Bellwether District Refinery Redevelopment

Terraphase is the lead environmental consultant for the Hilco Redevelopment Partners (HRP) transformational redevelopment of a former petroleum refinery located on the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The property will be transformed into a 1,300-acre state-of-the-art e-commerce, logistics, life science, and innovation hub. As one of the largest and most ambitious projects of its kind, the Bellwether District vision exemplifies Terraphase’s and HRP’s shared dedication to environmental, community, and economic sustainability through a comprehensive redevelopment strategy.

Scope of Services

Terraphase implemented a soil sampling program involving the collection of thousands of samples from across the former refinery property to support the site Soil Management Plan and the decommissioning of the refinery infrastructure which included 300 aboveground storage tanks (ASTs) and 950 miles of pipeline.

Terraphase’s responsibilities include soil and groundwater characterization under Pennsylvania’s Land Recycling Program (Act 2), regulatory strategy and representation with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP), risk assessment, non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL) investigations and management, and real-time perimeter particulate and volatile organic compound (VOC) air monitoring for workers and the neighboring community for HRP’s construction team.

Notable Accomplishments

• Collection of thousands of samples from across the former refinery property
• Decommissioning of the refinery infrastructure which included 300 ASTs and 950 miles of pipeline
• Real-time perimeter air and dust monitoring

Treasure Island Redevelopment Project Environmental Due Diligence and Construction Compliance, California

Treasure Island is one of the largest development sites in the San Francisco Bay Area, featuring plans for 8,000 new residential homes (from townhomes to mid- and high-rise towers), mixed-use spaces for retail and commercial ventures, and over 300 acres of public parks and open space. The master developer, Treasure Island Development Group (TIDG), is currently redeveloping the former Naval Station Treasure Island, which includes Treasure Island and Yerba Buena Island. To date, approximately 430 acres of land parcels have been transferred from the U.S. Department of the Navy (Navy), and approximately 67 acres are currently being investigated by the Navy for eventual transfer.

Scope of Services

During the entitlement process, Terraphase provided environmental due diligence support of land parcels to be transferred from the Navy to the developer under a Finding of Suitability to Transfer (FOST), implemented as part of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) process.

Terraphase attends the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Cleanup Team meetings on behalf of TIDG to assess and advise on outstanding environmental issues. In 2016, following the initial land parcel transfer process and prior to construction startup, Terraphase prepared a comprehensive Soil and Groundwater Management Plan (SGMP; formally accepted by regulators) to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) Mitigation Measures, California Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) and Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) land-use restrictions, and San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) requirements. Updated in 2023, the SGMP addresses all aspects of construction, including soil and groundwater management protocol for environmentally and non-environmentally restricted sites, soil import criteria (approximately 2.5 to 3 million cubic yards is required), contractor training, unknown conditions response, and dust and stormwater compliance practices.

Terraphase provides the following services to TIDG during construction: Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs), import soil review, environmental planning, regulatory support, and on-site oversight, including soil excavation for lead-based paint within building dripline areas, excavation and grading activities within environmentally restricted areas, site-wide dust monitoring compliance, hazardous materials assessment, and construction dewatering compliance under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). Terraphase also supports vertical lot developers with these same services on Treasure Island and Yerba Buena Island.

Notable Accomplishments

• Supported environmental due diligence for approximately 430 acres transferred from the Navy
• Advised TIDG through ongoing BRAC meetings and land entitlement processes
• Authored and updated the site-wide SGMP to meet multi-agency regulatory requirements
• Overseeing environmental compliance during large-scale excavation, grading, and dewatering activities
• Provided turnkey environmental support to both the master developer and vertical builders

Regency Hub Commercial Redevelopment

Terraphase performed environmental assessments and remediation services at a shopping center formerly occupied by a dry-cleaning facility from 1930 to 1950 in the Hillcrest area of San Diego, California. Initial work included Phase I and II Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs) to characterize environmental impacts at the active shopping center and support the client’s property acquisition process by providing a clear understanding of environmental liabilities.

Scope of Services

Terraphase conducted multimedia environmental investigations, including soil, soil vapor, sub-slab vapor, indoor air, and groundwater sampling to evaluate the presence and distribution of tetrachloroethene (PCE). Subsurface characterization revealed complex geology, necessitating the use of multiple drilling methods, including rotosonic, hollow-stem auger, and air rotary casing hammer.

In 2014, the client entered a voluntary cleanup agreement under the California Land Reuse and Revitalization Act (CLRRA) with the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB). Terraphase developed a conceptual site model (CSM) and prepared an RWQCB-approved Response Plan proposing a full-scale soil-vapor extraction (SVE) system to remediate chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs). The SVE system is in operation and was expanded into target areas of residual contamination.

Terraphase currently performs semiannual groundwater and soil-vapor monitoring, and monthly SVE system operation and maintenance, in compliance with applicable air quality permits.

Notable Accomplishments

• Guided client through property acquisition with comprehensive environmental liability evaluation
• Installed and operated a full-scale SVE system, reducing PCE below regulatory criteria
• Successfully expanded the SVE system to target high-impact areas
• Achieved site-wide soil-vapor cleanup goals
• Developed and implemented a regulatory-approved Response Plan under CLRRA