Environment DEC
From the June 2004 issue
Governor Announces Brownfields Grant for Westchester County
Governor George E. Pataki has announced a $226,609 Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act grant to the Yonkers Industrial Development Agency (YIDA) to investigate environmental contamination at the Patclin Warehouse in Yonkers, Westchester County. The city is purchasing the site, which is part of the YIDA master plan for the Alexander Street Waterfront, for development of residential, recreational and commercial space.
Environmental Concerns
Yonkers IDA will investigate the 62 Alexander Street property, which consists of a one-half-acre parcel containing the former building operated by the Patclin Chemical Corporation. The building, now vacant, was used for solvent mixing operations and general storage. Between 1994 and 2002, Patclin Chemical was the subject of a series of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) site inspections and enforcement actions resulting from inappropriate chemical and hazardous waste management practices.
Environmental concerns relate to chemicals stored on-site, mixing of chemicals over floor drains, former air emission violations and past spill history. The EPA actions included removal of more than 140 abandoned drums and containers that contained potentially hazardous chemicals.
Contaminant Investigation Plan
The YIDA investigation will include the collection of soil and groundwater samples as well as the inspection and sampling of drains and sewers. On-site tanks will be inspected and removed or closed as appropriate. The data and information collected from the site investigation will be used to identify and evaluate remedial alternatives for cleanup.
Yonkers IDA is eligible for state assistance through the Environmental Restoration Program (ERP), which is funded by the Bond Act. The grant provides 90 percent of the eligible costs of the cleanup.
