Environmental Monitoring and
Technical Services Laboratory

Ninyo & Moore was retained to perform a geotechnical evaluation for design of the world class Metropolitan Wastewater Department's (MWWD) Environmental Monitoring and Technical Services Laboratory (EMTSL), located next to the Navy Boat Channel on the former Camp Nimitz side of the Naval Training Center. The first phase of the project includes a two-story building containing the Environmental Monitoring Laboratory, which contains extensive laboratory and research facilities. The project also includes a boat ramp and dock with slips for boats, and a 250-space parking lot. Minor dredging of the bay, disposal of dredged materials, and shoreline protection are planned. Ninyo & Moore's services included the review of stereoscopic aerial photographs, topographic maps and plans, geologic literature, and other background data; geologic reconnaissance and mapping of the site; drilling and logging of exploratory borings both onshore and offshore; mobilization of a barge for drilling the offshore borings; laboratory testing of soil samples; and geotechnical data analysis. Services included preparation of an illustrated geotechnical report with recommendations for site earthwork, pile foundations for the building and dock, protection of the shoreline fronting the site, and pavement design. The presence of faulting, seismic hazards (e.g., seismically-induced lateral spreading and liquefaction), compressible soils, and other potential geologic hazards were addressed in the report. Seismic design parameters for various local and regional faults were also provided for design of the proposed structures. Services during construction of the EMTSL included inspection of the test pile driving program and other geotechnical construction support services.