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Emerson Power Transmission Environmental Investigation

Background

The Emerson Power Transmission (EPT) facility, located off Route 96B in the City of Ithaca, has operated since the early 1900s and currently is a manufacturer of steel roller chain. This process includes metal stamping, heat treating, oil quenching, parts washing, and final product assembly. Waste solvents, which were used to clean equipment at various locations within the plant, and waste oil were generated from this operation.

An environmental investigation in and around the facility began in the late 1980s. Groundwater was found to contain various organic compounds including trichloroethene and tetrachloroethene, compounds commonly found in cleaning solvents. In the 1990s, EPT began extracting groundwater and treating it before discharging it to City storm sewers that discharge to a tributary of Cayuga Inlet. Approximately 1,440 cubic yards of petroleum-contaminated soil was excavated and disposed of at High Acres Landfill in Fairport, New York. In 1991, the NYSDOH conducted indoor air sampling at several area residences and found that three of the ten homes tested, those closest to EPT, may have been slightly impacted by site-related compounds. Subsequent sampling for soil gas between EPT and these residences was attempted but could not be accomplished because of high groundwater. This sampling was completed in 2004 and results indicate the need for additional sampling near EPT and inside nearby properties.

Reports and other information

The following information is available for download:

For additional information: Copies of site-related documents are available for review at the Tompkins County Public Library, 101 East Green Street, Ithaca, NY.

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