May 2007 Former Smith Corona Facility Fact Sheet
May 2007
Announcing Two Public Information Sessions
on the
Former Smith Corona Manufacturing Facility
Cortlandville, N.Y.May 22, 2007
Cortlandville Fire Department
999 Rt. 13 Cortland, NY 13045Public Availability Session
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
and
Public Meeting
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
On May 22, 2006, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) and the Cortland County Health Department will host two public informational sessions to update the community on the recent environmental investigations near NYS Route 13 and Lime Hollow Road in Cortlandville.
In the afternoon, representatives from state and local health and environmental agencies will be available to discuss individual sampling results, answer specific questions, or talk one-on-one with members of the community during the Public Availability Session. A formal presentation will be given during the scheduled evening Public Meeting which will also provide an opportunity for questions. The public is invited to attend the afternoon session and/or the evening public meeting.
Background - The former Smith Corona manufacturing facility is located near the intersection of NYS Route 13 and Lime Hollow Road in Cortlandville. It is directly south of the intersection of Rt. 13 and Rte. 281. The facility released trichloroethene (TCE), and other chemicals into the soil and groundwater during its operation in Cortlandville. Under the terms of a 1989 Settlement Agreement between the State of New York and Smith Corona Corporation, the company performed an environmental investigation, removed contaminated soils and installed environmental treatment systems to address the contamination. Smith Corona also funded public water lines to the affected off-site area, and a long-term groundwater monitoring study administered by the Cortland County Health Department. The long-term monitoring data indicate that concentrations of TCE in the local groundwater remain slightly above New York State standards, however this groundwater is not used for the public water supply. The public water supply source is not contaminated, is tested regularly, and your water is safe to drink.
VAPOR INTRUSION EVALUATION
Soil vapor or soil gas is the air found in the pore spaces between soil particles. Through a process called vapor intrusion, volatile compounds like TCE can migrate upward from the groundwater (as a vapor) and move through subsurface soils and into the indoor air of overlying buildings in ways similar to that of radon gas seeping into homes. Indoor air is affected by vapor intrusion when volatile chemicals in soil gas beneath a building are drawn through the foundation and mix with the indoor air. This vapor intrusion pathway may be important for buildings both with and without a basement. This past winter, the NYSDEC and the NYSDOH, in conjunction with the Cortland County Health Department, continued the investigation begun in 2005 (see attached Study Area figure) to determine if TCE or other volatile compounds are entering homes via vapor intrusion. With permission from homeowners, soil vapor and air samples were collected from inside homes in locations that warranted sampling. In addition, groundwater samples were also collected from the network of monitoring wells that were installed in the area. All of the samples were sent to certified independent laboratories where there were analyzed for volatile organic compounds.
Mitigation and Monitoring - Based on the groundwater monitoring and home sampling that was conducted the past two winters, the Agencies have identified the extent of the homes impacted or potentially impacted by vapor intrusion (see attached Mitigation Area figure). Property owners in that area will be offered a vapor intrusion mitigation system (similar to a radon system) to reduce existing or potential exposures associated with the vapor intrusion pathway. Vapor mitigation systems will be installed by qualified contractors working under State oversight. There will be no cost to the property owner for installation.
NEXT STEPS
Next winter, the Agencies will resample eight to ten homes along the boundary of the mitigation area to confirm that the area of mitigation is appropriate. If you are outside the mitigation area and the Agencies did not request to sample your home this heating season, you can assume that you are not being impacted by vapor intrusion.
In addition to the actions described above, the Agencies have also been working with the current and former owners of the SCM facility to evaluate the on¬site remedial program at the former plant site. The companies responsible for remediation of the plant site are in the process of evaluating the existing "pump and treat" system for enhancements to further restrict off-site migration of contaminated groundwater. They are also addressing potential vapor-intrusion related exposures at the former plant building.
FURTHER INFORMATION
You may obtain additional information by contacting one of representatives listed on this fact sheet, or you may view project documents at the Cortland Free Library located at 32 Church Street, Cortland (hours: Monday-Thursday 10:00 am-8:30 pm, Friday and Saturday 10:00 am-5:30 pm).
Any questions or concerns regarding the investigation can be addressed by contacting Ms. Diane Carlton of the NYSDEC at (315) 426-7403, or by calling, toll free, 1-800-388-8223.
For health-related concerns regarding this site, please contact Ms. Henri Hamel of the NYSDOH at (315) 477-8154 or Ms. Audrey Lewis of the Cortland County Environmental Health Department at 607-753-5035.
