Firm Description: Anchor QEA Engineering, PLLC

Specialized Environmental and Waterfront Engineering: Anchor QEA Engineering, PLLC is a nationally recognized environmental engineering and science firm specifically focused on the planning, design, and remediation of complex waterfront and industrial sites. With deep technical roots in sediment management, shoreline restoration, and aquatic remediation, the firm provides the specialized professional judgment required for high-stakes projects like the Buffalo Color Corporation Site Areas A and B Off-site remediation.
Interdisciplinary Technical Mastery: The firm’s strength lies in its interdisciplinary approach, integrating environmental science, geotechnical engineering, and coastal dynamics. This allows for the development of remedial solutions that are not only regulatory-compliant but also physically resilient in active riverine environments like the Buffalo River Area of Concern.
BCP and Superfund Regulatory Leadership: Anchor QEA maintains an extensive track record of successful navigation through the New York State Brownfield Cleanup Program (BCP) and State Superfund regulations. Their expertise ensures that all investigations and construction activities are performed in strict accordance with NYSDEC DER-10 Technical Guidance, providing a robust framework for data defensibility and project certification.
Innovation in Subaqueous Controls: The firm is a leader in the design of innovative subaqueous engineering controls. For the Buffalo Color project, this included the technical design of underwater "knee walls" and complex armor mattress systems to stabilize shoreline soils while allowing for mechanical dredging of impacted sediments. This capability addresses the unique challenges of remediating contaminated sediments immediately adjacent to sensitive industrial infrastructure.
Strategic Risk Management: Anchor QEA acts as a technical strategic partner for industrial clients, managing the inherent uncertainties of legacy contamination. By performing high-resolution bathymetric surveys and detailed sediment characterization, the firm reduces the risk of construction delays, cost overruns, and unexpected environmental conditions during remedial implementation.
Data-Driven Decision Making: Utilizing advanced GIS and CAD mapping systems, Anchor QEA produces comprehensive site records that serve as the "source of truth" for long-term site management. Their commitment to technical accuracy is reflected in the production of highly detailed Construction Completion Reports (CCR) and Site Management Plans (SMP) that govern the post-remedial lifecycle of contaminated properties.
Collaboration with State and Federal Agencies: The firm serves as a vital bridge between project sponsors (such as Honeywell International Inc.) and regulatory bodies including the NYSDEC, EPA, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This collaborative approach facilitates the efficient permitting and execution of complex dredging and stabilization programs in navigable waterways.
Commitment to Environmental Stewardship: Beyond remediation, Anchor QEA emphasizes habitat restoration and sustainable engineering practices. Their designs for shoreline stabilization often incorporate features that promote local ecological health while maintaining the necessary engineering integrity for industrial containment.
Proven Operational Scale: With offices and technical resources distributed regionally, Anchor QEA provides localized expertise for major infrastructure projects throughout the Northeast. Their involvement in the Buffalo River restoration represents one of the largest and most complex sediment remediation programs in the Great Lakes region, demonstrating their capacity to manage projects of significant technical and geographic scale.
Professional Integrity and Certification: Every technical report issued by Anchor QEA is subject to a rigorous internal quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) process. This ensures that the professional engineering certifications provided to the State of New York are backed by sound science and reliable field data, fostering long-term confidence in the protectiveness of the site remedy.

