HERBERT T. DUANE, JR.

51 Park St., Dorchester, MA 02122
Telephone: 617-875-5328 Fax 617-282-0320

herb@rubblemakers.com

Demolition Consulting Services

  • PROJECT PLANNING & BUDGET SERVICES
  • EXPERT WITNESS SERVICES
  • CLAIM ANALYSIS
  • DEMOLITION METHOD ANALYSIS
  • DEVELOP BID AND SPECIFICATION DOCUMENTS
  • DEMOLITION PROBLEM SOLVING
  • FORENSIC DEMOLITION SERVICES
  • CONTRACTOR BACKGROUND CHECKS
  • OSHA DEMOLITION SURVEYS

    Consulting History

    DEMOLITION MANAGEMENT AND ESTIMATING PROJECTS

    U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, NEW YORK CITY
    Provide assistance in the analysis and presentation of comments on the plans and specifications for the decontamination and deconstruction of the Deutsche Bank Building and 4 Albany St., Ground Zero, New York City

    Advise the EPA whether industry standards for decontamination and deconstruction have been utilized in the plans and specifications and whether the plans and specifications ensure public and worker safety and environmental protection.

    The Deutsche Bank Building was severely damaged as a result of the collapse of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. The building was struck by an extensive amount of falling and blown debris from the WTC collapse. And is considered the most contaminated office building in the United States.

    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, Defense Special Weapons Agency, Washington, D.C.
    Estimate labor costs, time schedule and demolition methods for the dismantlement of former Soviet Union biological weapons plant in Stepnogorsk, Kazakhstan. This project required a site visit to this southern Siberian City to evaluate local conditions and meet with plant principals to coordinate planning. The plant was used to manufacture Anthrax, and was the largest biological weapons facility in the world.
    Read the story...

    BLACK & VEATCH, Los Angeles, California
    Developed demolition costs and methods for Los Angeles Sewerage Treatment Plant clarifier and aeration basins. This project included the demolition and removal of 57,000 cubic yards of concrete.

    BIBB AND ASSOCIATES, Lenexa, Kansas
    Prepared cost, salvage, debris and labor estimates for the demolition of the massive Ft. Leavenworth Army Prison. This prison is a large brick structure with several wings and was built in 1916.

    BECHTEL CORPORATION, Providence, Rhode Island
    Developed methods for interior demolition and cost estimates for the South Street Power Station in Providence, R.I., owned by Narragansett Power Co.

    METRO 25 KOREA, Seoul, Korea
    Arranged to have section of the Haengju Bridge dynamited. Sections of this bridge collapsed during construction and had to be cleared for the bridge to be rebuilt.

    LOCKHEED CORPORATION, Burbank, California
    Provide assistance in developing cost estimates, project planning, scheduling and preparing detailed work plans for the demolition of Lockheed's Burbank manufacturing facility. This site contained over 300 acres of building structures and at one time was one the largest aircraft plants in the world.

    AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, Washington, D.C.
    Developed methods for demolition and site clearance of earthquake damage in Nicaragua and Guatemala. This required trips to the area to evaluate local conditions, damage, and evaluate clean up costs.

    LOS ANGELES DEPARTMENT OF WATER & POWER / Intermountain Power Agency, Delta, Utah
    Developed demolition costs for the Intermountain Power Plant, Delta, Utah. This is the largest coal burning plant in North America, built at a cost of over $2 billion and finished in l987. This plant supplies power to the City of Los Angeles.

    Construction required moving 8 million cubic yards of earth; 500,000 cubic yards of concrete; 72,000 tons of structural steel; 500,000 tons of reinforcing steel; l3 million feet of cable and wire, and 615,000 feet of piping.

    BECHTEL INTERNATIONAL, Moscow, Russia
    Prepared demolition report for equipment and labor requirements for the demolition of fourteen-bunkers and ancillary buildings at a former Soviet facility.

    INTERNATIONAL PAPER CO., Erie, PA
    Perform background checks on bidders for the demolition of a large plant in this city. The checks uncovered a serious criminal action against one of the bidders.

    FLOUR DANIEL CO., Mt. Pleasant, Texas
    Developed procedures for debris removal of a collapsed 600' chimney. Debris had to be removed in such a way as not to hinder the investigation surrounding the cause of the collapse. The chimney collapsed on the power station causing an estimated $200 million in damages.

