Redevelopment of a 24-acre Former Manufacturing Site

Since 2017, EKI has assisted an industrial developer with acquisition, entitlement, remediation, and redevelopment of a 24-acre site located in Oakland. The Client intends to develop the former transformer manufacturing facility into an approximately 535,000-square foot warehouse building.

The Site is under both Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) oversight due to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in soil and chlorinated volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including trichloroethene (TCE), in soil, soil gas, and groundwater beneath the Site.

EKI has provided as-needed support for the redevelopment of the Site, from developer selection by the former owner through entitlements, property transaction, regulatory negotiation, permitting, and construction. EKI has performed the following services:

• Assisted with selection of the development team.
• Developed an understanding of environmental conditions and cost drivers that could potentially impact the redevelopment of the subject property.
• Performed Phase I/II environmental site assessments and provided consultation to support the property transaction.
• Supported the California Environmental Quality Act and City of Oakland entitlements process, which required development of a plan to preserve a PCB-impacted historic structure that will be incorporated into the new development.
• Advised during negotiation of a Prospective Purchaser’s Agreement with DTSC.
• Prepared DTSC-approved Explanation of Significant Differences and Remedial Design and Implementation Plan Addendum to incorporate the redevelopment into the existing remedy established by the former property owner.
• Developed an EPA-approved risk-based TSCA application per 40 CFR Section 761.61(c) for removal and off-site disposal of PCB-impacted building materials (paint) and soil. Due to the historic nature of the existing buildings, the TSCA application required a Memorandum of Agreement between EPA and the California State Historic Preservation Officer.
• Participated in development team pre-construction planning as the environmental engineer of record to assist Client with Contractor selection, evaluation of contractor bids and schedule, and creation of contract and permitting documents for demolition, abatement, and remedy implementation.
• Provided construction management and observation for environmental work (PCB abatement, subsurface demolition, and remedy implementation), perimeter air monitoring, Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) implementation oversight as the qualified stormwater professional, waste management liaison between Contractor and Client, and environmental regulatory agency interaction.

Outcome

The redevelopment revitalized this part of West Oakland that has been underutilized since the mid-1990s. EKI continues to support our Client in other site redevelopment projects.