United States
Challenge
TRC was tasked with preparing the Humboldt Bay Power Plant (HBPP) site, a 60-year old electric power plant located in a residential neighborhood, for new power generation. Work included removing a 2.7 million gallon fuel oil storage tank, cleaning, demolition and abatement of structures and removal of underground utilities within the footprint of planned new power generation facilities. TRC also had to remove an underwater 4,200 foot fuel oil pipeline, with no information indicating its precise location or condition.
- Project Location: Humboldt Bay Power Plant, Eureka, CA
- Completion Date: 2010
Related Services
Solution
TRC was the prime contractor and provided project and construction management, health, safety and environmental services, as well as permitting. We utilized a comprehensive local hiring program and a community friendly diversity supplier participation program. TRC supported HBPP personnel with Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) audits, Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans implementation and permitting support. Extricating the fuel oil pipeline from the bay required a multi-disciplinary team of engineers and deep-water divers, experienced in managing complex underwater infrastructure. Seizing advantage of the influence of the tides, the dive team demarcated the severance lines of the pipeline and drilled access points to introduce high density expandable foam into the pipe. The foam assured that residual product would be contained during pipe cutting and removal, as well as enhancing buoyancy, aiding in lifting and extraction. Extracted piping was placed on specially designed cribbage and barged to shore, where it was cleaned, inspected and prepared for shipment as recovered metals for salvage value.
Results
- Relevant ancillary structures and infrastructure were decommissioned and dismantled to support the construction of future generation. This project was performed with zero recordable safety incidents, zero “close call” incidents and no adverse environmental issues.
- The effectiveness of the processes employed for extracting 4,200 linear feet of fuel oil pipeline from Humboldt Bay as well as remediating and decommissioning of the 2.7 million gallon fuel oil storage tank is demonstrated through environmental sampling and analysis which documented no environmental compliance issues.
- Approximately 95% of the materials decommissioned in the performance of this scope of work were reclaimed and recycled, including 920 tons of masonry, 200 tons of asphalt and 12 tons of metals.
Sharing Our Perspectives
Our practitioners share their insights and perspectives on the trends and challenges shaping the market.
The Best Process for Transforming Thermal Generation Power Plants
February 9, 2022
Faced with an aging fleet, stricter environmental regulations, reduced costs for natural gas and competition from renewables, more than 600 power plants have been decommissioned in the last 20 years, a pace that will increase with the announced closure of nearly 350 additional plants by 2025.
New York State Finalizes Emission Limits for Power Generators
January 21, 2020
On January 16, 2020, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) finalized a rulemaking limiting nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from existing simple cycle and regenerative peaking combustion turbines with a nameplate capacity of 15 megawatts (MW) or greater during the ozone season (May 1 – October 31).
New York State Proposes Emissions Limits for Power Generators
March 22, 2019
On February 27, 2019, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) released a proposed rulemaking limiting nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from existing simple cycle and regenerative peaking combustion turbines with a nameplate capacity of 15 megawatts (MW) or greater during the ozone season (May 1 – October 31).
