Brownfield
In 1993, RCC was retained as the environmental consultant and project manager for the investigation, remediation, and redevelopment of a 130-acre former industrial property in northeast Philadelphia—one of the early projects that helped define the term Brownfield within the environmental industry. Historical operations across the site included paint and chemical manufacturing, plastics production, metal working, foundry operations, industrial research laboratories, warehousing, and fueling and maintenance facilities, resulting in multiple Areas of Environmental Concern with complex contaminant profiles.
RCC completed comprehensive site assessment and subsurface characterization, including soil and groundwater investigations, geologic evaluation, and contaminant delineation across multiple operational areas. A full Remedial Alternatives Analysis was developed, documenting pilot studies, technology feasibility evaluations, and engineering-based remedy selection tailored to each area of concern.
As project manager, RCC oversaw every stage of implementation, including:
Regulatory agency and purchaser negotiations
Construction and environmental contractor management
Scheduling and field oversight
Engineering design and hydrogeological evaluations
Resolution of labor and operational conflicts
Multiple remedial technologies were employed to address the diverse contamination issues across the site, and RCC maintained compliance and communication with all involved regulatory agencies. The project ultimately achieved regulatory closure for every Area of Environmental Concern, enabling sale and full redevelopment of the entire 130-acre property.
Through strategic management, RCC’s approach reduced long-term environmental liabilities and accelerated redevelopment timelines, generating an estimated cost savings of more than $10 million for the client.