For Release: Friday, April 20, 2007
DEC Announces Brownfield Grants For Albany And Herkimer Counties
Over $256,000 for the Cleanup of Contaminated Sites in the City of Albany and Village of Ilion
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis today announced $256,970 in Environmental Restoration Program (ERP) grants for two New York brownfield sites. A $44,100 Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act grant was awarded to the City of Albany, Albany County, for the investigation of environmental contamination at the Westland Hills Park property and $212,870 was awarded to the Village of Ilion, Herkimer County, for the investigation of suspected environmental contamination at the former Wood Service Station site. This funding follows nearly $8 million in brownfield grants for eight other communities statewide that was announced by DEC last week.
"New York State is committed to environmental health and to the revitalization of communities across the state," Commissioner Grannis said. "Partnerships between municipalities and the state are vital in these restoration efforts. In utilizing these resources, the City of Albany and the Village of Ilion are serving as valuable partners in addressing contaminated sites in Eastern New York. These grants exemplify the positive initiatives that New York State takes to clean up brownfields and provide environmental, recreational, economic, and health benefits from the reuse of these sites."
These communities are eligible for state assistance through the ERP since they are not responsible for having caused the contamination. The grants provide 90 percent of the eligible costs of the investigation. The grant recipient will fund the balance of the costs.
The ERP grants announced today include:
$44,100 to the City of Albany, Albany County: To investigate a parcel of property located in the southwest section of Westland Hills Park, west of Clinton Avenue. The property consists of a portion of the active recreational area, including vacant land and a dog walking area. The City of Albany has acquired pieces of the property over a number of years and plans on maintaining the property as part of the existing Recreational Park. Improper historic waste disposal prior to the City of Albany acquiring the property may have contributed to the site contamination. A subsurface investigation has previously been completed by the City as part of a series of due diligence assessments performed in conjunction with previously proposed development. The limited site assessment determined that soils have been contaminated by petroleum-related polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and metals. The site assessment activities included subsurface soil and groundwater sampling and analysis.
The new investigation will include further characterization and delineation of the nature and extent of the contamination both on- and off-site. Interim Remedial Measures may be performed as required. Based on the investigation, a determination will be made on the remediation activities necessary to make the site safe for reuse.
$212,870 to the Village of Ilion, Herkimer County: To investigate the property located at 123 West Main Street. The property is situated on a 0.52-acre parcel with frontage on West Main Street to the north and Steele Creek to the east. The site is currently vacant and consists of a 5,500-square-foot two-story commercial building and paved parking area covering nearly 90 percent of the property. Historical operations at the site which may have contributed to its suspected contamination include the former use as a gasoline filling station and vehicle repair shop with associated underground storage tanks.
The investigation will include geophysical survey work to confirm the location of underground storage tanks, fuel lines, and to identify utilities and drains. An inspection of the property and the existing building will also be included in the investigation along with the installation of 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. The Village of Ilion plans on making the property available for commercial development with potential recreational uses in order to create jobs and expand the local tax base.
