Recent Projects
Storage Tank removal
Grinnell College:
In the summer of 2002, J. Pettiecord, Inc. removed 220,000 gallon fuel oil tanks from Grinnell College. This job was difficult because the tanks were double walled and weighed over 35,000 lbs. each. We also had to install 40 feet of a beam and plate system to shore up the existing building and other utilities. With many underground utilities near the tanks, we had to use a small excavator to dig around the tanks. We then used a crane to lift the tanks out and placed them to our heavy haul truck to be hauled to the scrap yard. The excavation was then backfilled and compact to 95% density.
Des Moines Public Schools
In the summer of 2003, J. Pettiecord, Inc. removed a 10,000 gallon UST from a school on the south side of Des Moines. Once the tank was removed, we had to remove the giant concrete ballast pad from under the tank that was approximately 30’ by 20’ by 2’ thick. We benched two excavators with hydraulic breakers down into the excavation and hammered the pad out. Then after the ballast was removed we ended up removing approximately 6,000 tons of contaminated soil and disposing of it. Then the excavation was backfilled and compacted to 95% density for the new parking lot that was going to go back.
Emergency spill response
Interstate 80 tanker rollover
In November of 2005, a tanker truck filled with diesel fuel tipped over at the intersection of Interstate 80 and Interstate 35 spilling over 3,000 gallons of diesel on I80 and the ditch. J. Pettiecord, Inc. mobilized to the site with 3 pieces of heavy equipment and 12 trucks to clean up the contaminated soil. We had to close one lane of I80 to load the trucks safely with contaminated soil from the ditch, and then hauled almost 700 tons of contaminated soil to the landfill. Once the contaminated soil was removed, we backfilled the ditch with clean fill.
Interstate 35 Glyophosate spill
In April of 2004, J. Pettiecord, Inc. responded to a truck crash in southern Iowa where a truck went into a creek. The trucks van trailer split open and spilled part of its load of Glyophosate (a herbicide) into the creek. J. Pettiecord, Inc. was on the road 30 minutes after we received the call. When we got to the site we installed two clay dams one upstream and one downstream to contain the spill. Then we put on our PPE and respirators and started cleaning up. All the powdered Glyophosate was in super sacks and some had split open. We then re-sacked all the super sacks we could and placed them on another truck. We then used a super sucker to vacuum up the rest of the spill and the contaminated water.
Tree Grinding & Clearing
Housing Development in Urbandale Ia
For a new housing development in Urbandale, Ia., J. Pettiecord, Inc. cleared and ground 10 acres of trees and hauled the chips off site for recycling. The project also included demolishing two houses and a garage. The tree clearing was the first activity we did, clearing and grinding 10 acres in 6 working days. The utility disconnects to the houses were completed during the tree clearing activities and then the houses were demolished right after the tree clearing.
Sanitary Sewer Extension in Van Meter
In Van Meter, Iowa, J. Pettiecord, Inc. cleared and ground 5 acres of trees for a new sanitary sewer line connecting to a new housing development. The project involved working on steep slopes and right next to a state highway. With all our equipment being track mounted including our grinder, we were able to get the project done safely and on time.
Iowa Trucking & Excavating
J. Pettiecord, Inc. provides the dirt and hauling into arenas for truck and motorcycle events. We haul it in and out of each event.
