Projects › N. First Street Tank Pull
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 gasoline service 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
- Provide prevailing wages.
- 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.