Possum Point Power Station

Two decades of integrated environmental and geotechnical services

At Possum Point Power Station in Dumfries, Virginia, a legacy power facility adapting to modern energy demands and serving thousands of homes, reliable site data and infrastructure support [link to data center spotlight] have remained necessary. ECS Group of Companies provided environmental observation, geotechnical engineering and industrial hygiene services for multiple clients from 2003 to 2022. Work spanned former ash ponds, deep foundation design and hazardous materials abatement, all shaped by regulatory thresholds and challenging subsurface conditions that impact community safety and environmental quality.

Challenge: Contaminated soils and unstable marine clays

The site included three former ash ponds, which all showed arsenic concentrations far exceeding the targeted environmental screening levels for the area. Separately, over-consolidated marine clays created slope instability, producing a factor of safety lower than level required for development and long-term infrastructure reliability.

Solution: Sampling campaigns and deep foundation design

ECS conducted environmental sampling across four pond areas and advanced geotechnical exploration including borings up to 180 feet deep. Engineers designed 30-inch drilled concrete piers to stabilize slopes and later performed five SPT borings to support substation improvements, settlement estimates and seismic design classification. This work helped the facility continue operating safely and reliably as a key energy source for the surrounding community.