Rock Island Arsenal Public Works

Vision Statement

The Directorate of Public Works, IMRI-PW, is committed to making the Rock Island Arsenal the best it can be. We are the "Piece of the Rock" that enables the others to work comfortably and effectively. Public Works, PW, includes these teams: Engineering Services, Base Operations Contract Management, Master Planning, Real Estate Support, and Environmental.

Mission Statement

The Rock Island Arsenal Public Works Directorate exists to serve as the installation engineering staff for all real property operations and documentation, alterations, minor construction projects, and maintenance and repair for core services including the following: utilities, buildings, roads and grounds, waste disposal management, and environmental support. PW also performs contract administration including COR (Contract Officer Representative) duties for maintenance, repair, construction, and other contracts related to public works functions.

In addition, PW ensures compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act (16 USC 470), and coordinates and directs the natural resources and environmental control program.

Overview of Services

The Public Works serves as engineering consultants and liaison action officers between the Garrison Commander, tenant agencies, local and state governments pertaining to facilities engineering, master planning, construction, facility maintenance and utility operation, real estate and installed property at RIA.

Plan, oversee, and coordinate the preparation of the Annual Work Plan, Master Plan, Natural Resources Plan to include Land Management, Grounds Maintenance, Landscape Planting, Pest Management Plan, Preventive Maintenance Plan, and the Public Works portion of DCP (Disaster Control Plan).

Conduct historical inventories and archaeological surveys. Completes sensitive work on structures and land in the National Register of Historic Places and the National Landmark.

Supports programs such as energy conservation, parking requirements, capabilities of utility systems by coordinating miscellaneous engineering studies and analyses.

Oversees the operation, maintenance, and repair of the utility plants and systems in order to provide water, sewage, electricity, gas, and steam for the entire installation complex. Includes providing contract drawings, cost estimates, design, preparing specifications, and projects. The main areas of utilities programs are 1) heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, steam distribution systems, storm and sanitary sewer distribution systems and other mechanical equipment and 2) Electrical substations, distribution systems, power transmission lines, electrical equipment installations, lighting systems, electrical signal systems, and other phases of electrical engineering. Prepares contractual documents related to utilities sales and procurement.

Perform Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) and Engineering Technician duties. Operates a customer service and work reception desk to receive service orders and Individual Job Orders. Performs job estimating and planning, coordination of supplies, and work scheduling for the real property maintenance activity mission. Performs and reports results of labor standard interviews. Provides technical studies and various engineering and drafting support. Prepares documentation in support of RIA's MCA program.

Accountable for Real Property.

Roads and Grounds: In-house work to include contract drawings, cost estimates, design, preparing specifications and projects to include grading plans, roads and railways, layouts, hydraulic design of drainage systems, sewer and water distribution systems and traffic engineering.

Plan, coordinate and direct the installation programs that are inherently the responsibility of the DPW (land, forest, and wildlife management, drainage/erosion control, use of herbicides, sanitary control of water supplies, etc.) Conduct studies and incorporate pollution control measures in new construction and renovation/modifications to comply with pollution standards.

Manage and implement the following programs:

• National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) program
• Underground Storage Tank (UST) program
• Radon Reduction Program (RPP) dealing with asbestos, lead-based paint, and entomology management overview
• Title V Air Program, including permits, Risk Management Plan, and Annual Air Emissions Report
• Hazardous Materials Program (HMP) including the pharmacy concept
• Hazardous Waste Program (HWP), including training, permits, sampling, and analysis
• Pollution Prevention Program (PPP), including hazardous waste minimization
• Clean Water Program (CWP), including wastewater permits, sampling, and analysis
• Storm Water Management Program
• Spill Prevention and Countermeasures Plan and Maintenance
• Polychlorinated Biphenyls Program
• Installation Restoration Program (IRP) concerning landfill, UST, and other sites discovered

Provide Source Selection Evaluation Criteria and review concerning environment and radiology plans to the Contracting Officer. Provide a representative to Environmental Quality Control, Hazardous Materials/Waste and Pollution Abatement type Committees/Boards.

Annual Water Service Reporting: 

The following documents are provided for information on the water lines that serve the Arsenal:

• 2024 RIA Consumer Confidence Report
• 2024 Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Lead Service Line Report
• 2023 RIA Consumer Confidence Report

Notice of intent to demolish structures

Rock Island Arsenal Garrison intends to demolish Building 312 (the former Clubhouse for the RIA Golf Course) and Structure 57 (the Stone Bridge located east of 312 at the back of the Golf Course Driving Range), and is currently developing a Memorandum of Agreement in coordination with the Illinois State Historic Preservation Office.

Building 312 has not been in use since the 18-Hole Golf Course was closed in 2018, and is not used for the operation for the current 9-Hole Golf Course.  In addition, the facility requires several uneconomical repairs in order to become functional.  However, that function is better suited by the current location of the 9-Hole Course Pro Shop.  While recent historic surveys have identified this building as ineligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) due to its lack of integrity resulting from multiple past alterations, the Garrison has agreed to perform and file a Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) document for this structure as a mitigation measure.

Structure 57 has not been in use for several decades, as the artificial lake it once traversed has not been present since the early 20^th century, and the bridge’s design rendered it unsafe for use.  Due to its span design and more than a century of water infiltration, the bridge suffered a catastrophic failure several years ago, resulting in a total collapse of the northern span.  The mitigation measures for the demolition of this structure include the development of a Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) document and retention of undamaged lion’s-head scuppers evidencing the masonry skill of the period of construction.

In accordance with 36 CFR 800.6(a)(4), the Garrison is soliciting comments from the public regarding this undertaking.  If you have comments regarding the demolition of these facilities, or if you would like further information on this undertaking, you may contact the RIA Cultural Resources Manager via email at RIA.CulturalResources@Army.mil.