The City of Columbia City contacted SES Environmental to assist with redeveloping a property formerly utilized as the municipal power and water plant. The facility was located in a residential sector of the city, close to the downtown area. Attempts to market the facility to perspective developers had failed due to suspected environmental concerns.

A Phase I ESA identified several environmental concerns related to the facility including: former underground storage tanks, aboveground storage tanks, asbestos containing materials, the release of PCB-containing oil, abandoned transformers, and 55-gallon drums of unknown liquid waste. A potential for migration of contaminants beneath the site from an adjacent abandoned service station was also identified.

On behalf of the City of Columbia City, SES Environmental prepared a Brownfield grant application and work plan for submittal to the Indiana Development Finance Authority (IDFA) and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. The full amount of the grant request was awarded by IDFA and the work plan was approved by IDEM.

Based on the investigation results, remediation efforts focused on removing containerized waste from the site, removing friable asbestos containing materials, and removing surface areas impacted by PCB and petroleum contamination. The City of Columbia City then demolished the facility. The City is presently considering the site for expansion of municipal services.