For Release: Thursday, April 12, 2007

DEC Announces Statewide Brownfield Grants

Nearly $8 Million For The Cleanup of Contaminated Sites In Eight New York Communities

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis today announced $7,907,030 in Environmental Restoration Program (ERP) grants for the remediation and investigation of environmental contamination at sites in the City of Newburgh-Orange County, the Village of Haverstraw-Rockland County, the Village of Adams-Jefferson County, the City of Syracuse-Onondaga County, the City of Peekskill-Westchester County, the City of Rome-Oneida County, the City of Rochester-Monroe County and the Village of Ellisburg-Jefferson County. The grants are being funded through the Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act.

"Nearly $8 million is being provided to these communities to help them realize their goals in restoring formerly contaminated sites to new, productive uses," Commissioner Grannis said. "The state's brownfield cleanup programs will continue to be an important tool as we move forward in the economic and environmental revitalization of our municipalities."

These communities are eligible for state assistance through the ERP because they are not responsible for having caused the contamination. These grants provide up to 90 percent of eligible costs for on-site and up to 100 percent of eligible costs for off-site remedial activities. The grant recipient will fund the balance of the costs.

The ERP grants announced today include:

$1,502,000 to the City of Newburgh, Orange County: For remediation of the property located at 146-172 Mill Street, Newburgh, NY 12550. The property consists of approximately 3.5 acres and contains a former Provan Ford operations building. It was originally developed in the 1940's as a commercial facility and was operated for over 50 years as a large truck dealership/repair facility and a petroleum/industrial tanker cleaning facility.

The City of Newburgh completed a Site Investigation/Alternative Analysis (SI/AA) under the ERP in 2005. The results indicated Volatile Organic Compound (VOC), Semi-Volatile Organic Compound (SVOC), and inorganic (metals) concentrations above Standards, Guidelines, & Criteria (SCGs) in soil and VOC concentrations above SCGs in groundwater. Several Interim Remedial Measures (IRMs) were conducted during the Site Investigation, including cleaning and removing of storm drains, removal of drums and containers, and removal of underground storage tanks. The City of Newburgh acquired the property in 1999 through tax foreclosure.

The remediation will include the demolition of the former Provan Ford operations building, excavation and off-site treatment and disposal of VOC contaminated soil at an appropriate off-site DEC approved facility, treatment of on-site groundwater, placement of cover materials over the site to limit human contact with any remaining contaminated soil, at least three years of groundwater monitoring, and a deed restriction which will limit future site use to commercial or industrial.

$268,000 to the City of Newburgh, Orange County: For remediation of the property located at 86 Wisner Avenue, Newburgh, NY. The property consists of approximately 1.5 acres and contains a former foundry building and a smaller garage building. From 1963 until 1993 the property was used for iron fabrication. From August 1993 to March 1999 the property was used for dismantling automobile motors for salvaging.

The City of Newburgh completed a SI/AA under the ERP in 2003. The results indicated VOC, SVOC, and inorganic (metals) concentrations above SCGs in soil and VOC concentrations above SCGs in groundwater. Several IRMs were conducted during the Site Investigation including removal of petroleum contaminated soil, removal of drums and containers, and removal of above ground and underground storage tanks. The City of Newburgh acquired the property in 1999 through tax foreclosure.

The remediation will include the excavation and off-site disposal of lead and mercury contaminated soil at an appropriate off-site DEC-approved facility, placement of cover materials over the site to limit human contact with any remaining contaminated soil, three years of groundwater monitoring, and a deed restriction which will limit future site use to commercial or industrial.

$2,443,500 to the Village of Haverstraw, Rockland County: For remediation of the property located at Warren Court in the Village. The property consists of a 3.5-acre subdivision constructed on a former gypsum landfill. In the late 1950's and 60's, the property was filled with gypsum board waste. In the mid-1980's, the property was subdivided and single family homes were constructed. These homes were subsequently impacted by hydrogen sulfide emissions from the buried gypsum. In light of the hydrogen sulfide problem, all houses in the subdivision were razed in 1996. In April 1999, the Village of Haverstraw acquired the vacant properties for back taxes and the property has since remained vacant. In 2003, the Village applied for Bond Act funds through the Environment Remediation Program to investigate the property. The investigation was planned and implemented with the oversight of the DEC. This investigation culminated in a DEC-issued Record of Decision in March of 2006. This grant will be used to implement the selected remedy.

The Village of Haverstraw previously received a grant from DEC to conduct a site investigation at the Warren Court site in the amount of $107,019, bringing the total grant amounts to $2,550,519.

The remediation will include installation of a soil cap across the entire site, along with the installation of a venting system under the cap to manage and control hydrogen sulfide gas. The Village of Haverstraw plans to redevelop the site for recreational use including ball fields and related amenities.

$342,400 to the Village of Adams, Jefferson County: To investigate the property located at 10 North Main Street. The 0.25-acre property consists of a former feed mill with an automotive/tire repair shop attached on one side. The buildings occupy the majority of the site which is located in the Village's downtown area. Previous operations have included the use and distribution of petroleum products (both gasoline and diesel), pesticides, animal feed and, at one point, a dry-cleaner operated on a portion of the site.

The investigation will evaluate the past operations and any releases which may have occurred. Soil, groundwater, soil vapor and air will be tested to determine the nature and extent of contamination. An asbestos abatement program, building demolition, and tank removal will be conducted to address known areas of contamination and areas of concern. The Village took title to the property in January of 2007 intends to utilize the property for private commercial business and/or for the expansion of the Village Fire Department.

