HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CAG-2015-06-01Community Advisory Group (CAG) Minutes for June 1, 2015
Present: Nels Bohn as City Facilitator, Cynthia Brock, Ken Deschere, Regina Deschere, John
Graves, Michele Palmer
Guest(s): Scott Nostrand (Barton & Loguidice), Bill Reed (Unchained Properties)
Updates from Karen Cahill (NYSDEC), May 27:
Emerson continues to work with DEC regarding the results from Labella's Phase
II Report. Several new areas of concern have been identified and Emerson
recently submitted a Phase II Supplemental Work Plan which we are currently
reviewing. Emerson also conducted a Boundary Reassessment Investigation to
support the removal of approximately 32 acres of undeveloped land on the
south portion of the property from the site definition as it's contained in
the Registry and Administrative Order. Emerson has also completed a portion
of the work associated with further characterization of the AOC-1 (Department
507 Former Degreaser Area) and has proposed modifications and enhancements to
the dual phase extraction (DPE) system in the area of the FWR. These
enhancements include installation of three new extraction wells within close
proximity to the FWR. This work is expected to start in July.
Axiohm - based on the results of groundwater monitoring to date, a third
injection event is currently being designed by SHBC's consultant. Based on
indoor air and subslab sampling results to date, SHBC requested that indoor
air sampling be terminated and that the Positive Pressure Air Exchange System
installed in the north area of the facility be shut down permanently. The
Department has approved these requests.
Therm - The Department has completed the Phase VII SVI sampling and no
additional investigations are planned. Therm has reached a settlement
agreement with the State for cost recovery of the work conducted by NYSDEC.
Emerson Plant Site – Chain Works District
Bill Reed, of Unchained Properties, LLC, (UP) works with David Lubin on project management
and community outreach. Bill reported they had completed investigations to consider removing
part of the EPT property from the hazardous waste area – about 32 acres, mostly woods on the
uphill section of the site. Their work provides answers, but also raises questions about how to
proceed. Plans go to the NYSDEC for review.
PCB contamination has been removed from shallow soil in areas around Building 24 (the 4-story
brick former “NCR Building” on the northeast section of the site.) A Work Plan for Supple-
mental Remedial Investigation for Mixed Use Development has been submitted to NYSDEC. If
significant actions or changes are needed, Emerson (as the “Responsible Party” owning the site)
must start this as a request to reopen the “Record of Decision” now in place.
Bill feels that UP has a better understanding of the “rhythm” of how things get done. They
expect more testing over the summer, release of results in the fall, and a final evaluation early in
2016. He estimates that UP may be 45 days behind their target for releasing the GEIS (Generic
Environmental Impact Statement), due to the huge scope of processes required. They’ve known
this would take a long time and large amounts of money.
On-site work this summer should include more investigation and clean-up work in Area of
Concern (AOC) No. 1 – the former Department 507, where degreasing units were located in a
depressed floor area of Building 4. The “OU-1” Fire Water Reservoir (FWR) – a portion of the
site which will be retained by Emerson – should have “upgrades” made to the Dual Phase
Extraction system which treats groundwater and captures some of the soil vapors.
PROJECT DISCUSSION: Ithaca Falls Overlook / Ithaca Gun sites
Gary Priscott (NYSDEC) kindly provided two documents which Nels has loaded to the CAG
website in the list for “Former Ithaca Gun Factory”:
http://www.cityofithaca.org/374/Community-Advisory-Group
After initial “off-site” investigations in July 2013, permanent groundwater (GW) monitoring
wells were installed in October 2013. The compounds found are mainly derived from
chlorinated solvents (TCE and chloroform), none of which were detected at levels above the
relevant NYSDEC GW standards.
West of / downhill from the former factory site, an area of homes and commercial buildings,
roughly bounded by Lake St., N. Aurora St., E. Falls St., and King St., was identified for indoor
air tests for Soil Vapor Intrusion (SVI). NYSDEC offered indoor and sub-slab testing to 52
properties:
23 owners accepted,
3 declined, and
26 did not respond.
TCE was found in all but two properties. Concentrations ranged from 0.22 µg/m3 (the lower
limit of detection) to 730 µg/m3, with higher readings below concrete slabs in those buildings
which have slabs.
1 home was offered mitigation,
7 homes were offered monitoring, and
15 were designated “No Further Action”.
These SVI readings are from the 2013-14 heating season. The report mentioned that homes
which declined testing or which failed to respond would be tested during the 2014-2015 heating
season. We have no reports that any such testing was performed.
Report from Scott Nostrand (Barton & Loguidice) on Ithaca Falls Overlook
The Interim Remedial Measures (IRMs) are about 95% complete. The contractor “remobilized”
in April. The bridge has been removed. Work in the raceway has involved some cleanup and
removal of sediment. Some piles of soil need to be “secured”. There will be a cap to cover the
soil along the boundary section between the uphill section in the Brownfield Cleanup Program
(BCP), owned by IFR Development, LLC, and the downhill Ithaca Falls Overlook area in the
Environmental Restoration Program (ERP) owned by the City of Ithaca.
Scott expects the IRM efforts to be done in a few weeks. Then, site investigation resumes with a
report and analysis of alternatives. He says it’s likely that no further remediation is needed.
There is nothing left on the island, with over 2000 tons of soil removed from the area. EPA
returned on May 20 to resample what’s left – the results should be ready in “early June”. There
has been much seeding and many attempts to keep soil in place, but the increasingly extreme
weather events (three inches of rain in ninety minutes) mean that erosion is happening.
Under the ERP for the City’s portion of this area, a Site Management Plan (SMP) is required and
will mandate continuing review and enforcement of any restrictions imposed. Storm water
concerns must be addressed with Scott Gibson of the City Staff. The development work uphill at
the BCP site needs to be considered in planning vegetative cover to minimize concentrated flows
of water. The Natural Areas Commission feels that the areas should be allowed to revegetate
“naturally”.
Other Concerns
We briefly discussed the issues of mercury and arsenic in the Fall Creek gorge areas. An old
pipe containing mercury – seemingly left after the building once housing the CU Chemistry
department was removed – was discovered in 2009, during excavation for expansion of the
Johnson Art Museum. [Please see related links following these Minutes.]
A zoning change to allow expansion of Nate’s Floral Estates was to be considered at Council’s
June 3 meeting. [This item was postponed.] A picture has been circulated showing a strange
orange discharge from this area, which was used as a landfill and hasn’t been properly capped or
closed. The parking lot at Lowe’s (south of Nate’s) has venting tubes to permit ongoing dis-
charge of gases from the ground below. It seems that the CAG needs to add this landfill area to
the sites we review.
Next Meeting: Monday, July 6th, 6:00 – 7:30PM, 2nd Floor Conference Room, City Hall
Notes submitted by Ken Deschere
Links for more information about 2009 mercury discovery near Johnson Art Museum:
http://bilmes.blogspot.com/2009/07/milstein-construction-uncovers-mercury.html
http://cornellsun.com/blog/2009/09/25/workers-find-mercury-near-johnson-museum/
http://www.ithaca.com/news/local_news/soil-contamination-around-johnson-museum-from-old-
chemistry-lab-halts/article_4c6b5636-8684-5fc8-a9f1-b38621f0fd65.html
http://cornellsun.com/blog/2009/12/02/univ-cleans-up-mercury-from-museum-site/