    RAYTHEON ENGINEERS & CONTRACTORS, Houston, Texas
    Develop demolition methods and cost estimate for the partial removal of the Baytown Tunnel, Houston, TX. This was a two lane automobile tunnel under the Houston Channel. The tunnel was 32' below mean water level and was 36' in diameter. It was removed to deepen the channel to 40' to accommodate super tankers.

    NEW ENGLAND POWER COMPANY, Westborough, Massachusetts
    Developed cost estimates for the total demolition of the Manchester Street Power Plant, Providence, R.I.

    AGWAY, CORPORATION, Syracuse, New York
    Provided specifications, bid list and cost estimates for the demolition of their fertilizer and blending plant in Caribou, Maine.

    ATHENS GENERATING PLANT, Athens, New York
    Develop demolition plan and cost estimates for this facility that went on line 2003. This plan was required to meet specifications for they're licensing permit to go on line. This was part of their decommissioning requirements.

    U.S. WEST COMMUNICATIONS, Des Moines, Iowa
    Provided cost estimates, specifications, bidder list, conducted bidder walk through and open bids for the demolition of a micro-wave tower on the roof of their main switching facility in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. This tower was 300' high, weighed 306 ton, and was located in downtown Cedar Rapids. Also performed the same service for another tower owned by them in Ames, Iowa.

    CENTRAL ILLINOIS POWER COMPANY, Peoria, Illinois
    Developed demolition cost estimates for the Wallace Power Station, Peoria. Also worked on strategy for a lawsuit brought by the contractor who failed to complete demolition work at the station.

    CH2M HILL, Seattle, Washington
    Developed cost estimate and demolition methods for the Bunker Hill Mine, Kellogg, Idaho. This mine had been designated as a superfund site.

    U.S. COAST GUARD, Washington, D.C.
    Monitored demolition of Elizabeth, New Jersey Railroad Bridge. This was the largest lift span bridge in the world.

    CITY OF NEW YORK, CORRECTIONS DEPT., New York City
    Developed costs and demolition method to remove two large concrete L.N.G. tanks, Staten Island, site of a proposed new prison. These tanks and associated equipment cost $200 million to build and was never used.

    BARCLAYS' BANK, New York City
    Developed demolition estimate and supplied contractor list to finish project they financed for Cuyahoga Wrecking Co, at the Bethlehem Steel Plant, Sparrow's Point, Maryland.

    BAYFRONT ARENA, St. Petersburg, Florida
    Worked with George F. Young, Inc. a Florida engineering firm to develop specifications, budget, plans, methods and conduct bidder's walk-through. This was an exhibition hall used by the city for graduations, ice shows, etc. We devised a plan to implode the roof of the structure and then demolish the walls in a conventional method.

    GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION, Washington, D.C.
    Developed demolition costs and time frame for the former U.S. Navy Headquarters, Constitution Avenue, Washington, D. C.

    MAECORP, Chicago, Illinois
    Prepared demolition specifications and methods for a superfund site in Cincinnati, Ohio. This project involved the demolition of two large buildings contaminated with radioactive material.

    AMAX CORP., Climax, Colorado
    Developed demolition costs and methods for their mining facility, Climax, Colorado. This included demolition of over 165 buildings.

    TAMPA ELECTRIC COMPANY (TEMCO), Tampa, Florida
    Evaluated potential demolition costs for the removal of environmental equipment lnstalled in their three large Tampa area-generating plants. The installation cost Of the equipment exceeded $400 million.

    DUTTON & VAUGHAN, Demolition Contractor, New Orleans, LA
    Developed demolition bid for a chemical plant.

    CUH2A HILL, Atlanta, Georgia
    Developed methods and costs for the demolition of seven building on the campus of the Center for Disease Control, Atlanta.

    WRECKING CORPORATION OF AMERICA, Washington, D.C.
    Monitored and developed demolition methods for large boiler plant located Children's Hospital, Boston, MA.

    WISCONSIN ELECTRIC, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
    Developed costs for the demolition of the large Lakeside Power Plant.

    AMIS CONSTRUCTION, Phoenix, Arizona
    Developed costs and demolition methods for a section of the Good Samaritan Hospital, Phoenix.

    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, San Francisco, CA
    Evaluated asbestos removal at the Kaiser Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii.

    TOWN OF BRAINTREE, MASSACHUSETTS
    Developed demolition costs for the General Dynamics Shipyard.

