Bessemer Site/French Creek

SGA performed an Analysis of Brownfield Cleanup Alternatives (ABCA) under a U.S. EPA Brownfields Sitespecific Assessment grant for the Bessemer Commerce Park, a redevelopment site in Meadville, Pennsylvania. The site, once a railroad maintenance facility dating back to the 1860s, has contaminated soils from old fueling operations which now only get exposed through shoreline erosion along the adjacent French Creek. Although the exposure is minimal, the erosion of contaminated soils produces an oily sheen on the water’s surface which has the potential to adversely impact wildlife, such as the diverse local mussel population. It also hinders the natural beauty of the French Creek, which is a popular attraction for river rafting, fishing, and other activities for tourists and locals. SGA worked alongside its broader team of environmental consultants to find viable shoreline revetment and remediation alternatives to stop the erosion of contaminated soils and stop the propagation of oily sheen into the creek. The alternatives spanned from structural walls to living shorelines and were used to determine best course of action for remediation considering costs, further environmental impacts, timing, and overarching EPA parameters. SGA continues to further develop the design of the preferred alternative and to carry it through to construction.