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Home My WebLink AboutMN-CAG-2012-09-10Community Advisory Group (CAG) Minutes for September 10, 2012 APPROVED Present: Nels Bohn as City Facilitator, Cynthia Brock, Ken Deschere, John Graves, Michele Palmer Guest(s): None Minutes from the June 4, 2012 CAG meeting approved. Agenda Additions or Deletions: None PROJECT SITE UPDATES: *See the Department of Conservation (DEC) updates from Karen Cahill and Stephanie Harrington – after these Minutes NELS BOHN: ITHACA FALLS PROJECT UPDATES Much is happening, now that the Site Access Agreement is in place. Lead has been found in the places where they thought it would be. The evaluation of the samples taken at the site is being completed. Frost Travis is now the owner and is working with a member of the former HOLT group. There may be additional grant funds available from the EPA if a “compelling case” can be made. Efforts are ongoing to find the “clean perimeter”, using soil sampling, soil vapor intrusion measurements, and groundwater tests – the full spectrum of investigation which is required by the ERP. The drilling is being done in ways to try to minimize the soil disruption and the removal of vegetation, as well as limiting the dust produced and released into the neighborhood air. The island in the creek has been capped, but the west slope is eroding out from under the cap. CONCERNS IN OTHER AREAS The effects of continuing incremental growth are felt in many ways. Stormwater runoff remains an issue despite 2010 regulatory changes. Ithaca tries to keep the stormwater and sewage flows separate, but excessively heavy rain can cause problems. The stretch of drought this summer kept the groundwater tests at the Therm site from being completed. Emerson: The developer considering purchase of the EPT site has applied for State assistance through the consolidated funding process to obtain aid from the Economic Development Fund. Their site proposal has been endorsed by the Southern Tier Regional Development group for $350,000 for pre-design development and environmental investigation. The purchase offer has a one-year period to determine feasibility. Herb Engman (Ithaca Town Supervisor) feels the factory may be suitable for light industrial uses. OU3: Derek Chase, EPT’s Environmental Director, feels that since the NYSDEC Record of Decision requires a venting sewer, that project should be completed, as soon as the traffic disruptions of the Clinton St. Bridge project are over. The homes with active vent systems are still discharging – the output from the active vents is expected to be more than the output from the passive vent from the new sewer would produce. FUTURE AND FOCUS OF THE CAG The City’s Government Performance & Accountability (GPA) Committee is working on ways in which the many boards, committees, and groups (such as the CAG) can work more effectively through collaboration. The sharing of expertise between the many groups is seen essential to properly grasp both the details and the overall impacts of the issues under consideration. While each group has specific areas of concern, we should be able to lend support to each other. Our liaisons with Common Council should help improve communication with the decision- makers, and our members should be able to reach out to neighbors for their input and to provide information. As the number of sites the CAG considers increases, we’ll need more neighborhood representatives to maintain useful communications. We can look at the framework of groups in place in other cities. We can consider the functions of related groups here (EMC, CAC, NAC, etc.) Next Meeting Schedule: Monday, November 5, at City Hall, 2nd Floor Conference Room, 6:00-7:30 p.m. Updates from Karen Cahill 6/30/2012: Emerson: WSP continuing to install borings and wells associated with the Bldg 3 and 4 pre-design investigation. This work should be complete within 2 weeks. Emerson has asked for a 45-day extension to evaluate petroleum product recovery alternatives (see attached). Axiohm: the consultant is continuing with ISCO injections. Progress has been slowed a bit due to release of minor amount of permanganate into onsite storm sewer due to break in line. About half the total estimated volume of permanganate has been injected so far. Therm: all 6 groundwater monitoring wells have been installed by Therm and should be developed and sampled within 2 weeks. 9/10/2012: WSP is still conducting pre-design investigations at Emerson. I am expecting a summary report after they complete our requested LNAPL investigation. They are waiting on DEC to review/approve a revised LNAPL investigation report. I hope to complete the review within the next week. Axiohm Site - the ISCO injections are complete and the consultant is in the process of de-mob [de-mobilization]. Former Axiohm Site (Therm portion) - unfortunately, due to the dry season, Therm is still not able to develop and sample the three well pairs installed on the facility in July due to lack of groundwater. In addition, DEC now has permission from 5 additional homeowners in the Phase VII SVI area to conduct SVI sample in the upcoming heating season. We are currently in discussions with Therm regarding such sampling. Update from Stephanie Harrington – 6/29/2012: Here is the latest info for Clinton West: * Continuing Implementation of Enhanced Bioremediation of Groundwater Pilot Study * Continuing Performance Monitoring through October 2012 * Submittal of Basis of Design Report/Summary of Pilot Study - December 2012 * Complete Remedial Design as necessary - March 2013