North Andover, MA – Preservation and restoration of wetland resources is a priority for conservation agencies. This is especially true in urban environments where storm water runoff from paved industrial/commercial sites potentially transport pollutants to adjoining waterways. Such is the case with the Blair Pond Restoration project in Cambridge. Working as a subcontractor to SumCo Eco-Contracting, SAK Environmental, a certified woman-owned business enterprise (WBE) environmental consulting firm, is performing hazmat consulting services to manage these environmental issues during construction.
Blair Pond, originally a man-made pond to support brick manufacturing in the early 1900s, is located in a mixed-use high density residential and commercial area near Fresh Pond. For decades, the pond has been filled with sediment and overgrown with invasive plants. The Department of Conservation and Recreation received a permit to dredge and restore the native wetland plants to the shores and surrounding acres. This estimated $1.3M restoration project began in January of 2012 with goals that included: increasing the pond’s flood storage capacity; constructing an upstream detention area to settle out sediments in storm water; restoring terrestrial, aquatic and benthic habitats in and around the pond; and improving the overall aesthetic quality of the pond and surrounding environment.
“The Blair Pond restoration project has been a priority for DCR for several years, and we are pleased that we were able to award the project and see construction start this season, says Robert Lowell, DCR Project Manager. “SAK Environmental’s assistance has been instrumental in responsively addressing some unexpected field conditions, thereby allowing SumCo to continue their work on schedule.”
SAK’s work will ensure that water resources will not be adversely affected by the construction, and that any contaminated soil or groundwater encountered is properly treated, managed and disposed of in accordance with environmental regulatory requirements in an effort to protect and potentially improve the environmental quality in the area.
“SAK’s knowledge of the Mass DEP’s regulations as well as cost effective and responsive sampling and hazardous materials management solutions has been very helpful,” said SumCo Project Manager Zach Taylor, “Their field staff is excellent and SAK has worked effectively with us and the entire project team to allow us to keep the project moving forward while preventing costly delays or adverse environmental impacts from potentially contaminated sediments.”
To date, SAK performed soil and sediment pre-characterization to determine chemical content and to plan for proper management and disposal of excavated materials. Soil and sediment contained varying levels of metals (notably lead), petroleum hydrocarbons, old bricks and debris, even an old car was pulled out of the muck. Throughout the project, SAK continues to provide onsite environmental sampling, evaluation of chemical laboratory data, environmental monitoring and compliance inspections.
SAK is pre-qualified by DCR to provide Environmental Services, and is well acquainted with fast track construction projects involving hazardous materials management. SAK is able to test and remedy releases (whether current or historic) of hazardous materials with licensed site professionals and registered professional engineers. SAK’s OSHA trained field scientists and engineers are equipped to add value and manage situations in the field, providing cost effective solutions to meet compliance requirements and “green” solutions.
“The SAK team is pleased to be part of this important project to help DCR and SumCo restore Blair Pond, a scarce urban wetlands resource,” says SAK Principal, Maureen Sakakeeny. “It is especially important to restore urban wetlands, not only for its aesthetic and ecological value, but to help prevent future pollution of our waterways in urban watersheds.”