KEMRON was contracted by the Crisp County Power Commission to close a coal combustion residuals (CCR) pond in Warwick, Georgia. KEMRON prepared an Erosion Sedimentation and Pollution Control Plan that was submitted to the Local Issuing Authority and approved for a Notice of Intent for construction. Best Management Practice (BMPs) for stormwater management in the form of over 3,000 linear feet of double row silt fencing and a sedimentation basin were installed. KEMRON implemented fugitive dust control in the form of dust suppression by maintaining appropriate moisture levels, dust control by spraying of water as the dryness of the CCR/soil material warranted and Onsite monitoring of dust levels.
Initially, 10 acres of organic content was removed from the surface material within pond. Once the stripping operations were complete, the area inside the ash pond was prepared inside the pond to spread out wet/saturated CCR and allow it to decant, evaporate, and dry. A blending area and a ready to load out stockpile area was prepared. Onsite paint filter testing was conducted of CCR and blended materials prior to load out and disposal to ensure that material was within compliance for landfilling. Once materials met disposal criteria, they were transported for off-site disposal at the Crisp County MSW landfill. Over 117,000 cubic yards of CCR has been excavated and disposed followed by backfilling over 20,00 cubic yards of clean backfill for site restoration. Project activities included 12,000-man hours without a recordable incident.
KEMRON designed and implemented a wastewater treatment system (WWTS) to treat contact water pumped from the ash pond prior to discharge to the Flint River in compliance with Georgia Environmental Protection Division NPDES Discharge Permit. The WWTS consisted of: 42,000-gallon weir/equalization/sludge tanks; 800-gallons per minute suction and discharge pumps; 23 Bag Filtration Units; pH adjustment unit; 42,000-gallon effluent tanks; Coagulant/flocculent mix system; flow meters; static mixer and static mixer injection manifold; and aluminum chloride hydroxide sulfate flocculant mix. Water samples were collected from the effluent sampling point on a weekly basis and from the Flint River and tested. Effluent and instream monitoring results were submitted to the GA EPD through an online submittal system each month following the sampling period in accordance with the NPDES Permit.
Under Contract to the U.S. Navy, KEMRON provided excavation and dewatering services for 1.3 miles of drainage canals, creeks and floodplains at NSA Crane, Indiana. KEMRON was tasked with the restoration of the canal and streams and their associated riparian habitats within highly sensitive areas within the waterways (and any adjacent, abutting, or isolated wetlands) of the project that were to be impacted by the project were coordinated with the regulatory branch of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM).
KEMRON maintained clear and open communication with all parties and agencies involved with this project. The Navy, IDEM, USACE, Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Water (IDNR-DOW), U.S. Fish and Wildlife and all other applicable parties to ensure any and all permitting requirements were met.
The scope of services included the preparation of the Work Plan, IDEM SWPPP and Rule 5 Stream Work Permit and COE 404 Permit; Stream Restoration Plan, Accident Prevention Plan/Site Safety and Health Plan and QC Plan; construction of a 1 mile long access road along the creek and canal; installation of silt fence; mobilization and site preparation; dewatering; and creek and canal excavation. Restoration work included the placement of cobbles, gravel and topsoil; installation of check-dams and log stops; coir matting, erosion control blankets and riprap; and seeding and planting.
The restoration plan included a stream and canal design showing general locations of restored features in addition to a list of recommended tree and herbaceous plant species that were indigenous and of local genotype blending in with and suitable for the immediate surrounding habitat. The plan also discussed appropriate measures for site preparation, specifications for correct installation of the plant material, and recommendations for post-installation maintenance. In addition, a riparian wetland on-site mitigation plan was incorporated the overall Restoration Plan.
KEMRON also completed a regulated waters delineation of the project area which included each stream reach and canal proposed for impacts and any associated riparian wetland boundaries using USACE criteria. The delineation included surveying the wetland/upland interface, average width and depth of each stream and canals ordinary high water mark (OHWM), preparation of a written report, and assembly of supporting materials documentation, as required by the USACE.
KEMRON installed a dewatering system utilizing both pump-around and Pipe-around techniques. We installed multiple dams, pumps and piping systems to dewater the stream and drainage canals in the areas to be excavated. Any considerable tributaries were dammed at the joining point.
Necessary clearing and grubbing was performed using a large excavator, a skid steer with mulching attachment and a chainsaw. Two land clearing crews were utilized and each began at the utility corridor staging area and worked away from each other. Large trees were felled by the large excavator and then the root ball was cut within 1 foot of its top. All cleared trees and brush was removed off-site.
Creek and canal excavation was performed using Track-Mounted Excavators and D-6 Dozers. Excavation started at the upstream limit of the work area and progressed downstream. Material was excavated and directly loaded into dump trucks for disposal. Excavation was performed within the defined configuration to the limits of excavation shown on the project drawings. Transitions in bottom width and elevation were uniform. Field measured cross-sections of the final embankments and creek and canal excavations were prepared by a Professional Surveyor Licensed in the State of Indiana.
With approval from the Governing Board, the South Florida Water Management District implemented an innovative plan to deliver needed fresh water to Florida Bay. This is an immediate first step to help reduce salinity levels in the bay and promote the recovery of seagrasses killed during a severe drought in 2015, providing critical relief.
