Projects

2008 Season

In June of 2008, Ceres responded to the City of Waterloo, IA who suffered a 500-year flood event. Ceres was responsible for loading, hauling, and disposing of all flood debris, white goods, household hazardous waste, and sandbags for City rights of ways and avenues. Ceres’ work received praise and a letter of recommendation for its outstanding dedication, organization, and preparation.

Also in 2008, Ceres responded to Cameron County, Texas, the site at which Hurricane Dolly made landfall. Hurricane Dolly, a category 2 hurricane, made landfall July 23, 2008. Ceres, prior to the hurricane hitting the coast, had staff on the ground ready to begin work. The hurricane generated approximately 400,000 cubic yards of debris. Within just a few days, Ceres and its subcontractors had approximately 55 trucks loading, hauling, and disposing of the debris.

2007 Season

In February 2007, Ceres responded to the Town of Lady Lake, FL due to a tornado that damaged trees and buildings throughout the area. Ceres performed administrative tasks, including Quality Assurance, Quality Control, and logistics and accounting management. Ceres also, with the assistance of our subcontractors, performed temporary roofing installation on several residential buildings.

Also in 2007, Ceres responded to the City of Nichols Hills, OK due to an ice storm that swept through the Midwest region of the United States. Ceres was responsible for loading and hauling ice storm debris from City rights of ways. Ceres performed the work at such an exceptional level that a letter of recommendation was given by the Department of Public Works Director.

2005 Season

In response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) awarded Ceres a $500 million contract for disaster response including the tasks of: project-wide hauling, reduction and disposal of debris and white goods; trimming and removal of hazardous trees; demolition of storm damaged buildings; collection of household garbage; environmental sampling and monitoring of disposal sites; and life support services. Geographically, this contract covered an area encompassing 11 Louisiana Parishes and the operation of 56 reduction / disposal sites. Ceres' management personnel coordinated a record setting mobilization response and hauled more than 45,000 cubic yards of debris on its first day (in Jefferson Parish, LA). The large scale quantities successfully completed under this contract include: a maximum production of 194,584 cubic yards per day; project wide hauling, reducing and disposing of over 13.4 million cubic yards of debris and over 315,000 units of white goods; and trimming or removing of over 165,000 hazardous trees.

During the Hurricane season of 2005, Ceres had pre-placed contracts with Terrebonne Parish, LA and Palm Beach Gardens, FL that became activated due to Hurricanes Katrina and Wilma, respectively. In both cases, Ceres had management staff on the ground before the Hurricanes made landfall. It is noteworthy, that with Ceres already fully mobilized and in the midst of moving millions of cubic yards of debris and installing thousands of temporary roofs from previous Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the City of Palm Beach Gardens still received such a high level of service they saw fit to evaluate Ceres' performance as "Exceptional"

Also, following Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma in 2005, Ceres performed emergency response contracts in addition to the USACE and local contracts described above. Other contracts performed simultaneously include: Hurricane Katrina debris removal for the City of Biloxi, MS and the installation of over 22,000 temporary roofs on private residences in two states under two separate "Blue Roof" contracts with the USACE. During this same period, Ceres maintained its schedule on its non-disaster construction and environmental work for the USDA, USACE and other customers in states such as CA, TX, AR, MN and PR.

2004 Season

In 2004, Hurricanes Charley, Frances and Jeanne struck Florida within the space of six weeks. Ceres mobilized quickly to begin working in twelve Florida counties providing temporary blue roofs to prevent additional damage to affected homes. Ceres managed a work force of over 600 personnel completing roof repairs to over 15,000 homes and buildings. As one of the main three selected prime contractors on the Hurricane Frances recovery, Ceres supervised our own crews as well as those of 35 subcontractors, including many local companies that employed workers from the disaster zone.

In December of 2004, Ceres also completed an additional contract for the collection and disposal of debris generated from Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne. Ceres removed vegetative and demolition debris from County-maintained roadways and rights-of-way and hauled it to Temporary Debris Storage and Reduction Site (TDSRS). Ceres crews collected and hauled 404,927 cubic yards of debris including 679 stumps up to 9 feet in diameter.

