Brownfield Project Receives Award
Baldwinsville Brownfield Project Receives Award for Engineering Excellence
Thanks to the work of many people, including two DEC engineers who have been honored for their work, the Village of Baldwinsville, Onondaga County, now has an attractive, new outdoor facility.
The New York Association of Consulting Engineers, Inc. (NYACE) recently selected Paper Mill Island, a brownfield site in Baldwinsville for the prestigious 2002 Platinum Award for Engineering Excellence in the category of Environmental Engineering. This project, managed by Bradley Brown and James Drumm from the Division of Environmental Remediation in Albany, transformed a former paper mill from an abandoned, contaminated site into a popular waterfront park and amphitheater.
History of Cleanup
Under the Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act, the Village of Baldwinsville entered into a State Assistance Contract with DEC in September of 1998 to perform a site investigation and evaluate remedial alternatives for the Paper Mill Island site. As part of the investigation, several interim remedial measures were conducted including removal and proper disposal of drums, old electrical equipment and an underground storage tank.
From the mid-1800s until its abandonment
in the late 1980s, this site was used by
various entities including a paper mill,
a boat works and a stove manufacturing
facility; the result was significant
contamination of the land.
The site investigation revealed contamination in surface and subsurface soil by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and metals. PAHs are a group of chemicals that are formed during the incomplete burning of coal, oil, gas, garbage or other organic substances. Mercury and lead contamination was also identified at several locations in both surface and subsurface soil samples.
In 1999, based on findings of the investigation, DEC selected a remedy for the site which included a soil cap, a retaining wall to stabilize the shoreline and control erosion and institutional controls for cap inspection and maintenance. The Village of Baldwinsville was awarded a second grant under the Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act for design and construction of the remedy and the village also partnered with several private entities to fund infrastructure improvements in conjunction with the remedial program.
Current Status
In September 2000, a municipal waterfront park and amphitheater was opened on the remediated property, complete with Seneca River boater access. The park now hosts concerts and events from May through September and has become a popular destination for village residents and tourists alike.
