The I2M team have strong experience in the management and operations of environmental affairs and remediation companies. This aspect of industrial and mining operations can have significant impacts on company profitability. As such, I2M Environmental, Inc. will operate as a profit center to provide services on both internal projects within I2M and external commercial projects for industry. I2M will manage all permitting work for mine development (including archaeological and ecological risk assessments) within this division. I2M Principals have lead successful permitting efforts in 13 states ranging from mine operating permits to real-estate development permits.
Environmental Technology Development
I2M realizes that environmental aspects of mining projects have gained vital importance in the development and operations of mining projects, as well as in the associated long-term responsibility for major mining projects. Waste water produced by such projects has become a significant issue that affects the foundations of the economic and social framework of almost every mining project. I2M routinely screens available waste-water technology that could be used to improve the environment and/or would support I2M mining activities and other industries. New technology would be developed to operational status and offered to the market. Any new commercial technology that could be brought into production to improve waste-water treatment and the associated economics of handling waste streams in mining projects as well as in the oil and gas and associated industries would be well-received.
I2M has identified a particular technology that has the potential to treat waste water from a variety of industrial sources, including in-situ solution mining wastes as well as waste water generated from oil and gas production. This technology warrants funds to field test the technology, and given a favorable response, I2M would assist in marketing the services nationwide in return for a significant interest in the company.
To further confirm I2M's commitment to improving the environment, I2M also supports environmental research and marine conservation through grants to selected 501c(3) non-profit organizations, such as MarineBio.org and other contributing organizations.
Brownfields Redevelopment
I2M principals have acted as the day-to-day Project Managers for large remediation and redevelopment projects. One such environmental project involved the environmental clean-up of an industrial site south of Tacoma, Washington. After overseeing the remediation of over 600,000 cubic yards of soil, I2M principals oversaw the construction of a golf course, managed the maintenance of the golf course and the preparation work needed for the sale of over 250 acres of surrounding commercial property.
Brownfields to Greenfields
I2M Associates' President and CEO, Jeffrey D. King, P.G., acts as the day-to-day Project Manager for large remediation and redevelopment projects in his affiliated company, Pacific Environmental and Redevelopment Corporation (PERC). One such environmental project involved the environmental clean-up of an industrial site once considered a Brownfields site south of Tacoma, Washington. After overseeing the remediation of over 600,000 cubic yards of soil, King's remediation operations company, PERC, oversaw the construction of a golf course, managed the maintenance of the golf course and the preparation work needed for the sale of over 250 acres of surrounding commercial property.
The golf course was completed in 2006 and won the "Top Ten New Courses in the World Award" for 2007, given by Travel and Leisure Golf Magazine (See Announcement (Here), and (Here). The details of this project are summarized below, along with other projects managed by Mr. King and PERC:
DuPont Works Site Remediation and Redevelopment – DuPont, Washington
The former DuPont Works Site in DuPont, WA was used by the DuPont Company to manufacture explosives for over 70 years. PERC, in consultation with DuPont and Weyerhaeuser, acted as the day-to-day project managers for the Project that transformed the 841 acre MTCA site from a Brownfield to a Greenfield. Explosive manufacturing, support and storage activities resulted in contaminated soil throughout the Property. PERC successfully completed or directed the following MTCA activities:
- Investigation – MTCA Remedial Investigation
- Evaluation – MTCA Risk Assessment
- Solution - MTCA Feasibility Study
- Design – MTCA Remedial Design
- Public Acceptance of Plan – MTCA Corrective Action Plan (CAP)
- Remediation/Construction
- Closure of MTCA Site and No Further Action – MTCA Closure Report
- Public participation and community outreach programs
- Cultural Resources Protection Plan
These achievements were remarkable due to the size of the project, changing MTCA regulations, significant cultural and historical resources present at the site, and the variety of stakeholders that were actively involved in the project.
The Process to Redevelopment
The DuPont Works Project started with 841 acres of contaminated property containing over 200 buildings, magazines for storing explosives, oil pipelines, narrow gauge and standard gauge railroad tracks, waste landfills and numerous areas impacted by explosives, metals, and petroleum compounds.
