Photo courtesy NCM Demolition and Remediation

Demolition, asset recovery and hazardous material abatement began while the 1,580-MW plant was still generating power.

Decommissioning this coal-fired powerplant in Nevada was in some ways more challenging than its original construction. Demolition, asset recovery and hazardous material abatement began while the 1,580-MW plant was still generating power. The contractor hired electricians that had worked at the Mohave plant their entire careers and who were very familiar with the electrical systems. To close up the site's 217 acres of ponds, crews had to relocate 1.4 million cu yd of material to an on-site landfill. Since temperatures often exceeded 120° F, the contractor created a unique heat and stress program with cool-down stations and a designated water monitor who stocked water supplies and even weighed every worker daily to ensure their hydration levels didn't drop.

Key Players

Contractor: NCM Demolition and Remediation, Brea, Calif.

Owner: Southern California Edison, Rosemead, Calif.

Civil Engineer: Bureau Veritas North America, Costa Mesa, Calif.

Plant Maintenance & Grading: FHI Inc., Laughlin, Nev.

Auctioneer: Stewart B. Milner & Associates, Union, Mo.

Submitted by NCM Demolition and Remediation