The South Florida Water Management District is working to improve undesirable resource conditions in Taylor Slough while maintaining flood mitigation within the C-111 basin. KEMRON was awarded the Taylor Slough/L-31W Levee and Plug Project during the fall of 2016. The project site encompasses approximately 600 acres. The scope of the Taylor Slough/L-31W Levee and Plugs Project is to construct ten (10) earthen plugs at various locations along the L-31W canal, construct a seepage barrier in the S-332D Pump Station Drainage Basin, and modify the gap in the L-31W levee to reduce its width to 500 feet and create a weir at an elevation of + 2 feet.
An abandoned three square mile peach orchid in the Crozet, Virginia Township had developed into a residential neighborhood over several years. Due to regulatory concerns sampling and analysis of the soil showed elevated levels of arsenic from pesticides used over the lifetime of the orchid use. EPA issued a Task order to KEMRON to remediate several neighborhood yards in the area. The EPA START contractor sampled over 50 properties identifying contaminated areas to be remediated and EPA would obtain access agreements for each yard if the arsenic levels exceeded 58 ppm. If the resident requested relocation during the remediation KEMRON would relocate the resident to a local hotel during the remediation process. KEMRON excavated a majority of the yards and the soil disposed of at a local Subtitle D landfill. The areas were backfilled with clean soils and new sod installed to give the home owners a completely restored yard after the remediation. KEMRON hand excavated around trees to protect the root zone from damage that could kill the trees. EPA agreed with residents on all original vegetation including trees, shrubs, and flowers as to what was to be removed and replaced or to be left with restrictions on future use of the property. Two of the properties were heavily wooded and it was determined that excavation would do more harm than good to the property. EPA developed a Phytoremediation strategy by planting ferns that would absorb the arsenic from the soil. KEMRON obtained and planted the ferns and installed a solar powered irrigation system to enhance the growth and the arsenic reduction in the soil. KEMRON harvested the ferns in the fall and sampled for disposal criteria and total arsenic to determine proper disposal options. During continuous monitoring, START will resample the soil to see if the areas will be replanted next year with some plots being replanted consecutive years. KEMRON worked on the property under two different contracts with separate task orders issued for each contact.
The Cannon Drum Site is a former cotton mill located on 3.84 acres in a mixed-use zoning area. The site was referred to EPA by the city of Social Circle. Residential homes are located within 100 feet to the west and south of the property. The mill operated at site from 1901 to 1982. The mill’s main structure was severely damaged by fire. The property has since been leased, by the owner, to tenants for various types of business use. The most recent tenant used the property to store thousands (est. 10,000-20,000) of containers of mixed hazardous substances. Reports indicate the bulk of these substances were procured from the Department of Defense Surplus Warehouse. The containers were abandoned at the site when business operations ceased at the property.
KEMRON mobilized to the site and had to develop access due to a city water line construction project operating on the site cutting across the current entrance. Site grading, construction of access roads and a construction of a pad for an office trailer were completed. Debris was removed from around the main structures on site to facilitate access to the warehouses containing drummed waste. A site drum staging area was constructed and chain link fences were constructed in two areas to develop security. An office trailer was brought in and site power, telephone, and water utilities were installed to develop a base of operation. The site was cleared and grubbed to allow safe access to all the building. Site roads were built and gravel used to make all weather access to the buildings possible.
KEMRON completed waste removal and segregation at the main warehouse where many pallets and drums were stacked on top of each other up to four high. All pallets and drums were carefully placed at floor level. Containers were then evaluated and staged for characterization. Debris was removed from the adjoining warehouse to create a drum staging area out of the weather. An open area outside of the warehouse was prepared for drum staging for containers that could withstand being outside without damage.
Waste characterization began with content evaluation that was based upon MSDS sheets and label information. Materials were then bulked and staged into waste stream hazard classes. Hazardous categorization evaluation was performed on the unknown materials to determine the hazard class. As the material was bulked in waste containers, a list of material was developed to allow competitive bidding on the disposal. Several thousand CO2 canisters were on-site and KEMRON developed a safe mechanism to allow depressurization of the canisters on-site to lower disposal and shipping cost. Radiological waste that discovered on the site was removed and sent off-site for disposal. Acids and bases were mixed on-site to neutralize the pH to a safe level and allow for non-hazardous disposal. After all hazardous materials were disposed of the non-hazardous material was loaded into roll-off containers for recycling or disposal. The site was restored leaving the access road intact.
Initially, 10 acres of organic content was removed from the surface material within pond. Once the stripping operations were complete, the area inside the ash pond was prepared inside the pond to spread out wet/saturated CCR and allow it to decant, evaporate, and dry. A blending area and a ready to load out stockpile area was prepared. Onsite paint filter testing was conducted of CCR and blended materials prior to load out and disposal to ensure that material was within compliance for landfilling. Once materials met disposal criteria, they were transported for off-site disposal at the Crisp County MSW landfill. Over 117,000 cubic yards of CCR has been excavated and disposed followed by backfilling over 20,00 cubic yards of clean backfill for site restoration. Project activities included 12,000-man hours without a recordable incident. 
