Environment DEC
From the November 2006 issue
Agreement Reached with Honeywell to Clean Up Onondaga Lake
Governor George E. Pataki and Attorney General Eliot Spitzer announced an agreement with Honeywell International, Inc. that will require the company to conduct an extensive cleanup of contaminated sediments in Onondaga Lake. Under this consent decree, Honeywell is legally required to implement an estimated $451 million remedial plan to address hazardous-waste contamination in the lake.
The Attorney General's office will request that the federal district court approve a proposed federal consent decree implementing the agreement. This will provide for one of the largest environmental cleanups in New York State history.
"The contamination of Onondaga Lake has severely limited opportunities for people to enjoy these waters," Governor Pataki said. "Throughout this process, we have fought for a remedy that will protect and restore water quality in the lake, preserve and enhance aquatic life and allow people to safely use these waters for recreational purposes. Although there is still work to be done, this agreement is an important step that secures a legal commitment to implement this critical cleanup project."
Region 7 staff assisted Central Office staff in the negotiation and technical work associated with the consent decree and remediation efforts. Regional Director Ken Lynch was part of the negotiating team and was assisted by Regional Engineer Mary Jane Peachey, Regional Remediation Supervisor Jim Burke, Environmental Engineer Matt Duffany, Regional Water Engineer Steve Eidt, and Environmental Engineer 2 Sandy Lizlovs.
Cleanup Plan
As she signs the agreement, Commissioner Sheehan is joined by some of the other members of the DEC team that negotiated the Onondaga Lake cleanup with Honeywell; standing from left, Deputy Commissioner Carl Johnson, Division of Environmental Remediation Director Dale Desnoyers, Onondaga Lake Section Chief Don Hesler and Division of Environmental Enforcement Senior Attorney Carol Conyers
As a result of a state lawsuit against Allied Signal, Honeywell's predecessor, a schedule was established under which Honeywell conducted an extensive investigation of the lake's contamination and options to address it. Based on that multi-year analysis, the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced in July 2005 the final plan to clean up hazardous waste found in sediment on the lake's bottom.
Over the next decade, Onondaga
Lake will begin to return to a
beautiful and safe water resource
Within the next five years, design for all aspects of the cleanup will be completed, and construction of the sediment consolidation area (SCA) and related wastewater treatment plant will be completed as well. Following these projects, in-lake dredging and capping will take place over four years.
The SCA, which will be located on the former Allied-Signal site, will be used to dispose of dredged materials from the lake cleanup. The most highly contaminated materials will be brought to an off-site treatment facility and disposed of at a permitted hazardous-waste facility.
Through a series of orders with DEC, Honeywell has agreed to perform remedial work in many upland areas to prevent ongoing sources of contamination from affecting Onondaga Lake, including at the Linden Chemical and Plastics (LCP) Bridge Street site.
Public Comments
Written public comments on the consent decree will be accepted until November 13, 2006. Comments may be e-mailed (indicate "Onondaga Lake Agreement" in the subject line), or sent to:
Donald Hesler/Timothy Larson
Onondaga Lake Superfund Site - Public Comment
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
625 Broadway
Albany, NY 12233-7016
