For Release: Wednesday, May 20, 2009
DEC to Unveil Proposed Cleanup Solutions for Geddes Brook/Nine Mile Creek Sites
Proposal Centers on Removing Soils and Sediments
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will unveil proposals to clean up contaminated soils and sediments in two Onondaga Lake tributaries at a public meeting at 7 p.m., June 11, at the Martha Eddy Room at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse.
The proposals center on a section of the Geddes Brook/Ninemile Creek cleanup site known as "Operable Unit 2." This area begins where Ninemile Creek enters Onondaga Lake and follows the creek upstream paralleling Interstate 690. It is separate from another section of the cleanup, known as "Operable Unit 1," (details below). The areas are a source of contamination to Onondaga Lake.
Developed in coordination with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, DEC's preferred remedy includes dredging, excavating and removing an estimated 58,000 cubic yards of contaminated channel sediments and floodplain soils/sediments over approximately 15 acres. Clean materials would then be placed throughout the site including a habitat layer and backfill, depending on location. Contaminated soils and sediments would be disposed of either at Honeywell's LCP Bridge Street sub-site containment system or a "sediment consolidation area" that will be constructed and monitored.
The streambed and banks, wetlands and habitats also would be restored. This would include placement of a habitat layer with appropriate substrate types and thickness, as well as plantings of appropriate vegetation. The details of habitat restoration would be developed during remedial design.
It's estimated that the removal of the soils and sediments, along with de-watering, treatment and disposal of the materials would take one year to implement and cost approximately $16.5 million.
The proposed remedy would protect human health by minimizing direct contact with contaminated sediment/soil and would result in a long-term reduction in the volume, toxicity and mobility of contaminants in Ninemile Creek, including mercury, arsenic, lead, phenol, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and PCBs.
DEC encourages the public to provide input on the proposed remedy. Comments can be made until July 3, either in writing, via e-mail or in person at the public meeting. Written comments should be directed to: Timothy Larson, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, 625 Broadway, 12th Floor, Albany, NY 12233-7013 or tjlarson@gw.dec.state.ny.us.
Copies of the plan and fact sheets about the project are available at DEC's offices in Syracuse (615 Erie Blvd. West, Syracuse) and in Albany (625 Broadway, Albany), and are available at the Onondaga County Public Library (Syracuse Branch at the Galleries) and through Atlantic States Legal Foundation (658 West Onondaga Street, Syracuse). The plan will shortly be available on the DEC's website.
DEC recently proposed a separate but similar remedy for the section of the cleanup site known as Operable Unit 1 (OU-1) (http://www.dec.ny.gov/press/49762.html), which is farther upstream than Operable Unit 2 (OU-2). The proposal, which was unveiled in December, also centers on removal of contaminated soils and sediments. Separating the two projects does not preclude completing construction as one effort, but allows work to begin first on the upper portion of OU-1 and advance downstream to the lower (OU-2) portion.
