Hudson River Cleanup – Phase 1
Contracting and Sediment Remediation Support Services
Involving the removal of more than 2.75 million cy of PCB-contaminated sediment from a 40-mile stretch of the Upper Hudson River between Fort Edward and Troy, NY, the Hudson River PCBs Superfund Project was one of the largest U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) remedial dredging projects ever undertaken.
Logistically complex and performance intensive, remedial construction was conducted 24 hours per day, six days per week, during allowable weather windows for six years between 2009 and 2015. High-profile, and in close proximity to many sensitive residential areas and natural environments, this was the first sediment remediation project where USEPA required performance standards as a basis to assess the success of the project construction phase.
The core remedial design and precision dredging and capping methods employed for this monumental project were postulated and developed by Lally at earlier Superfund projects including New Bedford Harbor, Massachusetts (1998-2000), Ward Cove, Alaska (2000-2001) and Commencement Bay / Nearshore / Tide Flats (2001-2005).
During the Phase 1 planning and design phases of the Hudson River Sediment Remediation Project, Lally provided requested guidance to the Owner and their interdisciplinary consultant teams on the following technologies, methods and work products in order to achieve the most efficient cleanup on the Hudson River 40-mile long site;
- Precision Mechanical Dredging and Capping Technologies and Methods
- Sediment and Debris Characterization and Management
- Precision Dredge Prism Design
- Overdredge Tolerances and Survey Measurement
- Dredged Material Transport Equipment and Methods
- Sediment Processing Equipment and Bench-Scale Testing
- Appropriate Type, Sizes and Number of Dredge and Capping plant
- Residuals Measurement and Management Techniques
- Production Rates and Limits
- CAPEX and OPEX Equipment Cost Guidance
Market intelligence was also requested and provided on suitable dredging contractors capable of rising to the project challenges. Lally was requested to fill several management roles for the Owner on the Hudson River PCBs Superfund Project, and sit on USEPA’s Independent Peer Review Panel, but determined more direct involvement would best serve the project.
Requested to team with a prospective contractor, Lally LLC assisted Cashman Dredging & Marine Contracting LLC (Cashman) in winning the Hudson River PCBs Superfund Phase 1 Dredging contract for environmental dredging, backfilling / capping, and associated in-water work elements. Lally LLC’s role would be to provide multi-faceted sediment remediation expertise during the planning, mobilization and execution of the Hudson River Cleanup project.
During Phase 1 pre-construction, Lally assisted with contract review and recommendations provided precision dredge and capping barge technology development support for fifteen (15) precision backhoe dredges, and authored and contributed to work plans for debris removal, inventory dredging, residual dredging, backfilling / capping, resuspension controls, and environmental monitoring operations for the project. Throughout Phase 1 execution in 2009, Lally LLC evaluated performance across all quality-affecting activities on the river, conducted performance tests, performed ongoing data analyses, provided recommendations and shared knowledge with the project team.
Phase 1 accomplished removal of approximately 280,000 cy of contaminated sediment from the upper river sections of the site, and provided a wealth of production, logistics, and cleanup performance data to the contractor, owner, consultant teams, and agencies with which to further improve the remedial design and implementation for the remainder of the project.
Considering the number of floating plant, site conditions, and large-scale logistics involved, Phase 1 project execution by the dredging contractor and the project management team was exceptional. EPA’s Engineering Performance Standards and Quality of Life Standards established for the project were measured and proven as achievable. The Phase 1 full scale project yielded an overall sense that, with improvements in contaminant delineation, sediment processing throughput, and planning and coordination on river flows, Hudson River PCBs Superfund Project – Phase 2 would be a further success.
Services Provided
Field Investigations
Remedial Planning and Engineering Guidance
Precision Dredge and Capping Barge Guidance
Contractor Proposal Support
Contract Review and Risk Management Support
Work Plans Development
Residuals Measurement and Management
Dredging and Capping Performance Optimization
Environmental Monitoring Program
Quality Assurance
Location
Ft. Edward, New York
Period
2004 – 2010