    AZCON, INC., Stone Mountain, Georgia
    Prepared demolition bid for a large oil refinery in Kansas City.

    DOLBEN APPRAISAL & CONSULTING CO., Boston, MA
    Developed costs for the demolition of the Greyhound Bus Terminal, Boston, MA.

    ALGONQUIN GAS TRANSMISSION COMPANY, Boston, MA
    Developed demolition costs for their Freetown, MA transmission facility.

    AMAX CORP., Hartford, Connecticut
    Developed demolition costs for the Union 76 mine facility, Questa, NM.

    STRUCTURAL STEEL FABRICATORS, Linthicum Heights, Maryland
    Developed demolition costs for extra work performed at the Springfield Mall.

    SAINT ELIZABETH'S HOSPITAL, Boston, MA
    Prepare the demolition specifications for a large church connected to the hospital.

    IVAN BRICE ARCHITECTURE & URBANISM, New York City, N.Y.
    Developed demolition methods and cost estimates for a 7 story concrete structure used by Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center.

    MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL, Boston, MA
    Developed demolition costs for the Charles Street Jail, which they purchased for hospital development.

    MCGINLEY & HART ASSOCIATES, Boston, Massachusetts
    Develop selective demolition costs associated with the moving of large historic warehouse at the former Charlestown Navy Yard.

    DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY, HOUSTON, TX
    Develop demolition costs and methods for the demolition of there subsidiary Hampshire Chemical Co., Nashua, N.H.

    VRW CONSTRUCTION CO., AUSTIN, TX
    Developed OSHA Demolition Survey for an interior demolition project they had at Southwestern University.

    BARGE WAGGONER SUMNER & CANNON, INC. Develop estimated costs and quantities for the demolition of the 20-story Baptist Memorial Hospital, Memphis, TN. This building was imploded in the fall of 2005. This is largest hospital complex ever imploded in the United States.

    South Carolina Electric & Gas Co., Jenkinsville, SC Develop costs and methods for the demolition of a 1958 atomic reactor built for the United States Atoms for Peace Program.

    OCI Chemical Co., Green River, Wyoming Develop demolition methods and costs for soda ash mine and plant. This project was undertaken so the facility would meet state licensing requirements.

    IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY, AMES, IOWA Worked with the engineering firm, Howard R. Green, Cedar Rapids, Iowa to develop program for the implosion of two 12-story residence halls. This required preparation of specifications, cost estimates, demolition methods, disposal requirements, out of state bidder list, and walk-through for bidders.

    VETERANS MEDICAL CENTER, Memphis, TN Develop budget estimates, demolition methods, time frame, and review specifications for this project. Worked with the architectural/engineering firm JMGR, Inc., Memphis. This project required removing nine stories from the fourteen story medical center. The medical center had to stay in operation while demolition was going on.


    LEGAL AND EXPERT WITNESS SERVICES

    USX CORPORATION, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
    Prepared defense in a lawsuit brought against USX for the demolition of three large steel plants in Alabama, Pennsylvania and Illinois.

    CITY OF OMAHA, NEBRASKA
    Investigate the implosion of three buildings that when imploded caused the collapse of a nearby Building that was not involved in the demolition project. My investigation determined the cause of the accident. Retained by the city law department.

    DOW CHEMICAL, Midland, Michigan
    Review depositions of legal action against Dow for a demolition worker

    killed while cutting steel. ROBINS, ZELLE, LARSON & KAPLAN, Minneapolis, MN
    Analyzed demolition procedures used in the demolition of the demolition of the Donaldson's Department Store, Minneapolis. This store was destroyed by fire during demolition causing over $90 million in damage to adjacent property. This was the largest fire in Minneapolis history.

    DAMES & MOORE, Consulting Engineers, San Francisco, California
    Assisted in the development of the "Handbook for the Rapid Visual Screening Of Earthquake Hazardous Buildings", for nation-wide use. The Federal Emergency Management Agency, Washington, D.C., sponsored this project.

    MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, Cambridge, MA
    Developed a nation wide profile of demolition debris deposited in landfills for Dr. David Gordon Wilson. This project was sponsored by the National Science Foundation, Washington, D.C

    CITY OF LOS ANGELES, CA
    Assisted the office of the City Attorney in the case of Porter, Et al. V. City of Los Angeles. This involved developing a defense against a suit by tenants of a medical building that was condemned and demolished after the l994 earthquake. This involved demolition and public safety issues.

