Environment DEC
From the November 2006 issue
More than $9 Million Earmarked for Brownfield Cleanup in Poughkeepsie
From the left: Jeffrey Anzevino,
Senior Urban Planner for Scenic
Hudson; Senator Steve Saland;
Carl Johnson, DEC Deputy
Commissioner; Denise Sheehan,
DEC Commissioner and Nancy Cozean,
City of Poughkeepsie Mayor
Governor George E. Pataki celebrated the third anniversary of landmark legislation that refinanced and reformed New York State's Superfund Program by announcing a grant of $9,176,900 to the City of Poughkeepsie for the remediation of environmental contamination at the DeLaval property. This project is another step in the revitalization of the city's waterfront area, following cleanup of an adjacent site and transformation of that property into a vibrant waterfront venue.
Governor Pataki said, "This grant will assist the City of Poughkeepsie with its plans to revitalize the Hudson River waterfront and will create additional water access and opportunities to enjoy this historic waterway. The state is proud to partner with municipalities like Poughkeepsie that have a strong vision to transform brownfields into active sites that will attract new businesses, provide public amenities and improve the local quality of life."
Funding for this project is available through the 1996 Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act as part of the state's Environmental Restoration Program (ERP). The City of Poughkeepsie is eligible for state assistance through the program because it is not responsible for having caused the contamination. The grant provides up to 90 percent of eligible costs for on-site remediation and up to 100 percent of eligible costs for off-site remedial activities.
Project Details
The City of Poughkeepsie will remediate the DeLaval site, a 13.4-acre vacant parcel at the intersection of Rinaldi Boulevard and Pine Street. Past operations at the site included various types of manufacturing that resulted in contamination. A remedial investigation completed by the city confirmed the presence of volatile organic compounds (VOC), semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOC) and metals in the soil and groundwater.
This site will soon be transformed
into a vibrant waterfront venue
Remediation activities will be carried out in accordance with the site's Record of Decision-the selected cleanup remedy-which was approved by DEC. The plan calls for removal of the source areas of contamination and implementation of site controls, including the placement of a cover to prevent potential exposure pathways. The bulkhead along the Hudson River also will be replaced to maintain the integrity of the cover system. Following remediation, the site will be redeveloped to allow for a variety of recreational and commercial facilities, including a waterfront park, marina, canoe launch, parking and retail and office space.
