Wasatch Environmental VCP Highlighted in Utah DEQ's 2010 "Utah Environmental Report," December 2010

300 West Town Center VCP Site
The Utah Department of Environmental Quality/Division of Environmental Response and Remediation (DERR) oversaw soil cleanup activities, at an 18 acre property that formerly housed various businesses, in preparation for redevelopment by Target Corporation. The site is located at 1200 South 300 West, Salt Lake City and is currently in the Voluntary Cleanup Program.

Located just south of Salt Lake City's Gateway redevelopment area, the site was contaminated by chlorinated solvents, petroleum hydrocarbons, and a small amount of PCBs. Due to a tight development window, the site characterization and cleanup work occurred rapidly during late 2009 and early 2010, and in concert with other site preparation and initial development activities.

DERR staff worked with the developer to create and implement a site remediation work plan that allowed for demolition, further characterization and cleanup to occur simultaneously. This approach also allowed samples to be collected directly beneath structures as they were removed, resulting in the discovery of a large, highly concentrated area of tetrachloroethene-impacted soil that might have been missed using more traditional sampling methodologies often employed under buildings. The contamination was subsequently removed and properly disposed of.

With the soil concentrations below site-specific cleanup standards and the groundwater impact located east of the building and limited to an area underneath the parking lot, development moved forward during Spring/Summer 2010 and Target opened doors on the 136,000 square foot store in October 2010. It is estimated the new Target store created 175-200 jobs, with additional jobs to be created as the other retail and business spaces on the property are completed.