San Jose Tank Pull
Location
San Jose, CA
Project Cost
$125,000
Services Provided
- Permitting
- Exploratory test pit excavation
- UST removal and excavation
- Hydraulic hoist and drums removal
- Storm water mitigation
- Water management
- Backfill and compaction
- Water treatment and disposal
Project Background
The City of San Jose Redevelopment Agency retained RRM, Inc. to provide environmental engineering, geology consulting, and related construction and hazardous materials removal services for the North First Street Tank Pull Project. The site is a City of San Jose Parking lot that was formerly occupied by a gas station on the lower third of the parcel.
The Redevelopment Agency, the owner of the site, had performed Phase I and II environmental site assessments and a detailed geophysical survey to prepare the property for sale. The prospective buyer, a developer, plans to construct a raised parking structure and underground parking garage over the entire footprint of the parcel.
Results of the Phase I and II site assessment and geophysical survey identified one underground storage tank (UST) of unknown size, sporadic piping runs, and other magnetic anomalies that needed to be excavated and removed before the property could be sold.
Client Requirements
- Comply with prevailing wage law.
- Complete the project in 30 days, during the winter holiday season.
- Maintain excellent public relations with the downtown mixed residential and commercial community.
- Perform work in a safe, clean, timely, and cost-effective manner.
- Immediately inform the Redevelopment Agency of any work scope changes, public relations concerns, health and safety issues, or delays.
- Integrate smoothly with the City of San Jose project engineer and the developer’s environmental consulting and engineering firm.
Solutions Provided
RRM broke ground on schedule and during the first day of work discovered two additional USTs, a hydraulic car hoist, several hundred linear feet of product piping, and a buried drum, in addition to the single UST previously identified. RRM immediately informed the client that two USTs were filled with concrete, one with oily water, and the buried drum was half full of oily soil and sludge. After obtaining approval from the client, RRM proceeded to successfully perform all sampling, profiling, excavation, removal, transportation, disposal, and backfill activities to complete site work.
Throughout the course of the project, RRM effectively communicated with nearby property owners and residences to allay concerns about the potentially hazardous nature of work at the site. During very inclement weather, RRM staff worked efficiently alongside the City of San Jose project engineer, the developer’s consulting firm, and multiple City agencies. The project was completed on schedule and to the full satisfaction of the client.