Fact Sheet Update No. 8
Decommissioning and Redevelopment
JEA - Southside Generating Station
Jacksonville, Florida
February 2014
Introduction
This is the eighth update to the November
2002 Fact Sheet on the decommissioning,
demolition, environmental restoration and
redevelopment of the JEA Southside
Generating Station (SGS) in Jacksonville,
Florida. The last update was published in
December 2012. Topics covered in this
update include a site description; an
update of the activities performed at the
site since December 2012; the current
status of the site; a summary of future
activities proposed for the site; and,
information for public participation in the
Brownfield Site Redevelopment process.
Site Description
The SGS site is the former location of a
fuel-oil and natural gas-fired electric
generating station. The station originally
went on line in 1947. The station was
taken off-line in October 2001 due to
replacement by newer production facilities
in Jacksonville. A new gas-insulated
switchgear
(GIS)
substation
was
constructed in the southern portion of the
site in 2003. This GIS serves the south
side area of the City and represents the
first reuse of the property.
The site comprises approximately 42 acres
on the south bank of the St. Johns River in
downtown Jacksonville proper. The site’s
western side adjoins the eastern terminus
of the City Riverwalk; the eastern side is
defined by an unnamed tributary to the St.
Johns River; the northern side abuts the
River; and, the southern side adjoins
residential and commercial properties.
JEA Southside Generating Station
Jacksonville, Florida
The site has undergone decommissioning,
demolition, and environmental activities in
order to prepare for redevelopment.
Closure of the SGS site is being performed
jointly under the Resource Conservation
and Recovery Act (RCRA) and the
Brownfield Site Rehabilitation Program
administered by the Florida Department of
Environmental Protection (FDEP).
Activities To Date
Based on site operational history, thirteen
Areas of Concern (AOCs) were identified
and used subsequently to plan and
execute an environmental investigation
and remediation of the site.
Soil
Interim source removals (ISRs) commenced
in 2003 and were completed in 2004.
Completion Reports detailing the results of
the ISRs have been approved by FDEP.
Approximately
2.5
feet
of
clean
unrestricted clean fill was placed as a cap
across the site to prevent potential
exposure to residual contamination in soil.
The Soil Corrective Measures Study was
completed in March 2006 and was
approved
in
May
2006.
The
recommendation of No Further Action for
the remaining soil at the site was accepted
contingent
upon
the
Groundwater
Corrective Measures Study addressing the
arsenic concentrations in soil exceeding
the leachability criteria and a commitment
to provide a cap over an area of residual
PCB contamination in AOC 2. However,
February 2014
Update No. 8
Decommissioning and Redevelopment
JEA - Southside Generating Station
EPA Region IV agreed with JEA’s position
that a concrete cap was not necessary and
that the FDEP-approved restrictions and
clean soil cap to prevent exposure to
residual contamination in soil were
appropriate
for
residual
PCB
contamination in AOC 2.
Implementation of the FDEP-approved
restrictions have been accomplished by a
restrictive covenant that is part of the
property deed. The restrictive covenant
requires notification of FDEP prior to any
site operations that may disturb the clean
soil cap on the site and cause potential
exposure to residual soil contamination.
This restriction allows either residential or
commercial/industrial redevelopment of
the site.
Groundwater
Figure 1 is an aerial photograph showing
the site and adjacent properties, AOCs,
Page 2
and locations of monitoring wells. Arsenic,
nickel and vanadium are the analytes of
main concern for groundwater at the site.
Approximately 90 wells have been installed
during the course of investigations at the
site.
A Groundwater Corrective Measures Report
was submitted to FDEP in April 2006 and
conditionally approved in October 2006.
The initial approved corrective measure for
groundwater included installation of a
slurry wall along the northern and western
property lines to funnel the flow of
groundwater to two reactive barrier gates.