Through study of the options available through the MTCA Process a final multi-phased solution was selected that ultimately resulted in 92% of the impacted soil either being cleaned and recycled or used as construction materials and capped on-site. The remaining 8% of impacted soil was disposed of at an approved landfill. The final solution consisted of:
- Landfilling of the highly contaminated soils;
- Soil washing of soils that had high concentrations of constituents of concern but where in the "right" soil matrix that would allow for effective soil washing. This process was 97% effective in reducing the amount of soil required off-site disposal;
- Excavation and on-site placement of over 1 million cubic yards of soil to designated areas called placement areas;
- The construction of a golf course over the placement areas as an engineered cap; and
- The preparation of the remainder of the Property for redevelopment.
Stakeholders – Public Process
Active Involvement of Stakeholders including Nisqually Indian Tribe, City of DuPont, the DuPont Toxics Citizens Program, the Nisqually Delta Association, Washington State O ffice of Historical Preservation, The DuPont Historical Society, Ecology, DuPont, and Weyerhaeuser. Over the course of the project, King was responsible for managing the interaction with these groups and was highly successful at developing long term working relationships with all stakeholders. This was a significant undertaking because of the number of stakeholders that were interested in the property and the project.
Cultural Resources
Significant Cultural resources including an Native American burials (over 40 graves) and ancient Native American shell midden site overlooking Puget Sound, the original Hudson Bay Fort in Puget Sound. We proactively developed an effective working relationship with the Nisqually tribe through the development of a cultural resources plan. Nisqually tribal representatives as well as Archaeologists were involved in all phases of investigation, remediation, and construction in order to ensure that Cultural resources were respected and protected. Four of these discoveries are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the area has been nominated by the Washington State Office of Historical Preservation as a National Historic District.
Redevelopment – Property End Use
Once completed the remediated property was put up for sale resulting in:
- The sale of an 18-hole championship golf course to the Pacific Northwest Golf Association.
- The sale of 330 acres of Commercial Property to a large commercial real estate REIT, and
- The sale of 400 acres of industrial property to a gravel producer.
DuPont Antioch Plant Closure, Oakley, California
DuPont operated the Antioch Plant (Oakley Site) since 1956. In 1998 the plant was closed and many of the building were demolished. Subsequent studies discovered concentrations of process chemicals and petroleum products that exceeded State of California standards.
In 2007, PERC was selected by DuPont to lead the Redevelopment Team for the commercial redevelopment of the property. Since that time the PIONEER Team has made significant progress in advancing the understanding of the redevelopment needs while reducing, through discussions with the City of Oakley, over $2,500,000 in future impact fees and through a redesign of the site conceptual design $1,750,000 in future construction costs. These reductions increased the value of the property significantly. In addition, by looking at future soil fill requirements prior to the sale of one section of the property to a power utility, PERC was able to isolate approximately $4,000,000 worth of construction fill that would have been included in the sale. This allowed DuPont to negotiate the stripping and hauling of the soil to the DuPont Property as part of the purchase and sale agreement.
This project is on-going and we see the opportunity for many more design improvements that will be beneficial to DuPont in their development efforts.
Geneva Steel – Example of Rapid "Fair Market Price" Evaluations
Geneva Steel is a massive 1,750 acres Steel Mill and Coke Mill that was constructed during World War II as part of the War effort. In 2005 all production had ceased and it was offered for sale as part of bankruptcy proceedings.
Members of the Pioneer Team were selected by a nationwide developer to be part of their team to evaluate the former Geneva Steel property in Provo Utah for purchase and redevelopment. Pioneer’s role was to develop a remediation cost estimate that would be used for establishing the "fair market price" of the property. The client would use this estimate when establishing their "bid" for the property.
PERC reviewed all available information and developed a comprehensive remediation plan and cost estimate within a two-month time period. This cost estimate served as the basis for the Developers subsequent bid to purchase the property. Unfortunately, their bid was second highest; losing to the project to a small local developer with local political connections.
This project is just one example of our ability to quickly and comprehensively evaluate hazardous waste sites, identify issues, data gaps, and redevelopment challenges. Using this information we then identify strategies to investigate, evaluate, and remediate environmental issues while at the same time integrating future land use planning in order to decrease the overall redevelopment schedule and costs. Our experience with Public Planning agencies, environmental regulatory agencies, landowners, developers, engineers, land use planners, and other stakeholders has provided us with the ability to truly see the big picture while focusing on efficiently completing the site cleanup process and preparing the property for redevelopment.
All Brownfields projects will be operated by the I2M affiliate: Pacific Environmental Remediation Corporation (PERC), based in Seattle, Washington.
