Environment DEC
From the September 2004 issue
DEC and IBM Enter into Consent Order on Endicott Cleanup
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and IBM have entered into a consent order that requires IBM to investigate and remediate contamination in the Village of Endicott and Town of Union, Broome County.
According to DEC Commissioner Erin M. Crotty,"This is an important day for the residents of Endicott and Union as we continue to make significant strides toward a comprehensive cleanup of contamination. This consent order provides a blueprint of the necessary actions that need to be taken in order to fully protect the environment and public health. We will continue to work with the company and the public in our efforts to remove pollutants from the community."
This testing well evaluates
the condition of the groundwater
Site Reclassification
In February 2004, DEC reclassified the IBM Endicott site to a class 2 State Superfund site. The reclassification occurred as a result of new information regarding groundwater contamination and soil vapor intrusion into structures in the area over the groundwater plume. A class 2 site is one where hazardous waste constitutes a significant threat to the public health or environment.
IBM's Responsibilities
The consent order specifically requires IBM to undertake the following:
A supplemental remedial investigation and focused feasibility study program for seven operable units that will identify and evaluate previously unknown or insufficiently evaluated potential sources of pollution at and in the vicinity of the site and develop and implement appropriate cleanup measures.
Four interim remedial measures (IRMs) to immediately address known environmental contamination at and in the vicinity of the site. An IRM is a set of planned actions that can be conducted without extensive investigation and evaluation and is designed to be part of the final remedy for a site. The consent order gives DEC the authority to require additional IRMs as appropriate.
The consent order also sets forth specific IRMs to be undertaken by IBM as follows:
- An enhanced groundwater pump-and-treat system to capture contaminants on-site at a source zone along the railroad tracks
- A groundwater pump-and-treat system south of North Street between Grant and Garfield avenues to capture contaminants moving off-site and to reduce the plume size west of the well location
- A groundwater pump-and-treat system with reinjection of clean groundwater in the southern area at a location to be determined after further investigation and testing
- Plume control in the bedrock with a new groundwater recovery well in the vicinity of the cafeteria, building 42
- Complete investigation of on-site source areas and implementation of a remedial action for each source area if necessary
- Development and implementation of a comprehensive operation, maintenance and monitoring plan which will provide for the continued operation and maintenance of a number of activities commenced pursuant to IBM's RCRA permit, and which will operate and maintain all elements of the comprehensive remedy to be developed for the site
- Reimbursement of oversight costs incurred by the state on and after January 1, 2004
Properties and Pollutants
IBM is the former owner and operator of a 140-acre industrial facility located on North Street in Endicott and Union. The facility was one of many acquisitions from the Endicott Johnson Corporation, the Walter L. Johnson Company, Ideal Cleaners, railroad companies and small businesses during a 90-year span.
Leaks and spills of pollutants at the facility resulted in soil and groundwater contamination at and around the site. Trichloroethene (TCE), 1,1,1-trichloroethane (also known as methyl chloroform or TCA), tetrachloroethene (also known as PCE or perc), methylene chloride, freon 113, benzene, toluene and xylene are among the contaminants identified at the site. Beginning in 1979 and continuing to the present, DEC and IBM have conducted investigations and implemented remedial measures to address the contamination.
Contaminant Vapor Migration and Mitigation
Based on a growing understanding of contaminant vapor mitigation, in 2002 DEC required IBM to investigate the potential for contaminant vapors to migrate from the groundwater and enter buildings above. Since January 2003, IBM has been sampling indoor air at buildings in the Village of Endicott to evaluate the extent to which vapor migration from the groundwater contaminant plume has impacted indoor air in the buildings above it.
The investigation has proceeded in phases, starting in the area where concentrations of solvents in the off-site groundwater plume are greater, and moving to areas where the concentrations are lower. As of July 30, 2004, IBM has identified approximately 480 structures which have been offered mitigation systems, and nearly 470 systems have been installed on 418 properties.
