Roux Associates has been working at the high-profile Industri-Plex Superfund Site in Woburn, Massachusetts since 1981. The Industri-Plex Site, previously used for chemical, pesticide, and glue manufacturing, was listed as No. 5 on the original NPL and was infamous locally for its nauseating odor originating from stockpiles of decaying animal hide residues. Impacted media at the site include soils, groundwater, surface water, and sediment, and constituents of concern include VOCs, metals, and ammonia.

Roux Associates conducted the initial remedial investigation (RI) at the site in 1982-83 and assisted in preparation of the feasibility study (FS) in 1985. The initial RI comprised an extensive electromagnetic survey, collection of over 2,000 soil samples from test pits and borings, and installation of 20 monitoring wells. Roux Associates also conducted a supplemental RI (including groundwater, surface water, and sediment sampling, as well as human health and ecological risk assessments) from 1990 to 1992, focusing on the mobilization of metals into site groundwater and the effects of groundwater contamination on surface water and sediment quality. During this same time period, Roux Associates also conducted pre-design studies in support of the design for the interim pump-and-treat groundwater remedy required pursuant to the 1986 Record of Decision (ROD) for Operable Unit (OU) 1 at the site.

In 1995, following several years of design studies and agency negotiations, Roux Associates authored a report that demonstrated the technical impracticability of the interim groundwater remedy as scoped in the OU1 ROD. Subsequently, in 1996 and 1997, Roux Associates coordinated and participated in a multi-disciplinary supplemental site investigation designed to support a natural attenuation approach to remediation of site groundwater. Later in 1997, and continuing through 1999, Roux Associates assisted the PRPs in agency negotiations to close out the existing (1989) Consent Decree for the site (including the requirement for a pump-and-treat interim groundwater remedy) and adopt a natural attenuation-based groundwater remedy for the site. These negotiations led to the development of a final scope of work under the existing consent decree. This scope of work was implemented in large part by Roux Associates, from 2000 to 2002, and included 1) a large-scale groundwater profiling study involving the collection of several hundred groundwater samples using temporary microwells; 2) focused source area investigations involving geophysical surveys, Geoprobe sampling of soil and groundwater, and sub-slab soil gas sampling; and 3) a surface water transport study which included the construction of nine surface water monitoring stations and the deployment and operation of automated equipment for the collection of continuous streamflow data and flow-weighted surface water samples during storm events.

In 2005, EPA issued its Proposed Plan for remediation of site groundwater, surface water, and sediment (OU2). Roux Associates was retained by the PRPs to critique elements of the Proposed Plan and prepare alternative remedial approaches for these elements. In 2006, following EPA’s issuance of the ROD for OU2 (which retained the proposed plan), Roux Associates was retained by the PRPs to review and evaluate EPA’s responsiveness summary in the ROD. A year later, in 2007, Roux Associates was retained to prepare and implement a work plan for the interim surface water monitoring element of the OU2 ROD, comprising automated monitoring of surface water similar to that performed in 2000-2002, and to provide peer review of the remedial design being developed by the remedial design contractor. Surface water monitoring is ongoing.

Lastly, in 2008, Roux Associates was retained to certify completion of the OU1 remedy and to prepare a Master Certification Report and individual Certification Reports for the various properties included within the site.