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Final plant cleanup to begin
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| By: Mark J. Crawford, Editor |
September 25, 2009 |
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At long last, funding is coming down from the state to finish the environmental cleanup of the old Starke power plant site.
The city commission is hoping enough of that money will be coming back to fund all or most of the construction of an amphitheater stage for downtown entertainment.
The first two work orders have been cut by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and when all eight are in hand, work will begin removing the fuel contamination from the ground.
Work is anticipated to begin in early November and there is pressure to wrap everything up in 30 days.
While the excavation of contaminated soil may seem simple enough, it will actually be a more sensitive process. Starke Operations Manager Ricky Thompson said the corners of the approximately one-acre site on Call Street would be excavated first. Replacing the soil will be flowable fill, a kind of "liquid soil" that hardens like concrete but is not as strong.
Since the site is bordered by streets on all sides-Call, Church, Madison and Water-the material is being used as backfill around the perimeter to prevent the collapse of those streets, Thompson said.
Workers will excavate as deep as 18 to 20 feet. Contaminated soil will be transported to the landfill. Then the soil will be replaced. As one section is completed, it will be backfilled before a new section is dug, Thompson said.
The area will be fenced for safety reasons, and if necessary, an officer will be posted to keep traffic flowing smoothly. Church Street will need to be closed temporarily to serve as a staging area for the work, and since workers will be at it 10 hours a day, seven days a week, businesses and churches potentially impacted will be visited in advance to let them know and ask for their patience.
Chad Gunter and his company Advanced Environmental Technologies has planned and will coordinate the cleanup, using as many local contractors as possible. The commission wanted to use this state money to provide work for local companies in the current economy.
Gunter called it found money as far as the city of Starke is concerned and said contractors are excited since work has been slow.
The city commission will also profit. In a deal worked out with the New River Regional Landfill and blessed by DEP, the landfill will reimburse disposal costs to the city since New River can use the soil for ground cover and other needs.
With the tons of material to be removed from the site and taken to the landfill, Thompson roughly estimated the city could be getting back $200,000 or even $300,000, which it would put toward carrying out the amphitheater project.
"It's possible we could get enough money back to do that theater with no cost to the city," Thompson said. "That's what I'm hoping for."
There is no timeline right now for getting that project started, but cleanup workers will leave the site construction-ready, even replacing the concrete pad where the stage, restroom and concession area will eventually be erected.
City commissioners have chosen a plan that also preserves a footprint for where a new city hall facility could be constructed in the future. The stage area would be open to community groups and serve as the entertainment venue for downtown festivals and events.
Including prior cleanup efforts like the demolition of the vacant power plant and removal of old fuel tanks, Thompson placed the total cost of the cleanup project around $3 million. The project is paid for under Florida's Early Detection Incentive Program, which has cleaned up thousands of petroleum-contaminated sites around the state.
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©Bradford County Telegraph 2010
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