Source: http://www.pottsmerc.com, November 18, 2014
By: Frank Otto
An investigation conducted into environmental concerns at the former Meadow Brook Golf Club site confirmed previous test results obtained by the Phoenixville Area School District and laid out plans to remedy existing issues.
The investigation by Schuylkill Township-based Environmental Standards confirmed two previous rounds of testing from 2007 and 2009 on the grounds where the Phoenixville Area School District plans to construct a combined early learning center and elementary school along with an athletic field complex and maintenance building.
“Based on the results of the Environmental Standards Inc.’s soil investigation that took place on Oct. 28 and 31, 2014, two of the five areas of concern require additional investigation and remediation: the stained soils on the barn floor and the golf course pesticide use,” read a report given to the Phoenixville Area School Board’s building and grounds committee.
Both concerns, along with above and below-ground fuel tanks were laid out as potential concerns by the district’s executive director of operations, Stan Johnson, before the investigation was conducted.
Environmental Standards believes the above and below-ground fuel tanks can be “properly cleaned and removed” without need of any further remediation.
As far as the pesticide use, the district had indicated that they believed there to be arsenic in most of the green areas of the former golf course.
The report indicated that arsenic concentrations were found mostly around two feet below ground with some three and 1/2 feet below ground at one spot.
“There are two remediation options for the arsenic impacted greens,” the Environmental Standards report said. “(1) Excavate greens and dispose of impacted soils at an approved landfill or (2) excavate greens and bury impacted soils under a cap.”
Option 1 would cost $404,250 and take five months to complete while the second would take 10 months and cost much less, $141,100.
The soil under the barn floor will require further testing to create a plan to correct issues there. Environmental Standards indicated that plan would likely also “entail excavation and disposal of impacted soils.”
One potential concern which was looked into was a “disturbed area of soil with unknown cause.”
Ultimately, that area was determined to be a non-issue.
As far as bringing in heavy excavating equipment, Meadowbrook Lane residents at the committee meeting requested that the road not be used as an access point.
Johnson said he hoped to use a temporary entrance established on Pothouse Road, though that will need to be OK’d by PennDOT.
Remediation is expected to be finished “well before we break ground.”