Global Remediation Technologies, Team Elmer’s make it happen
TRAVERSE CITY, MICH., November 5, 2009 – Two local firms recently combined efforts on a large remediation project to clean up Traverse City’s Boardman Lake. Global Remediation Technologies (GRT) and Team Elmer’s addressed historic impacts to sediments that resulted from the migration of groundwater contamination to the lake in the late 1970s.
Environmental engineers GRT developed the necessary project scope and complete design documents. GRT, in turn, selected Team Elmer’s to get the job done.
The ambitious project began with the construction and installation of a temporary dam to remove lake water from the contaminated site. And this wasn’t just a wading pool…the dam went 45 feet into the lake and covered 350 feet of shoreline.
“I’ve been working on environmental cleanup projects for years and years, but this job takes the cake in terms of scope,” said John Prescott of Team Elmer’s. “It’s pretty rare to be so far out into a lake to remove contaminated water.”
Once the dam was in place, water was pumped from inside the dam, discharged into the lake, and 260 dewatering points were installed up to 16 feet deep. The contaminated water was then pumped through a two-stage carbon system to remove contaminants. The crews obtained a permit to allow them to discharge clean filtered water into Boardman Lake.
Next, inspectors from the various parties, including the Department of Environmental Quality, worked together to determine which soils should be removed. The water table was lowered to nine feet below the lake bottom to remove all the impacted soils. All told, Team Elmer’s excavated and removed 2,210 tons of contaminated soil from the bottom of the lake.
Clean soil was then placed in the lake and compacted/ backfilled, the water was replaced, and the dam was dismantled by divers with the support of Team Elmer’s crews on shore.
The project was a source of pride for Team Elmer’s staff, a job well done for GRT, and a sustainable victory for Boardman Lake and the community.
“We selected Team Elmer's because they approached this project in a way that other contractors hadn't considered,” said Adam Segerlind, PE of Global Remediation Technologies. “Their innovative strategy of implementing a temporary dam and dewatering system was cost-effective and they were more suited to overcome the inevitable hiccups that happen along the way. My expectations were met and exceeded!”
Team Elmer’s, a family owned company since 1956, specializes in site development, including excavation, earth moving, underground utility installation, retaining wall construction, directional boring, manhole rehabilitation, aggregate production, concrete ready-mix, asphalt installation (commercial and residential), milling, and crane/rigging, among other specialties. Today, Traverse City, Mich.-based Team Elmer’s has grown to include over 300 skilled personnel.
To learn more about Team Elmer’s, call (231) 943-3443 or email info@teamelmers.com.
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