For Release: Tuesday, October 9, 2007
DEC Announces Brownfield Grants for Herkimer and Orange Counties
$286,500 Awarded for Environmental Cleanup Projects
The Village of Dolgeville, Herkimer County and the City of Newburgh, Orange County, were awarded more than $286,000 in Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act grants for the investigation of environmental contamination at sites in their communities, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis today announced.
"New York State is committed to seeing brownfields cleaned-up and reestablished as economic and environmental assets to their communities," said Commissioner Grannis. "Today's grants demonstrate steps toward the restoration of these sites from neglected and underutilized properties to community assets where new businesses can be established, while benefiting the environment and public health."
The grant recipients are eligible for state assistance through the Environmental Restoration Program (ERP) since they are not responsible for having caused the contamination. The 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 Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act authorizes $1.75 billion for important environmental programs. The Bond Act included $200 million for ERP grants to municipalities for costs associated with the investigation and cleanup of brownfields. To date, more than $161.1 million in Bond Act funding has been committed for 250 investigation and cleanup projects at brownfield sites throughout New York State. This funding includes 205 investigation projects totaling more than $77.6 million and 45 remediation projects totaling more than $83.4 million.
Other applications are under review by DEC and additional grants are anticipated in the near future. Brownfields are abandoned or underused properties where real or perceived environmental contamination hinders the potential for redevelopment.
The ERP grants announced today include:
$210,500 to the Village of Dolgeville: For the investigation of environmental contamination at the Former Jones /Day Property, in the Village of Dolgeville, Herkimer County.
The Village of Dolgeville will investigate the property located at 107 South Main Street, consisting of a 0.25-acre and a 0.38-acre parcel that once was a gas station, service garage, and bulk petroleum storage and dispensing facility. Numerous underground tanks are known to be on-site, as well as piping and dispensing equipment. Groundwater and soil contamination are likely on-site and are related to past petroleum distribution operations. The Village plans to take ownership of the property through tax foreclosure proceedings.
The investigation will include the removal of tanks and impacted soils. Soil sampling, groundwater sampling, and an evaluation of surrounding properties will be conducted as well as confirmation sampling to evaluate the effectiveness of the removal activities. Any remaining contamination will be evaluated in an alternative analysis report. If cleanup goals are achieved, the Village intends to return the site to commercial use.
$76,000 to the City of Newburgh: For the investigation of environmental contamination at the 48 Orchard Street Site in the City of Newburgh, Orange County.
The City of Newburgh will investigate the property located at 48 Orchard Street, consisting of a 2.72-acre, irregularly shaped parcel that is undeveloped and wooded. It is one of the largest vacant and underutilized properties within the City. Historical dumping of refuse, coal ash, and car batteries and components has marked the contamination to be investigated in this project. Several investigative activities attempting to delineate contamination on-site have already occurred, as well as a battery removal effort in April, 2005. Confirmatory soil sampling in the battery removal area indicated that elevated concentrations of metals still exceeded Recommended Soil Cleanup Objectives. The City of Newburgh was granted a deed of ownership of the property in Sept. 2007.
The investigation will include test pit installations, surface and sub-surface soil sampling, groundwater monitoring well installation and groundwater sampling, and soil gas sampling. A determination will then be made if remediation activities will occur at this site for safe reuse. Future site use is proposed for commercial development, such as parking to support the abutting proposed Medical Technology Park or senior housing.
