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Board of Public Works approves $23,500 AECOM investigation for Pearl Street tank concerns
Summary
The Board of Public Works approved a $23,500 contract change order with AECOM to perform six test pits, metal-detecting and sampling on Pearl Street after Phase 2.5 work flagged undocumented monitoring wells; removal of any discovered tanks would be additional and handled by a certified contractor.
The Board of Public Works voted to approve a $23,500 contract change order with AECOM to investigate a Pearl Street site for possible undocumented underground storage tanks.
Robert, a staff member speaking for the project team, said the work would include metal detection, six test pits (three at each location), and sampling to determine whether tanks remain and whether contamination extends beyond the previously identified borings. "This will cover the scope of work for investigating the site where they have no record of tanks being removed," Robert said.
The investigation responds to findings from a Phase 2.5 review of the downtown project and materials provided to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Robert said AECOM — which conducted the initial investigation and remains the contractor on the downtown project — prepared the separate scope because the Pearl Street site is not yet under construction and requires its own contract. He said PACE Analytical would analyze samples and that SGS, a certified removal contractor, would be available to remove any tanks if they are found; removal work would be billed in addition to the $23,500 investigation cost.
On likely contents, Robert said the team "was expecting not to find tanks," but if present they would probably contain gasoline, fuel oil or diesel. He noted that a previously encountered tank appeared to be a gasoline tank of about 750 to 1,000 gallons and that excavation revealed ground water that had to be stored on site and sampled for proper disposal.
A motion to consider the contract was made by Mister Herder and seconded by Mister Barrington; the board approved the measure by voice vote. The meeting adjourned shortly afterward.
Next steps include the field exploration and laboratory analysis; the board and staff indicated that actual tank removal and disposal would proceed only if tanks are discovered and would be contracted separately. No construction timeline or detailed removal cost estimate was provided at the meeting.
