Calvada
Environmental Services, Inc. (CES) performed an environmental
assessment of the Interstate 5 Truck tunnel more than two weeks
after an October 12 chain reaction pileup which sparked a
devastating inferno in the tunnel. The 31 car pileup generated
intense heat estimated to be up to 1,500 degrees fahrenheit reducing
many vehicles to bits of scrap metal.
CES was
contracted by the Department of Transportation (CALTRANS) under the
Emergency Response Contract which is in effect until 2010. CES was
contacted at 3:15 PM and was on site by 5:30 pm. Sampling was
conducted throughout the tunnel walls and floors to evaluate the
potential environmental effects and evaluate these results and
compared to worker exposure. | 