JEA
requested
that
its
team
of
environmental consultants revisit the
proposed corrective measures with regard
to cost, schedule and appropriate use of
the technology. An amendment to the
Groundwater Corrective Measures Report
was prepared and submitted to FDEP in
July 2007 and approved by FDEP in
Figure 1 – Current
Monitoring Well Network
JEA - Southside Generating Station
Jacksonville, Florida
February 2014
Update No. 8
Decommissioning and Redevelopment
JEA - Southside Generating Station
January 2008 which recommended the
following measures:


Hydraulic control to prevent migration
of the contaminated groundwater into
the St. Johns River.
Targeted
in-situ
sequestration
of
arsenic in two AOCs. Monitoring of
groundwater quality at selected other
AOCs.
In
accordance
with
the
approved
amendment to the Groundwater Corrective
Measures Report, a Corrective Measures
Design/Remedial
Action
Plan
was
submitted to FDEP in August 2009 and
approved in February 2010 with minor
comments. The hydraulic control system
(HCS) was designed to capture arseniccontaminated
groundwater
that
has
migrated to the west of the site and will
prevent potential discharge of arseniccontaminated groundwater into the St.
Johns River. Figure 2 shows the capture
Page 3
zone of the hydraulic control system. The
HCS construction was completed and
operations initiated in January 2012. The
HCS has been operating as designed.
Implementation of the in-situ stabilization
program is being further evaluated and
designed based on data generated during
operation of the hydraulic control system.
Figure 3 shows the hydraulic control
system.
The assessment of contamination in
groundwater was completed in 2010. As a
result of additional investigations and
monitoring, the routine groundwater
monitoring system was reduced from over
60 wells to 16 wells.
Figure 2 –Hydraulic Control System Arsenic Capture Zone in Lower Surficial Aquifer
JEA - Southside Generating Station
Jacksonville, Florida
February 2014
Update No. 8
Decommissioning and Redevelopment
JEA - Southside Generating Station
Page 4
Figure 3 – Groundwater HCS Piping Plan As Built Drawing
Site Redevelopment
The first part of the site to be redeveloped
was the former south percolation pond
(AOC 1) where the new Gas Insulated
Substation (GIS) is now located. The
remainder (approximately 30 acres) is
available for redevelopment by the private
sector.
Current Status
All decommissioning, demolition and soil
remediation activity has been completed.
To date, approximately $28,500,000 has
been spent, including costs for demolition,
disposal, HCS installation and general
environmental activities. In addition to the
reductions in the number of monitoring
wells in the monitoring system, the
frequency of groundwater monitoring has
been reduced from quarterly to semiannually. In conjunction with reduction in
groundwater monitoring requirements,
FDEP has also approved No Further Action
JEA - Southside Generating Station
Jacksonville, Florida
recommendations for groundwater in four
AOCs. Approval of No Further Action
recommendations for groundwater in three
additional AOCs is also expected upon
receipt of FDEP comments regarding the
latest Groundwater Monitoring Report. If
approved, along with the Declaration of
Restrictive Covenant for soil dated 12
February 2013, the corrective action for
the eastern approximately two-thirds of the
Site will be complete. The estimated cost
for
the
planned
additional
active
remediation
and
monitoring
is
approximately $500,000 over three years.
All activities are being performed under the
Brownfield Site Rehabilitation Agreement.
Proposed Activities
Operation and Maintenance of the HCS will
be performed monthly.
Groundwater
monitoring and reporting will be conducted
semi-annually. Based on the data collected
during the operation of the HCS and
February 2014
Update No. 8
Decommissioning and Redevelopment
JEA - Southside Generating Station
Page 5
results of further studies, the need for insitu arsenic fixation may be evaluated.
Public Outreach
A repository of relevant documents has
been established in the JEA offices at 21
W. Church St, 8th floor in Jacksonville.
These documents may be reviewed by
contacting one of the following:
Matt McClure – 665-6253
Jennifer McCollum – 665-4103
Jaclyn Taricska – 665-4243
JEA - Southside Generating Station
Jacksonville, Florida
February 2014
Update No. 8