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EXPLORATORY EXCAVATION OF ABANDONED SITE

M. L. Chartier, Inc., the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR), and their environmental engineering consultant worked together on this site to perform exploratory excavations. The purpose of the action was to determine the extent of contamination and also to expose buried drums. Staging areas were constructed to house the excavated drums. These drums were staged into categories for compatibility. At each exploratory excavation site, all personnel were equipped with Level "B" safety equipment, and two way communication systems were established between the operators and the on-site coordinator.

After a drum was uncovered, an excavation unit equipped with a drum grappler device removed the drum and placed it in the staging area, where it was numbered. A dual sample was taken from each drum, one to be retained by the engineering consultant, the other one to be retained by the MDNR for testing at a later date. As areas of contamination were identified, any impacted soil was removed and placed into drums and moved to the staging area. The total excavation consisted of 15 sites where approximately 700 drums were recovered, sampled, and placed in the staging area. The total project was completed in 15 days and within budget.