For Release: Monday, November 29, 2004
DEC Announces Proposed Cleanup Plan for Onondaga Lake
Proposed Plan to Address Contamination Now Available for Public Comment
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Erin M. Crotty today announced that DEC's proposed cleanup plan for Onondaga Lake is complete and is available for public comment.
"The restoration of Onondaga Lake is one of DEC's highest priorities. After an extensive investigation, DEC has developed a proposed cleanup plan for Onondaga Lake," Commissioner Crotty said. "DEC's engineers and scientists have evaluated several alternatives and have identified this plan as the most appropriate remedy for cleaning up this majestic lake and restoring it to its full potential as an environmental and economic resource, improving the quality of life for Central New York residents."
The estimated cost to implement the remedy is approximately $449 million - the cost to construct the remedy is estimated to be $412 million and the estimated average annual operation and maintenance cost is $3 million.
A remedial investigation to determine the nature and extent of contamination in Onondaga Lake was completed in 2002. The investigation found mercury contamination and presence of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) throughout the lake, with the most elevated concentrations detected in sediments in the Ninemile Creek delta and in the sediments and wastes present in the southwestern portion of the lake.
Honeywell International, Inc. submitted a draft Feasibility Study in May 2003, and revised versions of the Feasibility Study report in May 2004 and November 2004. The Feasibility Study identifies and evaluates possible alternatives for cleaning up the contamination in the lake. DEC's proposed remedy for cleaning up the lake is based on a combination of alternatives evaluated by Honeywell in the Feasibility Study.
Congressman James Walsh said, "This agreement strikes me as a comprehensive approach to the remediation of all industrial waste in Onondaga Lake. This initiative - combined with the efforts of our local, state, and federal governments to upgrade our urban combined sewer system at a cost of $400 million in taxpayers' money - is light years away from where this process began just fifteen years ago. The coordinated efforts by Honeywell and these governmental entities demonstrate that we have finally found a holistic and thorough approach to cleaning up this valuable community asset. Congratulations to Honeywell and New York State DEC for their conscientious and forthright effort. I look forward to the public comment period and announcement of a final agreement in April."
The proposed remedy is estimated to include the dredging of up to 2.65 million cubic yards of sediment from the portion of the lake in which water depths range from 0 to 30 feet - with most of the dredging being performed in the southwest portion of the lake. It would also include the use of isolation capping over an estimated 425 acres of this area. In water depths greater than 30 feet, a thin layer cap would be installed over an estimated 154 acres. Additionally in these deeper areas, the remedy includes the performance of an pilot study to introduce oxygen in the lake (oxygenation) to prevent the development of anoxic (no oxygen) conditions, which currently exist in summer (June through September). This would be followed by full-scale implementation (if supported by the pilot study). Additionally, the proposal would monitor the natural covering of the contaminated sediments with clean sediments (Monitored Natural Recovery) discharged from tributaries to the Lake.
It is anticipated that the most highly contaminated materials would be treated and/or disposed at an off-site permitted landfill. The balance of the dredged sediment would be placed in a Sediment Consolidation Area which would be constructed on one of Honeywell's Solvay wastebeds which historically received process wastes from Honeywell's former operations.
The control of contamination migrating to the lake from the various upland sites is an integral part of the overall cleanup of Onondaga Lake. To prevent the recontamination of lake sediments, active sources of contamination to a given portion of the lake would need to be shut-off prior to performing cleanup activities in that area of the lake. Furthermore, the effectiveness of the capping proposed for certain areas of the lake would rely upon the proper functioning of hydraulic control (barrier) systems which are planned for some of the shoreline areas. These systems will need to be constructed and operating prior to cleanup activities commencing in the related areas of the lake. Therefore, the timing of remedial activities in Onondaga Lake would need to be coordinated with the remedial work which would be performed as part of the remedies at the upland sites.
The dredging and capping components of the proposed remedy are estimated to take approximately four years. This does not include the time it would take to design the remedy which would take approximately three years. Design and construction activities at several of the upland areas would be ongoing while design of the lake remedy was under way.
This alternative is protective of human health and the environment, removes source material from the environment, is implementable, has good long and short term effectiveness, reduces the mobility of contaminants, and is cost effective.
At its chemical production plants near Onondaga Lake, Allied-Signal, Inc., now Honeywell, used or produced hazardous and non-hazardous substances since 1917. In June of 1989, the State filed a legal action in US District Court against Allied, seeking environmental remediation and natural resource damages arising from the company's pollution of the Onondaga Lake system. The lake and related contaminated areas were listed on the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Superfund National Priorities List (NPL) in December 1994 and is included on the State Superfund list.
DEC will hold informal availability sessions as follows for questions and answers regarding the proposed cleanup plan.
January 6, 2005 - 7:00 p.m.- 9:00 p.m.
January 12, 2005 - 3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
Additionally, DEC will hold a formal public meeting on January 12, 2005 at 7:00pm. The availability sessions and the public meeting will take place at the Martha Eddy Room in the Art and Home Center at the New York State Fairgrounds.
DEC will accept written public comments beginning today and ending on March 1, 2005. Comments should be sent to the Project Manager whose address is provided below. Alternatively, comments may be sent via email to the following website address: derweb@gw.dec.state.ny.us (Please indicate "Onondaga Lake Proposed Plan" in the subject line of the e-mail.) A "Responsiveness Summary" will be prepared that describes the public comments received and how DEC will address the concerns raised.
DEC has worked with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in investigating and evaluating alternatives. EPA will have the Proposed Plan and other project documents reviewed by its National Remedy Review Board (NRRB). The NRRB is a USEPA peer review group that reviews all proposed Superfund cleanup decisions that meet certain cost-based or other review criteria to ensure that these proposed decisions are consistent with Superfund law, regulations, and guidance. EPA will render its opinion on the proposed plan upon completion of the NRRB process.
Copies of project-related documents are available for public review at the Onondaga County Public Library, Syracuse Branch at the Galleries; the Atlantic States Legal Foundation (by appointment), 658 West Onondaga Street in Syracuse; at the DEC Region 7 Office (by appointment), 615 Erie Blvd. West in Syracuse by calling (315) 426-7403; and at the DEC Office in Albany (by appointment) 625 Broadway in Albany by calling (518) 402-9767.
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