2003 Season

In late 2003 Ceres performed the collection, hauling, and disposal for Wight County, Virginia. Isle of Wight County was among the Virginia counties hardest hit by Hurricane Isabel. Ceres crews removed debris from the rights of way and collected and hauled the debris to three Temporary Debris Staging and Reduction Sites. At the TDSRS, Ceres received additional debris from citizens, supplied the inspection tower, reduced the debris through air curtain incineration and by tub grinding, and hauled out the ash and wood chips to County-selected disposal sites. A significant number of local County residents were hired as temporary employees to perform the work on this contract.

2002 Season

In 2002, as a result of ice storms that passed through Oklahoma and Missouri, Ceres was contracted for debris collection and hauling by the City of Kansas City(Missouri) and Seminole County(Oklahoma). The City of Kansas City informed Ceres that it was requiring the first pass to be completed within 14 days. Ceres mobilized over 160 subcontractors hauling more than 450,000 yards and completing the first pass within the required time. At the City's direction, Ceres continued to make numerous additional passes, eventually hauling a total of 669,450 yards. In Seminole County, Ceres crews, chainsaw operators, excavator operators, skid-steer operators, grapple loading trucks and dump trucks removed and hauled tree debris from the streambeds and watershed areas. The debris was taken to a Temporary Debris Staging and Reduction Site where it was reduced through grinding and incineration.

2001 Season

In early 2001, due to another severe ice storm, the Oklahoma State Park of Beavers Bend Resort sustained significant tree and forest damage. Ceres was contracted to trim damaged trees and remove any leaning trees or broken branches as well as remove all tree debris on the ground. Also, early in the 2001 season Ceres was contracted by the City of Atlanta, Texas to remove ice storm-damaged trees, limbs and branches from public rights-of-ways and municipal buildings. Ceres was also responsible for hauling the debris to a pre-determined city disposal site.

1999 Season

In 1999, Ceres was contracted by the North Carolina Department of Transportation in Wayne County after Hurricane Floyd for the hauling of hurricane generated debris to debris segregation/processing facilities throughout the county for segregation, reduction, and disposal. It involved debris hauling, debris disposal, storm damaged and diseased tree removal, and tree-waste hauling. Also due to the destruction of Hurricane Floyd, Ceres was contracted by the City of Goldsboro, North Carolina to provide the reduction of vegetative debris and stumps from areas that had been declared "disaster areas". Ceres provided services in segregation of materials such as paper, plastic, metal, and dirt from woody debris; the grinding/chipping of woody debris including stumps; and the disposal of all materials and end products. Later this same season, Ceres was also contracted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the clean up of Tornado related debris in the Oklahoma City area. Ceres was responsible for the clean up of 2 of 5 contracted areas of which the amount of debris removed by Ceres and our subcontractors totaled more than 83,000 cubic yards. The concrete, vegetative waste, and other non-metallic materials were reduced using industrial grinders at a temporary reduction site. All metallic materials, household hazardous and contaminated materials were disposed of at a landfill or other appropriate disposal facilities.

1998 Season

When Hurricane Georges struck Puerto Rico in 1998, Ceres was awarded several contracts by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Ceres simultaneously completed a temporary roofing mission installing over 3,000 temporary roofs, while also managing the removal and reduction of millions of cubic yards of debris from the main island and a smaller island to the east. Ceres successfully mobilized from the United States and established and managed 17 debris reduction sites throughout the island of 3000 square miles. Then followed the sorting, specialized processing and reduction of more than 2.3 million cubic yards debris while simultaneously hauling and disposing of 1 million cubic yards of debris. This project was made more difficult by the fact that this was Ceres' first project in an unfamiliar region where English was not the native language; and more significantly, the island had a lack of qualified Subcontractors. Ceres management successfully performed this project by hiring and directly managing more than 1400 local employees in lieu of significant subcontracting. The project also involved the on-site design and construction of specialized equipment to aid in the debris segregation and processing activities, which resulted in the recycling of millions of cubic yards of material that would otherwise have been land-filled. This project earned a high customer evaluation.

