New York Brownfield Achieves Site Closure

Case study highlights:

• Based on successful performance results, a pump-and-treat system was decommissioned in 2020, and the NYSDEC granted the site closure in August 2021
• By not having to operate and maintain the pump-and- treat system, substantial energy and cost savings were realized in this period
• Roux’s agile site management, making the switch from an ex situ to a PlumeStop in situ approach, saved time and money for their client

This case study reviews a former metals manufacturing facility in upstate New York contaminated with chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs) from the plating operations, predominantly comprised of tetrachloroethene (PCE) and trichloroethene (TCE). A previously installed groundwater pump-and-treat system significantly reduced CVOC concentrations in groundwater. However, after a few years, the reinjection wells became clogged and no longer accepted water. This required modification of the approach. The ex situ pump-and-treat remedy maintained plume control. However, to continue this approach would have required well replacement. Additionally, these systems are well known to reach an asymptotic boundary condition above the low, part-per-billion cleanup targets for CVOCs and are prone to rebound once shut down. Such was the case at the site. In response to these conditions, Roux (formerly Benchmark), a leading engineering and redevelopment consulting company, quickly adapted the remedial strategy, favoring an in situ approach to achieve the project objectives and facilitate site closure.