Council approves temporary right-of-way permit for groundwater monitoring wells at 542 15th Street

Tuscaloosa City Council voted to approve a temporary right-of-way use permit that will allow a geotechnical contractor to install monitored wells in the public alley adjacent to 542 15th Street, the Little Caesar’s site. City staff said the work is being funded through ADM, carried out by a contractor identified in the presentation, and performed by a Birmingham-based geotechnical firm. The wells are small-diameter bores into which monitoring equipment is placed periodically to sample groundwater for contaminants.

In presenting the request, a city staff member said, “It’s probably a 4 or 6 inch diameter hole drilled to a certain depth, so that they can drop a monitor in it periodically and take samples of the groundwater. They’re looking for contaminants.” Council discussion focused on public notification and liability if contamination were discovered. One council member asked, “What happens if they find contaminants?” Staff replied, “We are not responsible,” and said that remediation would most likely be handled by the contractor or the property owner, including potential brownfield work depending on findings.

A council member moved to approve the permit on the condition that staff notify the council of any test results or contaminant findings; that motion carried. The council and staff said the monitoring is temporary and that once sampling concludes, the wells will be backfilled and sealed with flowable concrete.