Contaminated soil boosts cost of Plainfield water main work
By Madhu Mayer Correspondent December 4, 2012 8:24AM
Updated: January 8, 2013 6:10AM
Finding arsenic in the excavated soil at a water main project site will cost the village of Plainfield.
The Plainfield Village Board on Monday authorized Len Cox and Sons Excavating to transport contaminated soil at a cost not to exceed $10,000 and authorize payment to Republic Services Inc., a special waste landfill, at a cost not to exceed $7,500 for disposal as it relates to the Chicago Street water main project.
Allen Persons, public works director, said the village board earlier this year approved the replacement of an old two-inch water main with a new eight-inch water main along Chicago Street just west of Route 59. The work has been completed by Len Cox and Sons Excavating, which was the lowest bidder.
“Understanding the new (Environmental Protection Agency) requirements for the proper disposal of construction material,” said Persons, “staff collected several soil samples during the excavation process and these samples were analyzed by an independent laboratory.”
Unfortunately, Persons said, the test results indicated that a trace amount of naturally occurring arsenic exists within the excavated soil.
“This soil has been transported to the public works site for temporary storage until the proper authorizations are granted from the landfill,” he added.
Since the village did not anticipate this problem when the project was bid, Persons said staff has negotiated a unit price with the contractor and the landfill for the disposal of an estimated 273 tons of material.
“The hauling cost is proposed at $33/ton and disposal cost of $22.48/ton, plus $10 per truck load,” he said.
Persons noted that the federal government will have to take a closer look at its clean construction bill.
“The intention of the regulation was to deal with old gas stations,” he said. “But this is one of those things where the EPA will have to examine where there are naturally occurring arsenic that are not a danger to public health.”
