use and then the City's Brownields Program provided the funds for the site remediation
of $100,000 for demolishing the structures, removing soil contaminated with metals and
crude oil, completing lead and asbestos abatement, and installing groundwater monitoring
wells. After remediation, the California Regional Water Quality Control Board performed
quarterly groundwater monitoring. A skate park was built on some of the reclaimed land.
The Brownields Program provided funding for oil storage and drilling infrastructure
cleanup, including underground storage tank removal. Besides the skate park, the multi-
purpose recreation center includes picnic areas, play areas, sports ields, etc. (City of Los
Angeles, 2014).
Another former oil reinery was converted to a business and recreational opportunity in
Casper, Wyoming (Applegate et al., 2005; EPA, 2007). The reinery had operated since the
early 1900s but closed in 1991 due to environmental liabilities related to oil spills, sludges,
and underground pipelines. The cost of the site remediation was estimated at US$350 mil-
lion. Various risk assessments were undertaken. To protect the river and remediate the
groundwater, a horizontal wall for air sparging and venting was designed and installed,
in addition to a sheet-pile barrier wall. Pipes were also removed to eliminate the contami-
nation source. Final remediation strategies included (a) removal of sediment from the lake,
(b) removal of tanks, pipes, concrete, and other material from the reinery area. Cleaning
of the groundwater involved oil recovery, sparging, venting, phytoremediation, and moni-
tored natural attenuation in the reinery and tank farm areas. All concrete (nearly 272,000
tonnes) that was removed was crushed for reuse at the site and most of the pipes were sent
to recyclers. Some examples of concrete reuse include (a) use as drainage in the water treat-
ment system, (b) construction of a barrier that prevented animals from entering the waste
depository near the lake, and (c) for construction of roads. It is estimated that oil recovery
at the site will take approximately 25 years, on the basis of analysis of the mobility of the
oil strongly adsorbed to the alluvium. As a golf course was also constructed at the site, oil
recovery wells had to be designed so that they would not be placed in the fairways and
greens.
Water at the site was also to be reused. Therefore a system (one of the largest engineered
wetlands) was set up that included management of the stormwater, irrigation of the golf
course, and pumping of the water into the lake for the migratory birds. The schematic of
the water management system is shown in Figure 13.8 and can handle between 1890 and
5670 L/min. It is mainly hidden and integrated in the golf course. Nearby Soda Lake was
also contaminated and thus 150,000 m
3
of contaminated sediment had to be removed and
efforts were made to promote the bird and wildlife population. Institutional controls were
necessary to manage the remaining contamination. A kayaking course was also placed
in the river. To implement phytoremediation, 2000 trees were planted. There have been
numerous awards for this project.
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