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Cleanup of River Spillways Eliminates Buildup of Debris
MARCOR works with City of Baltimore
9/8/2006–Baltimore, MD–Plastic bags, foam coffee cups, once-loved teddy bears, and wayward balls of all sizes are just some of the discarded and long-forgotten items that show up in stormwater spillways and along the shorelines in Baltimore after every rainfall. MARCOR Remediation Inc., headquartered in Hunt Valley, MD, under a contract with the Baltimore City Bureau of Solid Waste, is cleaning up the mess to restore the area’s natural beauty, help protect wildlife, and improve the general health and safety of the area.
MARCOR’s contract with the Baltimore City Bureau of Solid Waste requires periodic cleanout of five stormwater spillways and removal of debris along a four-mile stretch of the Middle Branch section of the Patapsco River shoreline. In addition, the MARCOR workers routinely patrol approximately 1.5 square miles of open water to remove large pieces of trash such as tires, chairs, large branches, etc. Any unusual or very large debris encountered is recorded in a logbook, as well as any wildlife sightings. Work is performed after every rainfall or as requested by the city’s contract administrator.
In addition, MARCOR is relocating a containment boom to improve debris collection and installing two additional booms for added control.
The work is performed manually along the shorelines as well as from two motorized Jon boats, with three environmental technicians in each. MARCOR’s workers wear protective suits and gloves, sturdy work shoes, hip boots, life vests, and safety glasses while performing the debris removal operations. Tools include rakes, pitchforks, crab nets, gripper tongs, and safe containers for needles and other “sharps.”
The debris is packed in sturdy plastic bags and deposited at predetermined points along the shoreline for pickup and disposal by the Bureau of Solid Waste trash collectors. The needle containers and any suspicious items that may be found are turned over the Baltimore City Health Dept.
MARCOR Remediation, a specialty contracting company founded in 1980 with a current staff of 700 and headquarters in Hunt Valley, MD, performs a full range of environmental services. These include industrial cleaning, asbestos and lead hazard abatement, mold remediation, plant/process decommissioning and demolition, soil and groundwater remediation, emergency spill response, gun range remediation, and storage tank management. Customers typically include industrial hygienists, commercial and industrial clients, government agencies, environmental consultants, real estate development and property management firms, Real Estate Investment Trusts (REIT), the hospitality industry, educational institutions, health care facilities, and others. Each of the company’s 16 offices is staffed with the necessary mix of senior technical management, regulatory compliance experts, and experienced HAZMAT labor force. For more information, go to www.marcor.com, send an e-mail to info@marcor.com or call 800-547-0128.
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