    GENERAL MOTORS and BIERLEIN INDUSTRIAL SERVICES COMPANY, Los Angeles, California
    Preparation of defense brought against General Motors and Bierlein by a sub- Contractor on the demolition of the General Motors Plant, Los Angeles. Counsel For General Motors was Easton & Schiff.

    KASDORF, LEWIS & SWIETLIK, S.C., MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN
    Evaluated the demolition procedures used in the demolition of a plant building that resulted in the fire and collapse of an adjacent building that was not scheduled for demolition.

    GOLDBERT, KOHN, BELL, BLACK, ROSENBLOOM, & MORTIZ, LTD.,
    Chicago, Illinois Helped to develop defense in a lawsuit brought against their client by a Chicago demolition firm. This involved reconstructing their alleged potential demolition costs.

    BUCKINGHAM, DOOLITTLE & BURROUGHS, Canton, Ohio
    Evaluated the safety practices of a sub-contractor that resulted in one of his employees falling from piping during the dismantling of equipment at the Colgate Palmolive Power Plant.

    BOSTON REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, Boston, Massachusetts
    Analyzed contractor requisitions in legal action.

    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, San Francisco, CA
    Reviewed asbestos material and consulted with Agency for Hazardous Waste Investigation into the demolition of the Kaiser Steel Plant, Fontana, CA.

    ERIC KNUNKES, NUSBAUM, STEIN, GOLDSTEIN, BRONSTEIN & COMPEAU, Succasunna, N.J.
    Assisted in the development of legal defense in two demolition related workers compensation cases.

    RUTHERFORD, LAYE & JACOBS, San Antonio, Texas
    Assisted in the development in a legal case for the collapse of a safety barricade at a demolition site that resulted in the death of a pedestrian.

    FISH & RICHARDSON, Washington, D.C.
    Appeared as an expert witness in legal action concerning patent rights for debris chute.

    MARRONE, ROBINSON, FREDERICK & FOSTER, Burbank, California
    Gary Young v. Bierlein Industries, Inc. Liability case concerning a worker that fell through a debris chute while removing lead contaminated roofing material at the Southgate, G.M. Plant, Southgate, Los Angeles.

    FOWLER, SCHIMBERG & GOWMAN, Denver, Colorado
    Helped prepare defense in legal action of Tasker v. Caterpillar, Inc., Wagner Equipment Company, and Balderson, Inc. This case involved and equipment operator that lost part of a limb in an unusual equipment accident.

    ZACKS, LUPER & WOLINETZ, L.P.A., Columbus, Ohio
    Brown & Amurri v. City of Columbus. Evaluated the demolition procedures of the former Columbus Hotel. During the demolition damage was done to adjacent property

    CNA INSURANCE CO., Brea, California
    Evaluated insurance claim at Disneyland, Anaheim, California. This claim was the result of a fire at the Lincoln Theater Building while certain selective demolition was in progress.

    HEAFITZ & SULLIVAN, Newton, MA
    Provide expert witness services in a legal action suit against the Commonwealth of Massachusetts regarding the demolition of the Worcester State Hospital.

    OSHAN DEMOLISHING COMPANY, Houston, Texas
    Assisted Olshan's attorney's Stinson, Mag & Fizzel, Kansas City, Missouri. This was a suit by Armco, Inc. v. Olshan for the demolition of the Armco Plant in Kansas City, MO. It involved alleged work not completed by Olshan.

    TEKELL, BOOK, MATHEWS & LIMMER, L.L.P., Houston, Texas
    Analyzed demolition procedures used by Demolition Services, Inc. to demolish a walkway at the Northline Mall, Houston, TX. The contractors actions resulted in the death of three people

    PEABODY & ARNOLD, BOSTON, MA
    Consulted on the workmen's compensation case of a Mr. Jeffrey McNulty who was injured when he fell through a wooden mezzanine he was demolishing.

    SACHS, MAITLIN, FLEMING, GREENE, WILSON & MAROTTE, West Orange, NJ
    Expert witness in a legal action concerning Commonwealth Demolition & Dismantling. The contractor laid a fire hose across a street to wet down the demolition process and a cab drove over it moving the hose in a violent action that caused serious injury to a person on the site.

    ODE, STROUD & KLEIMAN , P.C., LANSING, MI
    At a local mall under renovation a worker was seriously injured when a wall fell on the worker. Sections of the exterior wall was previously demolished and remaining wall, that fell, wasn't properly braced to with stand wind force.

