Owner's
Representative
Management services for the Gowanus Canal Environmental Remediation Trust. Coordination of RTA1 dredging, capping, and bulkhead support installation.
Project Objectives
The Gowanus Canal Environmental Remediation Trust is issuing this RFP to solicit proposals for an Owner's Representative. This role is essential for the management of the remediation within Remediation Target Area 1.
These are legally binding orders issued by the USEPA that require Potentially Responsible Parties to perform cleanup actions. This project is executed under the strict federal oversight of the Superfund program.
The Trust consists of multiple parties tasked with designing and constructing the remedy. The Owner's Representative will coordinate between the Trust and the Remedial Design Team to ensure technical and schedule compliance.
The Gowanus Canal Environmental Remediation Trust is the governing body of parties responsible for the design and construction of the RTA1 remedy.
Scope of Services
- Remedial Management and Coordination: The Owner’s Representative will act as the primary liaison between the Trust and the Remedial Design Team. This involves providing daily oversight of construction activities to ensure adherence to the USEPA-approved designs for RTA1. The Owner’s Representative must monitor the performance of contractors and consultants, ensuring that remedial goals are met while managing the interface between technical teams including Construction Quality Assurance and the Engineer of Record.
- Infrastructure and Bulkhead Oversight: A critical component of the RTA1 scope involves the installation of bulkhead support and replacement structures. The Owner’s Representative is responsible for supervising these stabilization efforts, which are necessary prerequisites for safe dredging. This includes coordinating bridge-support construction and ensuring land-side activities do not interfere with the stability of properties bordering the canal during active in-water work.
- Dredging, Debris, and ISS Management: The Owner’s Representative will oversee the complex process of dredging contaminated sediments and removing large debris from the canal bed using specialized marine equipment. This task extends to managing In-Situ Stabilization where applicable and the subsequent installation of the multi-layered remedial cap. The Owner’s Representative must verify that dredged material is properly dewatered, processed at authorized offloading facilities, and transported to permitted disposal sites in compliance with environmental regulations.
- Project Controls and Reporting: Effective project management requires the Owner’s Representative to maintain rigorous control over the project schedule and budget. This includes reviewing and validating invoices, managing change-order requests, and providing the Trust with regular progress updates. The Owner’s Representative will lead weekly project meetings, document decisions, and manage information flow between stakeholders to prevent delays in the remediation timeline mandated by the USEPA.
- Environmental Compliance and Water Management: Ensuring environmental compliance is paramount. The Owner’s Representative oversees the management of decant water and stormwater runoff within the project footprint. This involves verifying that water treatment systems are operational and that discharges meet specified water-quality standards before returning to the canal. The Owner’s Representative also coordinates with the Trust's legal and technical advisors to ensure work remains in compliance with the Unilateral Administrative Orders.
A method where contaminated soil or sediment is mixed with stabilizing agents, such as cement, to trap pollutants and prevent them from spreading into the water.
Water that is separated from solid mud and sediment during the dredging process. It must be treated to remove contaminants before release.
The professional engineering firm responsible for the final design and for certifying that construction matches the approved plans.