ENB - REGION 2 NOTICES

The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (NYCHPD), the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) will conduct a public information meeting regarding an environmental site investigation of Melrose Commons Housing Bond Act Sites 1, 2 and 4-12, located within the Bronx Community District Nos. 1 and 3.

The City of New York has been approved to receive financial assistance under the 1996 New York State Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act to conduct a site investigation of the property known as Melrose Commons Housing Bond Act Sites 1, 2, and 4-12, which include several addresses: 753, 809, 910, 921 Melrose Avenue; 400 East 159 Street; 406 East 160 Street; 480, 875 Elton Avenue; 502 East 162 Street; 424 East 159 Street; and 3219 Third Avenue. The sites are currently owned by the City of New York and managed by the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development.

The study being performed at the Melrose Commons Housing Sites 1, 2 and 4-12, called a Site Investigation (SI), will determine the nature and extent of any possible contamination at the site. The SI will include the collection of soil and fill samples from the ground surface and subsurface and groundwater samples from monitoring wells that will be installed. At the conclusion of the investigation field work, a "Site Investigation Report" will be prepared and will be the basis of a "Remedial Alternatives Report" (RAR). The RAR will evaluate possible actions to clean up the site for the proposed end use as affordable housing and related uses. Based on the SI/RAR results (which are expected to be available in the Summer of 2001), the NYSDEC will propose a means for cleaning up the site in a document called the Proposed Remedial Action Plan (PRAP). Following consideration of public comments on the PRAP, NYSDEC will select the means that will be used to clean up the site in a document called the Record of Decision (ROD).

The NYCHPD and the NYSDEC will jointly present an overview of study activities at a meeting to be held on September 28, 2000 at 6 p.m. at the Bronx Borough President's Office, 198 East 161 Street, 2nd Floor Large Hearing Room. For transportation directions, please call (718) 617-7800.

The conditions imposed are:

• The SCA will not conduct site alteration activities before receiving a determination from the OPRHP of the project's potential archaeological impacts. If necessary, measures to ensure that no significant archeological resources are adversely affected by the proposed action will be established in coordination with OPRHP.

• Petition the NYC Department of Transportation prior to completion of construction to implement the proposed modifications to traffic signal timing and phasing, lane striping, and on-street parking regulations at the intersection of West 230th Street, Tibbett Avenue, and the Tibbett Avenue Extension. Also peitition NYCDOT prior to completion of construction to implement the minor traffic signal timing modifications proposed for the intersection of West 230th Street and Kingsbridge Avenue, West 230th Street and Broadway/Exterior Street, and West 230th Street and Broadway. If these measures are implemented, the proposed school will result in no significant impact on traffic and transportation in the project site area.

• Consistent with established SCA protocols and general industry practices, dust control measures (e.g., water spraying on the surface soils) will be employed during site construction activities with the potential to generate dusts, such as excavation, grading and truck traffic on dirt access roads. Additionally, a Community Air Monitoring Plan (CAMP) will be implemented during potential dust-generating activities. The CAMP will follow the procedures required by the NYSDOH, which include particulate (dust) level monitoring upwind and downwind of the construction site.