$67,500 to the City of Syracuse, Onondaga County: To investigate the property located at 900 North McBride Street. The 0.33-acre property consists of an unoccupied 3-story brick and stone building constructed approximately in 1899-1900. The initial use of the building was the site of the Thomas Ryan's Consumers Brewing Company from 1900 to 1924. Thereafter, various businesses used the site as a storage and trucking facility from the 1930's (with intermittent vacancies in between) up until 1981, in which Otisca Industries utilized the building for research and development for "Otisca Fuel", a petroleum fuel alternative using coal based slurry as a primary source. A preliminary investigation of the site revealed several 55 gallon drums containing coal/water slurry by-products, along with approximately 200 gallons of laboratory chemicals. Observations included leakage of these drums and larger process and storage tanks in which flow to floor drains of unknown origin of discharge to either sanitary or storm sewers or possibly directly to ground for a potential of groundwater contamination.

The investigation will include determination of nature and extent of contamination, as well as to develop an Interim Remediation Measure (IRM) to inventory, contain, and safely remove and dispose of such chemicals from the site.

$1,294,606 to the City of Peekskill, Westchester County: To remediate the property located at 117, 109, 194 North Water Street. The property consists of four tax parcels, totaling approximately 4.7 acres located on the eastern shore of the Hudson River in the City of Peekskill, Westchester County. The site is bordered to the north and east by the Metro-North Railroad and to the south by the Peekskill Riverfront Green Park. With the exception of a deteriorating waterfront bulkhead and former dock area, there are no structures that occupy the site. Remnants of several foundations are, however, located on the central and southern portions of the site. Historical activities included coal storage, foundry operations, stove works/metal manufacturing, plating, brick works, and boat maintenance/storage. These activities have resulted in metal, semi-volatile organic compound (SVOC), and volatile organic compound (VOC) contamination in surface and subsurface soils.

This remedial program is based on the findings of the recently completed site investigation, performed by the City of Peekskill. The investigation included test pitting, well installation, and geoprobe sampling. The media sampled were surface and subsurface soils, groundwater, and sediments. Low-level, localized VOC and SVOC groundwater contamination was found in the northern portion of the site. Low-level SVOC and low-level metals contamination was found in surface and subsurface soils throughout the site. The remedy selected in the March 2006 Record of Decision consists of:

Further characterization in select areas (potential hot spots) which could require excavation and proper disposal;
Placement of a one-foot soil cover, underlain by a visible demarcation barrier such as a geotextile;
An environmental easement restricting the site to passive recreation activities;
A site management plan which specifies procedures to be followed during post-remedial, invasive activities (i.e. utility installations/maintenance);
An inspection schedule;
A groundwater monitoring plan; and
A periodic certification that the in-place remedy is still effective and that on-site activities have not adversely affected the remedy.

The City of Peekskill entered into a co-ownership agreement with Scenic Hudson Land Trust, Inc. on July 31, 1998. Upon completion of the remedial program, the City intends to develop the property into a waterfront park.

$1,234,000 to the Oneida County Industrial Development Agency, City of Rome, Oneida County: To investigate the 49.65-acre property located on Henry Street. The property consists of several buildings that housed the spinning and coating operations at the former Rome Cable Facility. A large storage yard is located in the middle of the site and a research facility is located at the southern end of the property. Previous operations have generated waste associated with the coating and spinning of wire. Lubricants, coating chemicals, PCBs and asbestos are known to be on the site and in the buildings.

The investigation will evaluate the past operations and any releases which may have occurred. Soil, groundwater, soil vapor and air will be tested to determine the nature and extent of contamination. An asbestos abatement program, building demolition and tank removal will be conducted to address known areas of contamination and areas of concern. Future development includes commercial and retail facilities.

$458,024 to the City of Rochester, Monroe County: To remediate the property located at 1200 East Main Street. The property consists of a 0.5 acre parcel that is currently vacant. The site was formerly operated as an automobile service facility and filling station. A comprehensive environmental investigation was completed by the City of Rochester in 2005 under the Environmental Restoration Program. As part of the investigation, multiple soil borings, test pits, and groundwater monitoring wells were installed and sampled. A former garage building was demolished, several petroleum storage tanks were removed and disposed of, and a system to mitigate vapor intrusion was installed in an adjacent residence as interim remedial measures. Analytical results indicate that widespread areas of petroleum contamination remain in soils and groundwater at the site. The City of Rochester acquired the property in 1998 in order to restore the site to productive use through the ERP.

The remediation will include the removal of contaminated soils and recoverable petroleum in source areas and the treatment of dissolved petroleum in groundwater via air/oxygen injection and soil vapor extraction. In addition, the vapor intrusion mitigation system in the adjacent building will continue to be operated. Following remediation, an operation, maintenance, and monitoring program will be implemented to track the attenuation of contaminants in groundwater. The City of Rochester currently intends to reuse the site for commercial redevelopment.

$297,000 to the Village of Ellisburg, Jefferson County: To investigate the property located at 12008 NYS Route 193. The site is approximately 0.8 acres and currently contains an abandoned retail gasoline station and country store/mini mart. Historical operations at the site which may have contributed to its contamination include bulk storage and retail sales/dispensing of gasoline.

The investigation will include completing test pits, soil borings, concrete slab and debris removal, installing groundwater sampling wells, and performing environmental sampling. Once the investigation is complete, a determination will be made on the remediation activities necessary to make the site safe for reuse.