Scope of Services: Remedial Construction Implementation

Phase 1: Project Delineation and Boundary Verification: The scope of services began with the precise delineation of the "Off-site Area" associated with the Buffalo Color Areas A and B project. This area, approximately 0.45 acres of river sediment, was identified by NYSDEC as requiring a management strategy distinct from the broader Great Lakes Legacy Act (GLLA) dredging program. Anchor QEA established the technical boundaries using pre-remedial bathymetric surveys to ensure all impacted sediments within the project's jurisdiction were accounted for in the engineering design.
Phase 2: Remedial Action Work Plan (RAWP) Development: Anchor QEA developed a site-specific RAWP that outlined the technical approach for the Off-site Area. This plan, approved by NYSDEC, specified the methods for mechanical dredging, the design of the subaqueous knee wall, and the specifications for the marine armor mattress. The RAWP served as the primary regulatory and engineering roadmap for all subsequent construction activities, ensuring compliance with DER-10 standards.
Phase 3: Mechanical Dredging Operations (DMU 9 and 10): The core technical scope involved the mechanical removal of contaminated sediments within Decision Units (DMU) 9 and 10. Utilizing environmental buckets to minimize resuspension, Anchor QEA oversaw the removal of targeted sediment volumes. This activity was critical for eliminating the source of legacy pollutants that had historically migrated from the Buffalo Color upland plant into the riverbed.
Phase 4: Design and Installation of the Subaqueous Knee Wall: To facilitate dredging near the existing shoreline without compromising stability, Anchor QEA designed a permanent underwater knee wall. This engineering control, consisting of sheetpile driven to refusal at bedrock, provided structural support for the marine armor mattress and protected the toe of the existing shoreline bank. The design required complex geotechnical analysis to ensure the wall could withstand riverine hydraulic forces and dredge-induced loading.
Phase 5: Shoreline Stabilization and Marine Armor Mattress: Following dredging, the scope included the installation of a marine armor mattress system. This complex engineering control involved the placement of a geotextile separator layer topped with a specific gradation of armor stone. Anchor QEA provided real-time technical oversight to verify that the mattress achieved the required coverage and thickness, providing long-term erosion protection and containment of any residual submerged contamination.
Phase 6: Integration with Upland Vertical Hydraulic Barrier (VHB): A critical component of the scope was ensuring the subaqueous remedy integrated seamlessly with the existing upland VHB. This slurry wall, designed to prevent groundwater migration, required careful coordination during riverbank stabilization activities. Anchor QEA verified that the remedial actions in the river did not impact the integrity of the hydraulic seal provided by the VHB and the associated groundwater extraction system.
Phase 7: Site-Wide Integrated Cover System Assessment: The scope required the evaluation of the existing upland cover system on Areas A and B to ensure its continued effectiveness during off-site remediation activities. This involved inspecting soil caps, asphalt paving, and gravel covers that serve as engineering controls to prevent human exposure to subsurface contamination. Any disturbances caused by construction equipment were restored to original specifications.
Phase 8: High-Resolution Post-Dredge Bathymetry: To verify compliance with the remedial objectives, Anchor QEA performed high-resolution bathymetric surveys after dredging was completed. These surveys provided a three-dimensional map of the remediated riverbed, allowing for the quantification of removed sediment volumes and confirming that the design grades for the armor mattress were achieved. This data is a central component of the Final Construction Completion Report.
Phase 9: Water Quality and Turbidity Monitoring: Throughout the in-water construction phase, Anchor QEA implemented a rigorous water quality monitoring program. This included the use of real-time turbidity sensors and the collection of water samples for laboratory analysis. The scope was designed to ensure that remedial activities did not cause significant resuspension of contaminants, protecting the Buffalo River’s ecosystem in compliance with NYSDEC and USACE permits.
Phase 10: Environmental Easement and Institutional Controls (IC): The scope included the technical support for the recording of an Environmental Easement. This legal instrument restricts the future use of the site to commercial and industrial purposes and prohibits the use of site groundwater. Anchor QEA provided the necessary metes and bounds descriptions and survey data to ensure the easement accurately reflected the footprint of remaining contamination.
Phase 11: Site Management Plan (SMP) Revision and Implementation: As the project transitioned from construction to long-term monitoring, Anchor QEA authored the Final Site Management Plan. This document provides the long-term roadmap for the operation, maintenance, and monitoring (OM&M) of all engineering controls. The SMP outlines the requirements for annual inspections, groundwater sampling, and the periodic certification of the remedy’s protectiveness.
Phase 12: Certification and Production of the CCR: The culmination of the scope was the production of the Construction Completion Report (CCR). Anchor QEA synthesized all field logs, survey data, waste manifests, and quality control records into a definitive technical record. The report includes a professional engineering certification from a New York State licensed engineer, stating that the remedy was implemented in substantial conformance with the approved RAWP.
Phase 13: Management of Remedial Waste Streams: The scope involved the management of all waste generated during construction, including dredged sediment and displaced shoreline soils. Anchor QEA oversaw the waste characterization process and ensured that all materials were transported and disposed of at permitted facilities. This included the management of shipping manifests and the verification of total tonnage removed from the site.
Phase 14: Habitat Restoration and Shoreline Restoration: Where remedial activities impacted the shoreline, the scope included restoration activities such as regrading and seeding with indigenous vegetation. Anchor QEA designed these areas to be consistent with the broader habitat restoration goals of the Buffalo River Area of Concern, promoting a stable and ecologically functional river corridor.
Phase 15: Post-Construction Hydraulic Monitoring: Following the installation of the subaqueous knee wall and mattress, the scope included an assessment of local hydraulic conditions. Anchor QEA monitored for potential groundwater mounding behind the VHB and ensured that the new riverbed topography did not negatively impact navigation or river flow dynamics.
Phase 16: Stakeholder Coordination and Regulatory Liaison: Throughout the multi-year project, Anchor QEA maintained continuous communication with Honeywell, the NYSDEC, and local stakeholders. This involved regular progress meetings, the resolution of technical field challenges, and the preparation of responses to regulatory comments, ensuring that the project moved through the BCP milestones to final certification.

Technical Evaluation & Criteria

DER-10 Evaluation Criteria

Effectiveness: Successful removal of source sediment in DMUs 9 and 10.
Protectiveness: Implementation of a permanent subaqueous armor mattress.
Compliance: Achievement of Soil Cleanup Objectives (SCOs) for restricted industrial use.
Integrity: Structural verification of the subaqueous knee wall.
Sustainability: Shoreline stabilization using indigenous vegetation and stone armoring.

Remedial Program Performance

The technical evaluation of Site C915230A centers on the successful isolation of legacy contamination from the Buffalo River ecosystem. Through a combination of mechanical removal and engineering containment, the remedy eliminates significant threats to public health and the environment while allowing for the delisting of the river as an Area of Concern.

Technical Callouts

CCR

Construction Completion Report. The final engineering document certifying that remedial actions were performed according to the approved design.

BCP

Brownfield Cleanup Program. The NYSDEC regulatory framework used to incentivize the cleanup of contaminated industrial properties.

DMU

Dredge Management Unit. A defined geographical area within a waterway used for the systematic planning and execution of sediment removal.

VHB

Vertical Hydraulic Barrier. A subsurface engineered wall (often slurry) designed to block the lateral migration of contaminated groundwater.

GAYA CAPITAL

DOCUMENT REF: C915230A

Buffalo Color Off-site Final Area Remediation