Wisconsin AIPG Sponsors

Best Geology Project Vote

Christine Lilek - CPG #10195

 

Three companies competed in Wisconsin AIPGÕs GoFundMe ÒBest 2016 Wisconsin Geoscience ProjectÓ scholarship fundraiser:  Project A – CBI: Geothermal Energy Project on Remediation Site, Project B – Natural Resource Technology: Groundwater Relief System, and Project C - Marek Landscaping LLC: Bluff Stabilization.  gofundme.com/2p22yy4   The votes raised $275 for Wisconsin AIPGÕs Student Scholarship Fund!

                                                             

The final votes were cast on October 31.  While each of the 3 projects received many votes of appreciation, the winner was Project B – Natural Resource Technology: Groundwater Relief System!

 

 

Photo Credit: Courtesy of NRT

Restored Shoreline along the West Twin River

 

Project B was located at the Wisconsin Public Service CorporationÕs (WPSC) former manufactured gas plant (MGP) site in Two Rivers, Wisconsin. In 2015, WPSC completed a Time Critical Removal Action (Removal Action) at their former Two Rivers MGP site (Site) in Two Rivers, Wisconsin to address MGP contaminated materials through the United States Environmental Protection AgencyÕs (USEPA) Superfund Alternative Site (SAS) program.

 

Located in a residential and industrial neighborhood, the Site covers approximately 4 acres. The Two Rivers MGP operated from 1925 to 1946 and produced waste by-products such as coal tar. Handling of the waste resulted in contaminated soil and groundwater at this Site. To address the source area of MGP waste, approximately 80,000 cubic yards of coal tar-impacted soil were treated utilizing in situ solidification/stabilization (ISS) and approximately 26,000 cubic yards (47,000 tons) of material were disposed at a licensed landfill. To accomplish the ISS treatment a complex groundwater relief system was designed and installed. 

 

NRTÕs design team evaluated how the addition of the impermeable solidified soils underground would affect groundwater flow and potential for flooding adjacent properties.

 

Geothermal Energy Project on Remediation Site

 

Photo Credit:  Courtesy of NRT

Computer model used to design the groundwater relief system

 

Pre- and post-groundwater conditions were modeled and indicated a groundwater relief system would be required to prevent flooding. To address this, an innovative design was developed in which the groundwater relief system required the main excavation area to be backfilled with clear stone.

 

Groundwater relief trenches with clean, rounded 2-inch stone were installed underground from the relief system and around the solidified soils to direct the groundwater via gravity from the relief system to an area on site where wetland soils remained.

 

Additional project details can be found at: http://www.naturalrt.com/sites/default/files/wire-pdfs/AIPG%20Best%20Geoscience%20Proj%20Submittal.pdf

 

The Wisconsin AIPG congratulates NRT on their award-winning project and looks forward to the submittal of other geoscience projects for our 2017 ÒVote for the Best Wisconsin Geoscience ProjectÓ scholarship fundraiser!