Redevelopment commission approves supplemental Enviroforensics work to clarify soil management at former Memorial Park

The Hammond Redevelopment Commission approved a supplemental agreement Tuesday with Enviroforensics to complete additional soil sampling and produce a soil management plan for the former Memorial Park site at 1301 Highland Street. Dean Button, city engineer, introduced the item and Matthew Bono of Enviroforensics described the technical scope to the commission. The work aims to refine decisions about which soils can remain on site, which must be removed, and how remaining soils can be repurposed during redevelopment, the consultant said. Matthew Bono said there is “a little bit of lead out in the soil out there, fairly common for the area,” and that the sampling will support determination of whether soil must be excavated or can be used under roads or in non-sensitive areas. Bono told commissioners the team is coordinating with the construction contractor and anticipates developing a plan to make “the most economic use of the soil already on-site rather than having to bring in even more.” Dean Button said this is the second supplemental agreement under the prime contract with Enviroforensics and introduced Bono as the technical expert. Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the supplemental agreement. The motion noted a not-to-exceed dollar figure for the work; staff confirmed the amount as part of the supplemental authorization. The project will continue to require final technical review and coordination with the development team before excavation or reuse of soils.