1997 Season

In the Spring of 1997, the Red River poured over dikes into the neighboring city of Grand Forks, North Dakota. Only 7 homes out of 5501 escaped flood damage. East Grand Forks saw almost $2 billion in damage due to the flooding. Ceres was contracted by the City of East Grand Forks to complete the demolition of several unsafe and uninhabitable commercial properties. Ceres was responsible for the segregation, reduction, and recycling of the materials.

1996 Season

In the Fall of 1996, a category 3 hurricane named Hurricane Fran made landfall on the Southeastern coast of the U.S. hitting hardest in North Carolina.  The storm caused nearly $3 billion in damages.  Ceres was contracted as a result of the devastation brought by the hurricane.  Ceres was responsible for the removal, reduction and the reduction site management of this contract.  

1995 Season

During the 1995 season, Ceres saw a great deal of work near the Rocky Mountains in Denver, Colorado.  That season a severe ice storm blanketed the Denver, Colorado area.  Ceres was contracted by the City of Denver for the recycling of urban vegetative tree waste including logs, brush, stumps, shrubs, etc.  Ceres processed and marketed more than 154,000 cubic yards of tree waste that resulted from this storm.   

1994 Season

This season saw an unusual assault of ice storms in the Virginia and Kentucky regions of the United States. A swath of the region was coated with 1 to 3 inches of solid ice from freezing rain and sleet. Ceres was contracted for the grinding of vegetative waste generated from the storm. Much of the tree waste contained a proportion of non-grindable material. These materials were segregated and the woody and vegetative materials were ground, hauled away, and disposed.

1992/1993 Seasons

Ceres was contracted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for emergency disaster area clean-up following Hurricane Andrew. Ceres was responsible for the reduction and tree waste at scattered locations, primarily agricultural orchards, in cooperation with the U.S. Soil Conservation Service. Ceres successfully mobilized crews, acquiring 25 pieces of new specialized equipment, set up field offices, and began work within 48 hours of contract award notification. Throughout the duration of this project Ceres met or exceeded rigorous production standards. The Army Corps of Engineers granted Ceres successive contract extensions due to our superb performance. Also during this time Ceres was responsible for the grinding of sorted vegetative debris and the production of organic mulch which was to be land spread in areas of massive topsoil erosion and separation of landfill residuals using the screening plants.

Hurricane Katrina

The demolition portion of this disaster recovery mission included removal of nearly 1000 residential structures in accordance with emergency government orders following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. Demolition included completion of asbestos and engineering surveys, building categorization, building preparation with removal of hazardous and recyclable materials, demolition using standard C&D techniques or specialized regulated ACM protocol, and waste material containerization and disposal.

Arctic Ice Lab, Naval Base Point Loma, San Diego CA

This project included the demolition of five buildings, totaling more than 10,000 SF that comprised the 1950s-era Arctic Ice Laboratory. The project also included removal and disposal of multiple Above Ground Storage Tanks, PCB transformer and capacitor banks; the preservation and salvage of historic WWII artifacts, and the removal of various hazardous materials. Preparatory work included abatement of over 10,000 SF of vinyl asbestos floor tile; removal of 53,000 SF of transite paneling, and abatement of over 2500 LF and 6700 SF of thermal system insulation. Other hazardous materials removed included liquid mercury and 330 gallons of methylene chloride. This demolition was performed by deconstructing a 2-story metal frame structure that had been constructed on top of a history, concrete, WWI-era battery whistler. The deconstruction was completed successfully, with preservation of the battery whistler and other historic artifacts.

Antigua and Ascension Island

Demolition of Various Facilities, Antigua and Ascension Island. Decommissioning of the Desalinization Plant, Ascension Island.

These projects included the asbestos abatement and demolition of 9 facilities located on Antigua and 3 facilities and 1 Desalinization Plant on Ascension Island. Ascension Island is located in the South Atlantic Ocean approximately 5,000 miles from Cape Canaveral, FL. The primary features of the project included: engineering and asbestos surveys, asbestos abatement, lead abatement, demolition, transportation and disposal of debris, environmental protection, grading, and site restoration. Equipment and materials were coordinated and shipped through the POE at Cape Canaveral, FL.

Demolition & Asbestos Abatement; Thule Air Force Base, Greenland

Consolidated Demolition of 85 Buildings, Thule Air Force Base, Greenland. Demolition and Asbestos Abatement of P-Mountain, Thule Air Force Base, Greenland.

