Hercules

Location: Hercules, CA
Size: 219 acres

Prior Use
The site originally housed an oil refinery, built in 1966. From 1993 to 1997, the site was used as an asphalt refinery, terminal, and distribution facility.

Challenge
Both soil and groundwater were contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons. Two separate areas contained free product hydrocarbons up to six feet thick as well as their associated dissolved phase plumes. In addition, impacted soils were found near former storage tanks and piping.

Solution
Approximately 95 vacuum enhanced recovery wells pumped and treated the contaminated groundwater, thus removing 3.7 million gallons of groundwater and 500,000 pounds of hydrocarbons. Based on a risk assessment and site grading plans, the impacted soils were relocated onsite at least ten feet below the final development grades, preventing exposure to future residents. Over 450,000 cubic yards of impacted soils and 820,000 cubic yards of clean soils were used in the soil remediation process. The groundwater remediation was completed and received a No Further Action letter from the Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) in 2000. The entire site received a No Further Action letter from the RWQCB in 2001.

LandBank’s Role
LandBank acquired the property and provided environmental management services through regulatory closure. LandBank structured a comprehensive insurance program, including: 1) Remediation Project Insurance which put a financial cap on the costs associated with remediation; 2) Real Estate Pollution Liability Policy to protect against the discovery of unknown conditions, third party liability, and regulatory reopening of completed remediation; 3) Commercial General Liability to provide coverage for bodily injury and property damage from known conditions; and, 4) Excess Liability. The policies provide protection to the buyer, seller, and future owners of the site. LandBank sold its interest in the property in 2000.

New Use
The property was sold to a national developer that built approximately 800 homes at the community of “Victoria by the Bay.” Home prices ranged from $400,000 to more than $800,000. The site has been widely recognized as a successful brownfield redevelopment, and is now a residential community with single family homes, multi-family units, parks, open space, and wetlands.