Kapālama Incinerator Site Investigation and Remedial Action
EnviroServices & Training Center (ETC) was retained by the City & County of Honolulu, Department of Environmental Services (ENV) as the prime consultant to provide environmental consulting services associated with further remediation and investigation of residual contaminants associated with historical incinerator operations.
Project tasks included the preparation of a Summary Analysis Report to gather site-related information into a single document and a Corrective Action Work Plan to detail activities to be performed to address residual contaminants located within the former incinerator site boundaries. Corrective Action was implemented through collection of multi-incremental soil samples to further characterize areas of suspect contaminant impact (remedial investigation phase), excavation/segregation/hauling /disposal of contaminated soils and incinerator ash, and collection of confirmation soil samples to evaluate the effectiveness of the removal action. A Corrective Action Report was prepared to document findings of the initial remedial investigation phase, removal/transportation/disposal of nearly 500 tons of residual contaminated soil and ash, results of the air monitoring activities implemented during the removal action, results of the confirmation soil samples, and the remaining environmental hazards at the site associated with the residual contaminant concentrations.
ETC was also tasked with modeling ash dispersion from the former incinerator stack using a commercial version of the USEPA AERMOD dispersion model to predict potential areas of concern pertaining to impacts from ash outfall. An Off-Site Investigation Work Plan presented the planned approach objectives, and methodology for the initial phase of the off-site investigation to address perceived gaps in the existing data associated with the extent of potential impacts from former incinerator operations. Implementation of the Off-Site Investigation Work Plan included collection of multi-incremental surface soil samples, discrete subsurface soil samples, and discrete sediment samples from the Kapalama Drainage Canal. Findings from the investigation were documented in a Site Investigation Report and Environmental Hazard Evaluation. Thereafter, an Environmental Hazard Management Plan was prepared to document and address the existing environmental hazards. Furthermore, an interim engineering control consisting of geotextile fabric cover was installed over exposed surface soils containing elevated lead concentrations within the Kokea Street parking lot. This interim control is currently being monitored and maintained until the start of planned site development.
