SUNNYVALE TOWN CENTER VAPOR REMOVAL TO BEGIN

SUNNYVALE, Calif. – Two soil vapor extraction systems, designed to remove the soil vapor contamination under the parking lot and parking structure in the eastern portion of Sunnyvale’s Town Center redevelopment project, are scheduled to begin operation within the next two weeks. Extensive sound insulation has been designed into the construction to minimize noise. For the next several months, the extraction equipment will most likely operate 24-hours a day to remove as much vapor as possible.

The soil-vapor extraction system uses a series of wells and buried collector pipes connected to a vacuum pump to draw out vapors that resulted from a decades-old release of what apparently were dry cleaning fluids. The extracted vapor is then processed through activated carbon filters to remove contaminants. The extraction systems have been approved by the Regional Water Quality Control Board as part of the remediation plan for the site, and have received permits from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. Noise will be monitored and regulated to ensure compliance with the City’s noise control laws.