Toxic chemicals found on site of Saraland’s Sportsplex

 

 

By EMMETT BURNETT

SARALAND — Hazardous chemicals were found in a section of Saraland’s $72 million Sportsplex project, Mayor Dr. Howard Rubenstein said Monday at a special-called council meeting.

PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) were discovered in the soil on the northernmost section of the property where a soccer field will be located, Rubenstein said in a prepared statement.

City officials believe the contaminants are contained in that area only but soil sample testing will continue, followed by remediation, Rubenstein said. Construction work has ceased in the affected area but will continue in other areas.

PCBs, a carcinogen, is a group of manmade chemicals used in electrical equipment, paints, plastics and rubber products. The chemicals were banned in the U.S. in 1979 after PCBs were determined to be toxic and cause health problems.

The PCBs were discovered on the Sportsplex property on Aug. 28, when workers digging in the area noted a vein of non-native soil, different in appearance and with an odor, Rubenstein said.

“Our general contractor for the Sportsplex notified our construction manager that they had uncovered non-native soil in the northernmost edge of the Sportsplex property,” Rubenstein said. “After consulting with our civil engineer and geotechnical engineer, the city enlisted an environmental consulting and engineering firm to coordinate initial tests on this soil to assist us with the matter.”

The city hired PPM Consultants Inc. to coordinate and oversee preliminary testing of the area where the contaminated soil was found and also in adjacent areas, Rubenstein said.

On Sept. 5, PPM shared its initial findings indicating the existence of PCBs.

“At that time, we notified contractors on site to stop work immediately in the area where the soil was located,” Rubenstein said. “The city engaged PPM to assist the city in coordinating all remediation efforts with the appropriate regulatory authorities.”

PPM continued its soil analyzation process and a soil sample report was provided to the city on Sept. 12. The report confirmed the existence of PCBs in the localized Sportsplex section, Rubenstein said.

The parcel where the PCBs are located was purchased by the city in 2007, Rubenstein said.

“The city is correcting a problem that appears to have been created more than 40 years ago, decades before we acquired the property,” he said.

It’s unknown how the contaminated material, which was found several feet below the original grade, got to the area.

“At this point of time, that would be speculation,” city attorney Andy Rutens said. “We are not focused on that. At this moment, we are focused on correcting the problem.”

Rubenstein noted that the contaminated soil was not detected in an environmental study conducted before construction began.

“It showed no red flags,” he said. “It possibly did not pick this up due to the depth where dirt was eventually found on excavation.”

Rutens emphasized the Sportsplex buildings are not affected by this finding.

“At this time, we are hopeful it is just three of the soccer fields,” he said.

Testing the Sportsplex soil will take weeks, Rubenstein said.

“We will follow the EPA methods and regulations,” he said. “It is probably going to be a significant delay in working on this part of the property.”

Rubenstein said the city won’t have an estimate on how much the cleanup will cost until testing and an EPA-mandated method for remediation is chosen.

Rubenstein said the contamination is localized in a relatively small area.

“We believe this has nothing to do with the old city landfill on adjacent property,” he said.

The Turnerville Water system has a well near the site but testing has not shown any contamination in the water supply, Rubenstein said.

“We are doing everything necessary to remedy this situation, ensuring this property is cleaned up, protecting public health, the environment and its future use for our community and visitors,” Rubenstein said. “We are trying to be transparent and honest and we will be honest with everybody about this.”

The mayor noted what he called a silver lining.

“We found soil that has been there for decades and would have remained there for decades if we had not started this project,” Rubenstein said.