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Soil contaminants prompt deep dig by city street workers

By MARY ANN GREIER 3 min read
Salem City Service/Safety Director Joe Cappuzzello looks into the deep hole being dug by street department worker Ryan Blair where underground fuel tanks had been removed more than 25 years ago at the street department, but where possible fuel contaminants were detected recently in the soil at a level slightly higher than permitted by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. Also looking on are Mayor John Berlin, street department worker Paul Cowan, street department foreman Shawn Smith and an SME engineer who’s consulting on the project meant to alleviate the issue. Not pictured was Steve Rudibaugh, who was operating the front loader to move the dirt to piles. (Salem News photo by Mary Ann Greier)

SALEM -- City street department workers dug deep Friday, about 13 1/2 feet, creating a large hole measuring at least 20 feet by 15 feet at their headquarters to remove possibly contaminated soil where underground fuel tanks had been located decades ago.

City Service/Safety Director Joe Cappuzzello explained the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency had notified the city recently about having some testing done on the soil where the underground fuel tanks had been removed more than 25 years ago.

The level of fuel contaminants was outside the OEPA limits allowed, prompting an order for a Phase 1 environmental study to be completed. He said the city contracted with SME, an engineering firm the city used previously with a grant for brownfield sites. The cost for Phase 1 was $15,000.

Cappuzzello said the result of the testing was "barely above the limits," but the OEPA said a Phase 2 action would be required, this time carrying a cost of $50,000 to $60,000 above what the city had already paid.

He said SME came back and the OEPA was willing to allow the city to first do an interim response action in an effort to take care of the problem. The street department was removing dirt in the area where the tanks had been buried and piling it up on tarps. He said the dirt will sit there for at least 30 days and then will be tested.

In order to dig the hole, which is next to the department's above ground fuel tanks, a utility pole with a security light had to be removed first.

As they were digging, he said the hole kept getting bigger and bigger and originally the plan was to dig a space measuring 10 feet by 15 feet, but then it was determined the hole needed to be larger.

Street department foreman Shawn Smith pointed out how some of the soil was discolored, possibly indicating there had been a leak.

A tube was placed in the hole that will collect ground water, which will also be tested.

The hope is that levels won't exceed the amount acceptable to the OEPA and the city won't have to go to Phase 2. The interim response action carries a cost of $25,000 which is in addition to the $15,000 already paid but less than the cost of Phase 2.

Mayor John Berlin said the plan is to use money in the storm water fund and the American Rescue Plan Act Fund to pay for the work.

mgreier@salemnews.net

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