Washington College began the environmental cleanup of the old Alger Oil site in Chestertown this week–to make way for construction of a new environmental center, according to WC Director of Media Relations Kay MacIntosh.
In addition to the clean up, Earth Data of Centreville, MD began water and soil monitoring at the SFC John H. Newnam Armory site. The town of Chestertown agreed to sell the Armory to WC on Monday. The Armory will now be included in the college’s plans for the environmental center.
The Luzon Company of New Jersey is performing the cleanup, which involves the removal of 7500 cubic yards of contaminated soil, which is approximately 190 truckloads.
Gilbane Builders is the general contractor and will be installing sediment and erosion control fences. John D. Hynes & Associates, Inc. of Salisbury will monitor the new soil that is brought in.
“We want to make sure we’re getting the best top soil,” said Director of Physical Plant Reid Raudenbush. He said the clean up would take roughly two months.
WC is currently negotiating the purchase of a small strip of property that separates the Alger Oil site and the Armory. Earth Data is also monitoring water and soil there, according to Raudenbush.
I would like to mention that Michael A. Scott Inc. Surveying in Chestertown has also worked on the project! This is a win win for the Town, the College and the local economy.
Engineering and surveying stays on the Shore (and I guess they will buy their material locally — tearing up a farm), but the rest of the $$ is heading to NJ and Rhode Island. Tells you how tight the construction market is and tolls the end of the Maryland power contractors like Whiting-Turner, Kirby, and even Bramble.
The question is whether this anti-Maryland attitude will hurt the College when they come hat in hand to the Legislature for Sellinger Money? Should the Legislature attach an offset for parochial disloyalty? It is a shame that the College is not willing to permit local (or at least in state) firms to beat the low price. These local outfits are dying on the vine.
Gilbane is a large, well respected builder in the Wash DC area (Montgomery County Md). Their overall parent company is located in RI but their operations around here are through the DC office I believe. Also, these companies sub out most of the work to local subs so I don’t think there will be a bunch of money sent off to RI . I think a great deal of money will be made around here. There are many good MD based general contractors available though and while I’d like to see one get the job, it is up to WC to pick their own builder.
My point exactly.