Smokestack Demolition - Friday June 2nd
From
Cheswick
Sent
Tue, May 23 @ 1:18pm
Description
The following was received from Grant MacKay regarding the planned Smokestack Demolition on Friday June 2, 2023:
CPERG (the Cheswick Power Station Property Owner), Grant Mackay Co. (the Main Demolition Contractor), and Controlled Demolition, Inc. (“CDI” – Explosives Subcontractor) would like you to be aware that on Friday, the 2nd of June 2023 as soon after 8:00 AM as safety and preparations permit, the 552’ and 750’ tall Cheswick Power Station Chimneys will be felled into the old coal yard which has been cleared to the north where Contractors can safely access the debris for removal.
A very small amount of explosives will be used to create a notch at the base of each chimney to fell the structures in a highly controlled fashion, similar to felling a tree. CDI has used explosives method thousands of times around the world over the past 70 years to assist Property Owners and Contractors in the safe removal of unwanted structures.
There are four (4) points we would like to make you aware of:
1. Dust is an unpreventable byproduct of all types of demolition. With a wrecking ball or high-reach excavator, structures are slowly broken up, creating dust over a period of months during which workers would be exposed to risk at high elevations. With the felling of these structures, the same quantity and type of dust is released in a matter of seconds and may linger in the general area for a few minutes before crews begin cleanup of same. While dust may not even reach your property, as a precautionary measure we recommend that you close all windows, doors and air intakes and cover any other openings that might allow dust to enter your property. We also recommend that you turn off all exhaust fans before or at the time of the demolition as these might draw air into your building through cracks in walls and windows and take in or cover any outdoor furniture or features to prevent dust problems with same.
There will be a higher possibility of airborne dust in the block immediately surrounding and downwind of the demolition site, depending on weather conditions. If you find dust uncomfortable or irritating, or if you have any respiratory conditions that might be aggravated by dust, please evacuate your building and plan to run errands, elsewhere, at the time the structures are brought down and immediately afterward until the dust has been cleaned up.
2. Noise is an unpreventable byproduct of all types of demolition. Conventional demolition of the chimneys would result in noise from jackhammer operations segmenting the chimneys from the top-down for several months. With CDI’s felling of these structures, the neighborhood would experience noise levels similar to a thunderstorm for only a few seconds.
3. More than 100 years of vibration monitoring data assembled by the US Bureau of Mines established guidelines for safe vibration levels for the operation being performed at the Cheswick Power Station. Project-specific vibration estimates have been calculated and were well within allowable regulatory limits. That said, if you have concern for delicate items or family heirlooms hanging on your wall or sitting on a shelf, lay them on your sofa or bed during the felling of the chimneys, for your own peace of mind.
4. Early Friday morning, the Springdale Police Department will set up an Exclusion Zone around the site, to prevent people from getting too close. For those persons inside the Exclusion Zone, we ask that you cooperate with the Police Department and contractors. Everything they say to you or ask of you is to minimize inconvenience or to promote safety.
Starting on Tuesday, May 30th, a pre-demolition photographic survey will be made by an independent engineering company to document the pre-existing condition of structures and properties adjacent to the fall zone in accordance with State Law, and noise and vibration monitoring instruments will be set up around the demolition site to monitor actual levels of same generated by the felling of the chimneys.
A post-felling survey will be made to determine whether or not any changes have taken place. The vibration monitoring records and pre/post-survey reports go to the State of Pennsylvania to protect the interests of all parties involved.
Following the felling of the chimneys and once the “all clear” has been given by CDI, the Grant Mackay Co team will begin a post-demolition evaluation and documentation of adjacent areas/structures to assess the level of clean up required and then implement all necessary clean up.
Should you have any questions, please direct them to: Graham Miller (801)347-6469 OR Jeremy Williams (281) 508-4442
This notification was posted by Cheswick. Cheswick is solely responsible for this notification and unless specifically indicated, no other community or individual utilizing Savvy Citizen is sponsoring, responsible for, or endorsing this notification.
