Intercounty Connector Site Assessments

Intercounty Connector Sites

Client: Maryland State Highway Administration (MSHA)

Location: Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties, MD

Challenge: Identify environmental concerns for more than 100 miles of proposed road construction

Solution: Rapid environmental assessment using state-of-the-art technologies

Highlights: Innovative use of GPS and field computers integration of data by use of GIS

Under a $500,000, open-end contract with the Maryland State Highway Administration, KCI completed an Initial Site Assessment (ISA) for the proposed Intercounty Connector. The study area consisted of more than 100 miles of proposed roadway alternatives. The objective of the study was to provide an electronic database of information collected to identify potential environmental concerns.

KCI assessed past and present land use and conducted a site reconnaissance to observe actual environmental conditions along the proposed corridors. KCI staff used state-of-the art electronic equipment to record visible evidence of contamination or illicit activities that could result in environmental liabilities. Field techniques included: capturing electronic images using Logitech FotoManTM PixturaTM digital cameras with Logitech PixturaTM Photo Enhancer software; entering information onto the database with pen-based field computers; collecting global positioning data using GPS Gold Card attachment on Kalidor and processed using PENMAP Software; entering data and site sketches into a pen-based unit. The project team also researched Federal, State, and County records and historic aerial photographs to investigate past land use and changes in site appearance over time. A thorough search of various Federal and State environmental databases helped to determine the presence of known, alleged, or potential hazardous waste sites within 200 feet of either side of the corridor. The ISA process identified 422 sites in the vicinity of proposed ICC corridors and alternatives. KCI ranked each site in one of four risk categories; high, medium high, medium, and low. The ranking are based on site use (industrial facilities, gasoline stations, auto repair shops, dry cleaners), USTs, landfills, surface dumps, pits and lagoons, ASTs, PCB-contaminating transformers, remediation systems in-place, drummed waste, and ground staining. KCI recommended that MSHA consider further investigation of high/medium risk sites to assess potential impacts.

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