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Santa Fe County, after consulting with the New Mexico Environment Department and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), will begin soil and water cleanup at the site of the new Judge Steve Herrera Judicial Complex tomorrow.  The cleanup is expected to take six days to complete.  The new Judicial Complex is situated near the site of three former gasoline service stations, which were located on the corners of Cerrillos/Galisteo and Montezuma.  The stations were present from the 1920s to the 1970s.  Petroleum from underground storage tanks leaked over the years and has affected soil and ground water.  The leaked petroleum has moved from the sites of the former gasoline stations and migrated onto the County’s property where the new Judicial Complex is under construction and has impacted soil and ground water on the site.  Approximately 30% of the site exhibits petroleum from the former service stations in soil or ground water and about 15% of the site shows floating gasoline on ground water.
 
Clean-up Actions Conducted by Santa Fe County
• Installed six wells to monitor and remove petroleum from ground water
• Pumping wells and floating gasoline removal began March 5, 2009
• Removal of all on-site soil impacted by petroleum- beginning in March 2009
• Pumping and treating ground water for use at the construction site and for discharge to the City’s sanitary sewer.

Frequently Asked Questions
What is being done at his time?
The County is coordinating with various agencies to ensure every precaution is being made to maintain a safe construction site and to remove impacted soil and water.  The clean up will be monitored by an on-site Certified Industrial Hygienist and the County is installing several air quality monitors all around the site to ensure the health and safety of the workers and the surrounding area.  These steps are designed to limit any exposure or health threats to the public and workers at the site.
 
The affected soil is being removed and taken to the Caja del Rio Landfill.  Contaminated water will be treated at the site and then removed via City of Santa Fe sewer drains.
 
Will the soil and ground water be cleaned-up during the construction of the Complex?
Yes, Santa Fe County will remove the petroleum affected soil beneath the Complex and treat ground water (up to drinking water quality standards) entering the excavation during construction.
 
Will the new first Judicial Complex be safe?
Yes, Santa Fe County will apply construction techniques that are commonly used in former industrial areas to seal the building from any migrating gasoline in the ground water.  The new building will not allow the gasoline affected water or soil to enter and it will be safe for use by the courts and the public. 
 
Will there be an odor during construction?
Yes, it is anticipated that some odor can be expected as the impacted soil is removed from the site.  The odor does not pose a health threat to the public and should only be noticeable during the excavation of the soil.