Former United Plating
State Superfund Site Number 447018
Site Description
The United Plating site remained vacant
for 20 years prior to cleanup.
When United Plating opened in 1945, the company used large quantities of corrosive, toxic, flammable and reactive chemicals in its metal plating operations. In the early 1990s, the Environmental Protection Agency removed 1,002 drums of waste, vats containing 20,000 gallons of liquid and sludge, and a pit with 3,000 gallons of liquid acid from a building onsite. The business was closed for illegal handling of hazardous waste, and the property was abandoned.
Site investigations found widespread contamination of heavy metals and volatile organic compounds, and lead and cadmium were detected above acceptable soil and groundwater standards. The site was fenced and the buildings were boarded up to prevent vandalism and harm to public health.
Cleanup
Groundwater samples are prepped
in the field using DEC's sampling van.
Two Records of Decision (RODs), which describe the remedial actions necessary for site cleanup, were developed under the State Superfund Program for this site. The first ROD called for debris removal and building demolition. Approximately 5,488 tons of debris were removed and shipped off-site for disposal. The second ROD required the removal of contaminated sub-surface soil. Once soil removal was complete, soil sample and groundwater monitoring results showed that all cleanup objectives were met. In addition, indoor air quality sampling results indicated that no further action was necessary. DEC determined that this site no longer presented a threat to public health or the environment, and it was delisted from the New York State Registry of Inactive Hazardous Waste Disposal Sites in the fall of 2010.
Schenectady's new public works building
Reuse
In 2010 the City of Schenectady completed construction of a new public works campus and highway garage on the site.
