SERVICES:

Phase II ESA

Health & Safety Plan

Pickering provided an evaluation of the potential impact of contaminants associated with historical use of the former Firestone Service Center within the easement of the treated effluent (TE) line along 22nd Avenue. During preparation for tunneling activities a bore pit was excavated, where petroleum hydrocarbons and free product were detected. The investigation was on a fast track due to regulatory and funding requirements for the construction of the Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) Plant TE pipeline. Throughout the design, inquiry and construction phases, Pickering worked closely with various client teams from Mississippi Power Company and Southern Company Services, as well as regulatory agencies and local government.

For this project, Pickering:

• Developed a Health & Safety Plan (HASP) in response to a directive from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) as a prerequisite for the subsurface investigation; met emergency schedule & submitted within 48 hours

• Completed a utility clearance prior to drilling activities

• Coordinated with land owners for permission to access the property

• Completed air monitoring activities prior to & during drilling activities to document ambient air readings

• Installed 17 boring locations to depths of up to 30 feet

• Performed field screening of soil samples for hydrocarbon vapors to determine which samples were to be submitted to the laboratory for analysis of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, & xylenes (BTEX); methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE); & polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH)

• Collected soils samples from sidewalls & base of the bore pit excavation

• Coordinated closely with the City of Meridian, MDEQ, the Emergency Response Contractor, & Mississippi Power to ensure the safety of workers & public due to high hydrocarbon vapors

• Compiled a report of findings with recommendations to address the petroleum hydrocarbon impact