The project included the demolition and dismantling of 113 wood frame and steel structures including asbestos abatement, hazardous waste handling and disposal, environmental protection, grading, and site restoration. The structures included primarily prefabricated wood-frame structures on the main installation, but also included structures associated with remote mountainous ICBM launch sites and satellite tracking facilities. The remote location of the satellite tracking facilities required the design and construction of a local asbestos/demolition debris disposal facility. Due to the climatic conditions work was limited to the period from 1 JUN to 30 SEP and the transportation of equipment and materials was accomplished with one vessel per annum. POE Bayonne, NJ.

Emergency Demolition; Thule Air Force Base, Greenland

In 1997, Ceres was non-competitively selected by the United States Air Force for an emergency demolition project at Thule Air Base, Greenland, and located 700 miles from the North Pole. This difficult demolition project consisted of a large, severely-damaged building that was in imminent danger of collapse, potentially onto a portion of the still occupied Early Warning Radar station that monitors the northern hemisphere and eastern coast of the United States. Unique project challenges included air lifting a 70,000 pound piece of specialized demolition equipment to Greenland and performing the work during October where limited daylight. Other challenges included severe cold and the ever present danger of strong winds exiting off the polar ice cap, often in excess of 200 mph, added to its complexity and danger of this work. Ceres was given an outstanding rating for its performance on this project.

Mammoth Dome Stair Tower

Demolition of Existing concrete and metal staircase and replacement with stainless steel staircase connecting Little Bat Avenue with Mammoth Dome Stair Tower. Complete coating removal and repainting of the Mammoth Dome Stair Tower.

The first portion of the project involved the demolition and removal of two concrete platforms and one 25' long metal staircase that links Little Bat Avenue to the Mammoth Dome Stair Tower. All equipment and materials were transported by hand approximately 1600 feet into the cave. The operations were confined to the immediate work limits, temporary barriers were utilized, and plywood protection was installed to prevent damage to the cave walls during demolition activities. New concrete and a stainless steel staircase with handrails were installed. The second portion of the work included stripping the existing coatings and repainting the stair tower. The tower was stripped to a SSPC Guide 6 specification using abrasive blasting equipment fed through a 150 PSI 2" air line to a HP 750 CFM compressor staged outside the cave entrance, 1600 feet away. A 6 mil reinforced poly full containment with two 2000 CFM negative air machines equipped with HEPA Filtration for dust and particulate control during blasting operations was constructed. Sponge Media was utilized to control dust and facilitate media recycling. The tower was painted with a two part zinc prime, intermediate mastic, and aliphatic finish coat totaling 10 mils dry thickness. PPE included supplied air compressors, blast hoods, chemically resistant clothing, tyvek coveralls, and silverchem gloves and boots. Personal and Area monitoring was conducted for lead, silica, nuisance dust, isocyantes, trimethylbenzene, and xylene.

Demolition of WWII Wood Frame Buildings; Ft. McCoy, Wisconsin

This project included the removal and disposal of 78 buildings, pump houses, and enclosed walkways along with disconnecting and closure of utilities, asbestos abatement, PCB contaminated materials removal and disposal, and lead based paint remediation. Ceres was responsible for the segregation of 17,000 cubic yards of wood waste and recycled 6,000 cubic yards of clean wood waste which was marketed and utilized as a landscape mulch on Wisconsin Department of Transportation landscape projects. The recycled material was also utilized as bio-mass fuel at permitted power plants.

Demolition and Recycling of Various Buildings at Ft. Benning, Georgia

In 1996, this project included the 143,933 square feet demolition of 39 buildings including asbestos and lead abatement, the removal of utility lines, foundations, pavements and drainage structures. It also included the recycling of 20,000 cubic yards of concrete, steel, and wood, temporary sedimentation and erosion control, environmental protection, grading, site restoration and turf establishment. The demolition debris and material resulting from the work specified in this contract called to originally be disposed of at the Ft. Benning demolition landfill. Unfortunately, the disposal facility could not accommodate the quantities of debris generated and a modification was negotiated to recycle over 75% of the waste material.

