Cleanup for Redevelopment of Former Industrial Properties

Since 1997, EKI has assisted the Successor Agency to the City of Emeryville Redevelopment Agency (Agency) with cleanup and planned redevelopment for three primary distinct projects under regulatory oversight by Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) such as:

• Bay Street Development (Site A and Site B), which includes the remediation of eight mixed industrial properties, totaling approximately 21 acres, under the Polanco Redevelopment Act (Polanco). These properties were obtained by the Agency through eminent domain actions.
• Former Public Works Facility (Former Marchant/Whitney (FMW) Site), which involves the remediation, reuse, and redevelopment of this property for the City’s corporation yard. EKI performed site characterization and investigations and remediation pilot tests at the site.
• Emeryville Greenway, which included the redevelopment of former rail spurs into a bike boulevard connecting Berkeley and Oakland via Emeryville.

Work for these projects has been conductedunder the regulatory oversight of Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC). These projects have followed the RI/HHRA/FS/RAP process consistent with the National Contingency Plan.

The Bay Street Development sites included substantial soil remediation for which EKI prepared Remedial Design Implementation Plans and plans and specifications and provided environmental construction oversight during implementation of soil remediation, resulting in excavation and disposal of 96,000 tons of material.

Groundwater evaluations and remediation elements performed for these projects include:

• Fate and transport evaluations for chemicals of concern in groundwater.
• Pilot testing and full-scale implementation of in-situ enhanced reductive dechlorination of chlorinated volatile organic compounds (cVOCs) in groundwater at Site B.
• Dual-phase extraction pilot testing and planning for full scale remediation of cVOCs at FMW.

Throughout these projects, EKI has provided litigation support for the eminent domain and Polanco processes, including testifying in depositions as the City’s designated witness regarding the site contamination and cleanup.

Outcome

The redevelopment of Site A consisted of a mixed commercial/urban residential complex, and a similar planned redevelopment is planned for Site B.  Emeryville Greenway was remediated and redeveloped during a 20-year period from 2003 to 2023 with EKI performing environmental investigations, remediation and management services. EKI continues to manage the remediation of FMW site which includes soil excavation and thermal treatment with multi-phase extraction.