ESS Group, Inc. assisted in the redevelopment of a former mill property located in Providence, Rhode Island. The mill is located along the Woonasquatucket River. Approximately 200,000 to 300,000 square feet of residential space and 100,000 to 200,000 square feet of commercial space was made available upon completion of the redevelopment activities.

ESS completed the initial due diligence investigations that included the Site Development Feasability Study. As part of this work, ESS identified and evaluated site constraints including Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Flood Plain, wetland resource areas, utilities, and environmental contamination. Once the initial due diligence was completed, ESS conducted a full-scale site investigation followed by the preparation of a Site Investigation Report (SIR), Remedial Action Work Plan (RAWP) and Corrective Action Plan (CAP) in accordance with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) regulations. This also included the preparation of the Settlement Agreement and Environmental Land Use Restriction (ELUR).

Preliminary delineation of on-site wetlands and wildlife habitat was also completed to support restoration of the banks of the Woonasquatucket River and the wooded portions of the Site.

The primary component of the RIDEM-approved remedy for the property was to install a combination of soil and paved caps (asphalt, concrete, and brick pavers) over the entire property to prevent dermal exposure to site soils that exceed applicable RIDEM Residential Direct Exposure Criteria and to allow for both industrial and residential use of the property. A cap was installed in the southern portion of the property and an Interim RAWP Closure Report and final ELUR and required exhibits (i.e. legal description, survey plan, post construction soil management plan, and description of engineering controls) were prepared and approved by RIDEM.

Additional site work included overseeing the removal of one large-capacity underground storage tank (UST) and the closure-in-place of a second large-capacity UST. This work also involved assessment of soil and groundwater, with oversight of the excavation and disposal of impacted soils surrounding the UST excavations. Upon completion of this work, along with the approval of a Final RAWP Closure Report, RIDEM issued a Final Letter of Compliance for the Site