FCA – New Mack Engine Plant, Detroit, MI

DLZ is a primary member of the City’s team that is clearing the way for a new automotive manufacturing facility. This multi-billion-dollar project is game-changing for Detroit and is one of the largest brownfield projects in the country. In addition, this new facility will provide employment to hundreds for many decades.

The City accepted a tremendous challenge to make these brownfield sites ready for construction of a new automotive manufacturing facility, in a matter of months.

DLZ’s Responsibilities

1. Environmental assessments (Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessment),
2. Asbestos and hazardous materials surveys of two former industrial facilities and three residential homes,
3. Ground penetrating radar (GPR) surveys to clear subsurface utilities and look for underground storage tanks (USTS),
4. Geotechnical investigations for a sound barrier wall, and
5. ALTA surveys on this fast-track, ever-evolving project.

Within a one-year period, DLZ has completed twenty-seven (27) Phase I Environmental Site Assessments and eleven (11) Phase II Environmental Site Assessments. Overall, that included the drilling of over 450 soil borings, as well as the collection of over 740 soil samples to investigate and characterize the subsurface soils. Additionally, DLZ completed Baseline Environmental Assessments and Due Care Plans where applicable.

Additionally, DLZ completed and provided oversight of additional services on this project that included:

• Abatement and demolition of industrial and residential buildings. This enabled us to document the removal, handling, and disposal of all asbestos-containing materials. Apart from that, it will include other hazardous materials identified within the buildings as part of the hazardous materials surveys.
• Removal and disposal of over 350,000 cubic yards of contaminated soils.
• Oversight of any identified underground storage tanks (USTs).
• Collection of confirmation soil samples to confirm that the removal efforts satisfy the Michigan EGLE closure criteria.
• GPR surveys once areas are cleared of debris piles, soil piles, berms, and buildings to look for areas of fill material or USTs.
• Additional follow-on Phase-II investigation in areas that were not identified during the Phase I and II ESAs that were found during soil removal activities.
• Baseline Environmental Assessments (BEAs) of each site to confirm that the property is a “facility” so that the new owner or operator is not held liable for the cost of cleaning up the contamination caused by the previous owners.
• Due Care Plans for each site to comply with Due Care Obligations to prevent exacerbation of the existing contamination. This is necessary to mitigate unacceptable exposure to hazardous substances, as well as to mitigate fire and explosions hazards by hazardous substances. The plans would allow for the intended use of the facility in a manner that protects public health and safety.