After a couple of coats of Thoroseal, the pea gravel is loaded into a wheel barrow, dumped into the pit, and spread out around the perimeter, by shovel and by bucket.

Once the drain tile is laid in and tied into the "pass thrus", it gets covered. Note the hole in the cistern that will eventually "drain to daylight". Note too the "pass thrus" left exposed for the anticipated inspector.

Prior to the inspection I installed pink and blue styrofoam insulation. Herring bone would have been a better but more difficult pattern. Call me a slug.

Kyle had another suggestion for me: put in some lead walls that I can tie into later on. These cores can be filled with concrete and can bear a load in the backfilled area around the hosue. I put in three of them, one on each corner.