    PORTSMOUTH NAVAL HOSPITAL, PORTSMOUTH, VA
    Develop demolition costs for the interior demolition of this hospital after the demolition contractor refused to return to finish the project. This project was for AIG Insurance Co. and Kellogg, LLC, Denver, Colorado. Also furnished bid list of contractors to finish project.

    SPRIGGS & HOLLINGSWORTH, WASHINGTON, D.C.
    Assisted in developing a legal action on behalf of Building One, a large cleaning company with projects in New Hampshire. In the course of their activities they started a demolition firm to do interior demolition with the name Interstate Business Services. The firm lost over $10 million and sued their fidelity insurance carrier under their coverage that afford protection against employee fraud. They collected approximately $4 million from their carrier.

    GRIMALDI, PEARSON & WEYAND, P.C., Saginaw, Michigan Gary E. Hool, Deceased v William A. Kibbe & Associates. Mr. Hool was killed while cleaning hot spots from a kiln. In removing the hot spots the interior brick liner of the kiln collapsed burying Mr. Hool under heavy debris. The cause of the accident was improper shoring.

    WEINBERG, WHEELER, HUDGINS, GUNN & DIAL, LLC, Atlanta, Georgia Expert witness, representing a defendant, in a legal action concerning the release dust during demolition that allegedly caused damage to children in an adjacent school building. The dust was later identified as containing asbestos.

    MUNISTERI, SPROTT, RIGBY, NEWSON, & ROBBINS, Houston, Texas
    This case involved a demolition contractor that attempted to topple a structure in a chemical plant and when it collapsed it killed a worker who was cutting the support from under the structure.

    HOWD & LUDORF, Hartford, Connecticut
    This case involved the demolition a garage. During the demolition the garage collapsed on top of the contractor and one of his workers. One of the workers sued the owner of the garage for compensation.

    WEINBERG, WHEELER, HUDGINS, GUNN &DEAL, LLC., Atlanta, Georgia
    Retonia Knott, et. all. v. The Detroit Board of Education. Helped develop defense regarding the release of air borne asbestos during the demolition of a apartment building next to a school. The work was done by Adamo Wrecking Co., Detroit.

    LAW OFFICE OF PAUL D. STOCKLER, Anchorage, Alaska
    Vicky Powell vs. Durango Services. Developed a defense for Durango Services Ms. Powell who claimed that Durango Services during the demolition of the Alaska Native Medical Center caused sever damage to her rental properties that were around 300 ft. away from her property. Traveled to Alaska to testify.

    MUNISTERI, SPROTT, RIGBY, NEWSOM, & ROBBINS, Houston, TX
    Ivy v. Southern Ionics - Industrial accident where the plaintiff was cutting a vessel in an industrial plant when it collapsed on top him. The collapse resulted in the death of plaintiff.

    GRIMALDI, PARSON & WEYAND, P.C., SAGINAW, MI
    Gary E. Hool, deceased v. William Kibbe Associates. The plaintiff was repairing cracks in a rotary kiln from the inside when the liner collapsed killed him. I was An expert for the plaintiff.


    Personal History

    EMPLOYMENT

    The Duane Corporation
    President, 1968 to present

    MEMBERSHIPS & ASSOCIATIONS

    Founder & Former Executive Director
    National Association of Demolition Contractors

    Fellow -Institute of Demolition Engineers, London, England


    EDUCATION

    Babson College, Wellesley, MA
    B.S.B.A.
    Wentworth Institute, Boston, MA
    Construction courses


    OTHER ACTIVITIES

    Former Publisher
  • ECON Magazine
  • Environmental Products Index
  • Asbestos & Hazardous Waste Reporter
  • The Demo-Memo
  • Wrecking & Salvage Journal
  • Demolition & Environmental Contractor (DEC)

    Lecturer, Boston University
    Conducted opening lecture for course in Historical Building Preservation for the
    Boston architectural firm of Anderson, Feingold & Notter.

    Feature Columnist - Inside the Industry - www.demolitionx.com.

    Former Member

  • American National Standards Institute
  • Sub Committee A-10.6, Standards for Demolition

    The Duane Family has been involved in the demolition industry since 1919 and has handled many of New England's major demolition projects.

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    CopyrightŠ 2000 Herb Duane