Polymer Applications State Superfund Site
Fact Sheet September 2009
NYSDEC Amends Cleanup Plan for Polymer Applications Site; Public Invited to Comment on Proposed Changes
Introduction
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has determined that a previous cleanup action taken at the Polymer Applications site in the Town of Tonawanda has failed to achieve cleanup objectives specified for the site. DEC is proposing to change the original cleanup plan specified in the March 1996 Record of Decision by issuing a document called the Record of Decision (ROD) Amendment. The amendment proposes to remove the remaining contaminated soil to an appropriate off-site disposal facility.
New York State regulations require DEC to provide an opportunity for the public to comment on proposed changes to previously-issued site cleanup plans. Accordingly, a public comment period on the draft amendment will run from October 5 to November 3, 2009. Written comments may be submitted to the DEC project manager listed below. In addition, a public meeting to discuss the proposed changes to the cleanup plan will be held on Wednesday October 14, 2009 at 7 PM at Sheridan Parkside Community Center (169 Sheridan Parkside Drive, Tonawanda, NY 14150) in the Town of Tonawanda.
Why Is DEC Proposing to Amend the Cleanup Plan for the Site?
The March 1996 Record of Decision (the document that finalized and described the original cleanup plan for the site) provided for the construction of a bio-treatment cell where contaminated soil would be consolidated and treated with microorganisms that break down certain contaminants. The bio-treatment cell, constructed in 2006, operated continuously from April 2006 until January 2007, when operations were suspended to evaluate the effectiveness of the system. Sampling of cell soils at that time indicated that no significant reductions in contaminant concentrations had occurred.
The bio-treatment system failed to reduce contaminant concentrations and achieve cleanup standards that would make the site suitable for commercial redevelopment. The contaminated soil is primarily silt and clay, and removal of organic contaminants from such soil is difficult. A significant threat to human health and the environment continues to exist. The contamination also jeopardizes future development of the site. Because of these factors, DEC proposes to decommission the bio-treatment system and remove the remaining contaminated soil.
What Specifically Does the ROD Amendment Propose?
The ROD Amendment proposes a number of actions to address the remaining contamination. They include:
- Excavating approximately 10,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil from the treatment cell and disposing it at an appropriate facility;
- Sampling and monitoring groundwater in the northeast portion of the site to assess the effectiveness of the excavation; and
- Issuing an environmental easement to ensure that future use of the site is for commercial purposes only.
Implementing the proposals in the ROD Amendment will cost approximately $5.5 million. Almost $4.8 million has been spent to date on cleanup actions prescribed in the original Record of Decision.
Site Background
The Polymer Applications site is a 6.7 acre parcel located in a heavily industrialized area in the Town of Tonawada in Erie County. It is located on the eastern side of River Road, directly across from the NRG Huntley power generating facility.
Polymer Applications, Inc. operated at the site from 1968 through 1988. Its activities included the manufacture of phenolic resins, phenol-formaldehyde resins, plastics, and various rubber products for use in the automotive, paint, and coatings industries. In July 1988, a major fire severely damaged the process and tank farm areas of the site. An estimated 70,000 gallons of a phenol/solvent mixture were released during the fire.
Since that time, both the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the DEC have performed cleanup operations at the site. In 1996, EPA removed a number of hazardous materials, including drums, chemical storage tanks and other hazardous substances. In 2005 through 2006, DEC performed additional measures, including:
- Removing and disposing 3,537 tons of contaminated concrete;
- Removing and disposing 8,500 tons of contaminated soil;
- Removing and disposing hazardous materials such as chemical storage drums and asbestos;
- Installing two wells to extract potentially contaminated deep aquifer groundwater; and
- Excavating and consolidating contaminated off-site soils for bio-treatment in a containment cell.
Next Steps
All comments received during the public comment period will be considered as the cleanup plan for the Polymer Applications site is amended and finalized. Public input will be factored into the Final ROD Amendment, which will describe the cleanup alternative selected and why it was chosen. DEC will respond to public comments in a document called the responsiveness summary, which will be included in the Final ROD Amendment. DEC will keep the public informed about project developments and milestones through fact sheets similar to this one.
Who Should I Call If I Have Questions About the Site?
Environmental Questions
Jeffrey Konsella
NYSDEC
270 Michigan Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14203
(716) 851-7220
Health Questions
Matt Forcucci
NYSDOH
584 Delaware Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14202
(716) 847-4385
Locations to View Project Documents
To keep you informed, NYSDEC has set up two locations at which you may view project documents. These locations include:
Kenmore Library
160 Delaware Road
Kenmore, NY 14217
Phone: (716) 876-6929
NYSDEC Region 9 Office
270 Michigan Avenue
Buffalo, New York 14203
Phone: (716) 851-7220 (Please call for appointment)
You can also view an electronic version of the ROD Amendment by clicking on the link in the right column.
