Remediation Wells To Be Drilled in Mandan’s Main Street in Early August

The Mandan Remediation Trust has determined that approximately seven wells are needed along the center of Main Street between First Avenue NW and Second Avenue NW to extract hydrocarbons beneath the street. To facilitate continued movement of traffic in both directions and minimize disruption to downtown Mandan, the wells will be drilled from the south side of Main at a slant.

Construction work is expected to begin August 3. The drilling will take approximately two weeks. Repairs to sidewalk panels and the boulevard are to be complete by the end of August.

The wells will add to the comprehensive system of approximately 300 wells and over 20 miles of pipelines installed in downtown Mandan to remedy an underground diesel fuel spill. The system was installed during three construction seasons, from 2005 through 2007, with costs paid for through a settlement fund from Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad. The system began operating in phases in 2006. It has since removed and treated more than 1.6 million pounds of hydrocarbons including diesel fuel and methane.

The area under Main is beyond the typical radius of influence of neighboring remedial wells on the north and south sides of the street. To be sure in a few years that the remedial efforts can be deemed complete and meet North Dakota Department of Health standards, the Remediation Trust needs to monitor and remove any product beneath Main Street.

Removal of free phase product beneath downtown Mandan is expected to be complete in about two years with soil scrubbing to occur thereafter. The soil scrubbing process will involve pushing air into the soil to invigorate naturally occurring bacteria that eat away at any remaining contamination.

Meanwhile, redevelopment is occurring. CRT Investments, which includes Dakota Commercial and Development Company of Grand Forks, expects to break ground in August on a parcel acquired for the remediation. Plans are to construct a four-story building with commercial/retail space at street level and 30 one- and two-bedroom apartments on upper stories.