Completed Projects
Cleanup of former ammunition plant with heavy lead contaminated soil.
In the summer of 2009, J. Pettiecord Inc. was contracted to cleanup a site with extremely high levels of heavy metals. The project involved excavation of approximately 24,000 tons of lead contaminated soil and sludge, hauling it as a hazardous material, and disposing of it at a landfill. The project also included demolition of over a dozen large underground concrete structures, removal and disposal of over 4,000 linear feet of underground pipe, heavy tree clearing and grinding, treating over 2 million gallons of contaminated water, and then grading the site to drain.
New Railroad Bridge and Main Line Track.
J. Pettiecord Inc. was contracted to clear and grind 30 acres of trees for a new railroad bridge in Boone, IA, in the fall of 2006. The project included clearing and grinding both sides of the existing bridge for the new mainline track leading up to the new bridge. The Pettiecord crew cleared out both sides under the proposed bridge for the massive abutments and deep piers, despite the area’s extremely rough terrain.
Commercial and Residential Subdivision in West Des Moines, IA.
A Des Moines area developer and grading contractor hired J. Pettiecord, Inc. to clear and grind 26 acres of trees for a new commercial and residential subdivision in a rapidly growing area of West Des Moines. The project began in early March. Our track-mounted equipment worked through much mud and bad weather to finish the project by the beginning of April.
Rail Car Spill at Ethanol Plant.
In August of 2007, a rail car spilled 30,000 gallons of gasoline at an ethanol plant in western Iowa and the dry ground soaked it up quickly. J. Pettiecord Inc. started excavating and hauling contaminated soil to a landfill late on Thursday night. The crew ran two excavators and 15 trucks 24 hours a day until 5 p.m. on Sunday when the excavation was complete. We backfilled the excavation with rock and clay and compacted it around the railroad lines. The plant was able to continue production and had rail cars ready to haul ethanol as soon as the lines were completed.
Truck Hauling Herbicide Crash.
In April of 2004, a van tractor-trailer crashed into a stream in southern Iowa while hauling a powdered form of herbicide. The herbicide was in super sacks and when the truck crashed many of the super sacks split open into the stream. J. Pettiecord inc. mobilized quickly on the site and built a dam to prevent the spread of the herbicide. The broken super sacks of herbicide were salvaged into new sacks for transportation to another truck. All the spilled herbicide in the stream was pumped out and disposed of. The Pettiecord crew also excavated and disposed of the soil contaminated by the spill.
Truck Hauling Ethanol Crash.
In October of 2006, tanker truck overturned and spilled 6,000 gallons of ethanol on a rural Iowa road. J. Pettiecord Inc. worked with another contractor and a Central Iowa Hazmat unit to pump the remaining ethanol out of the tanker and into another truck. Once the tanker was emptied, the Pettiecord crew worked overnight, under lights, to excavated all contaminated soil and transport it to the local landfill. They then backfilled the site and restored the area to its original condition.
UST Removal for a Des Moines Area Public School.
J. Pettiecord was contracted to remove a 10,000 gal. tank at a Des Moines Area Public School. Under the tank we found contaminated soil. The contaminated soil was excavated to a depth of approximately 30 feet below ground level. The excavation spread to more than 100 feet in each direction. Some of the overburden was stockpiled on site for use as backfill. Most of the excavated soil was contaminated and disposed of at a local landfill. The excavation was then backfilled to 95% standard proctor and ready to be paved over as a parking lot.