Demolition of Various Facilities in Oahu, Hawaii

In 1997, Ceres conducted demolition projects at Ft. Shafer, Schofield Barracks, Wheeler Army Airfield, and Tripler Medical Center in Oahu, Hawaii. The project included the abatement of asbestos containing materials. It also included the removal and disposal of PCB light ballasts and mercury containing components. Air monitoring, lead paint sampling and analysis, and TCLP analysis of the demolition material were required and performed. Also included in the project were the disconnecting of utilities, building disposal, and site restoration.

Demolition of Various Buildings at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma

This project included the demolition of 54 wood frame buildings, foundation removal, asbestos abatement, lead paint abatement, PCB removal, environmental protection, site restoration, and turf establishment.

Demolition of Various Buildings at Ft. Knox, Kentucky

This project included the demolition of approximately 95,000 square feet of one and two story wood frame and concrete/brick buildings. Ceres was responsible for the removal and disposal of PCB’s, demolition of associated asphalt, gravel, and concrete surfaces and foundations. The disposal of the debris and materials were also performed along with site restoration and turf establishment.

Canals/Levees

Most recently, in 2006 and 2007, Ceres was awarded contracts from the USACE for the emergency repair and construction of levees in the Parishes of St. Bernard and Plaquemines Parishes, Louisiana. These levees were a portion of the canal system in Louisiana damaged by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. The repairs included reconstruction or repair of 4 levees totaling over 12 miles of levee and required excavation of unsuitable existing material, replacement and compaction of specification material, installation of barriers, and final grading and stabilization.

Cerillos Recreational Area, Puerto Rico

Project included: construction of new roads and buildings, picnic shelters, boat landings, fountains, multi-purpose fields, and related park appurtenances for the Cerillos Park Recreational Area in Puerto Rico. This project has been noted for its high-quality materials of construction, resulting in the development of recreational areas that are considered superior by local residents.

Aviary

Between 2006 and 2007 this project was the construction of a parrot recovery aviary complex located in the Caribbean National Rain Forest, Puerto Rico. This facility was constructed under rain forest conditions and included: Site work, clearing excavation, grading, roads, paving, sewer and water, and electrical. The building construction consisted of a main research building along with two associated maintenance and storage buildings. All of the buildings were constructed with concrete and designed to withstand hurricane force winds.

USACE Habitat Rehabilitation project in Wisconsin, along the Mississippi River, 2002.

This project involved clearing and grubbing, wick drain dewatering for pressurized soil conditions approximately 12 feet below the water table, and excavation for the installation of water control structures. The water control structures were comprised of a large stop-log structure and approximately 100 linear feet of 7-foot diameter concrete pipe. A crane was utilized for the installation of the stop-log structure and the concrete pipe. The water control structure was backfilled, compacted, and a new asphalt road with cable guard fence was installed across the buried water control structure.

Dallas, Texas: Trinity River Floodway construction project, 2005.

This $12 million U.S. Army Corp of Engineers construction project located in Dallas, Texas involved the construction of a storm water diversion cell, utilizing natural attrition for the degradation or treatment of storm water contaminants. The cell was constructed in earthen benches allowing for specific natural grasses and other plant species to be propagated at specific water depths. Features of construction included diversion cell construction utilizing GPS-guided equipment, piping and pump station installation, grading and concrete work.

Emergency Bank Stabilization, Lock and Dam 8 Mississippi River, 2001

In an effort to address flood damage reduction measures, erosion control, and other deteriorating measures to protect the natural resources in the lower Midwest valley, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contracted Ceres to execute emergency bank stabilization on Lock and Dam 8 located along the Mississippi River. This project involved approximately 4,000 feet of bank reconstruction (excavation of 10,000 feet of material), 5600 tons of granular bedding placement, and 13,000 tons of rip rap placement.

Dredging of Upper Mississippi River Channel, 2001

Ceres was contracted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to execute an excavation and dredging project on the Mississippi River. The project included approximately 46,000 cubic yards of Channel excavation/dredging, transportation and disposal of the dredged material via hydraulic pipeline, the return pumping of the sluice water, and the installation of 11,000 tons of Channel protection and flow structures.