RINGGOLD, Ga. — State and county officials ordered work halted on the West Chickamauga sewer interceptor project being installed in Catoosa County by East Tennessee Grading.
The “stop work order” was issued after officials found environmental and structural problems, Stormwater Management Director Donald Brown said.
“State officials were concerned with maintaining best management practices involving silt screen fences and whether the sewer is within the 25-foot creek buffer zone,” Mr. Brown said.
Work was stopped Friday, Mr. Brown said.
East Tennessee Grading President Steve Underwood said the work was stopped to let engineers redesign some erosion control measures.
“We don’t think this is a big deal and hope to get all issues squared away today,” he said Tuesday.
He said Mr. Brown wanted a double row of more durable wire backed silt fence along West Chickamauga Creek to comply with the latest state environmental standards.
“Design changes will be resubmitted for Georgia Environmental Protection Division approval today and we hope to complete the erosion control items tomorrow,” Mr. Underwood said.
State environmental officials will determine whether the sewer pipe that will tie much of northwestern Catoosa County to the Moccasin Bend treatment facility is too close to West Chickamauga Creek.
The primary work area now is near Mack Smith Road in the area of Ann, Elizabeth and Lillian Drives.
Mr. Brown said a meeting with state officials Tuesday was to help determine when work could resume on the $3.17 million sewer line.
“I want to emphasize not one of these issues involves blasting,” Mr. Brown said.
Catoosa Commissioner Bobby Winters said Tuesday the work was halted because there were 22 violations found on the project.
“We should know something in a few days,” he said. “I know it’s hard on everyone living in that area with interruptions of water service, the blasting noise and being temporarily blocked from road access to your homes.”
Mr. Winters said everyone wants and needs sewer service in the area, but the question is how to install a line when rock is 24 feet deep in some places.
County Manager Mike Helton, Mr. Brown and representatives of East Tennessee Grading and Arcadis Engineers were to be at the Tuesday meeting with state environmental officials in Cartersville.
Mr. Helton said earlier Tuesday the goal is to have Mack Smith Road open again within three weeks.
He said he observed blasting on the project last week, following recent claims of structural damage due to blasting. A seismograph was placed between the blast area and homes.
“All measurements were under what we would be concerned about,” Mr. Helton said.
The violation notices came after the site was inspected Friday by county stormwater inspectors and representatives of the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, Mr. Brown said.
He said there was a review check list covered, and the stop work order was issued until everything is in compliance.
“If standards change during a project, but before it is completed, the new standards must be met,” Mr. Brown said.
He said he is reasonably sure East Tennessee Grading is near compliance and engineering firm for the project is working to update plans.
