HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CAG-2011-06-06Community Advisory Group (CAG) Minutes for June 6, 2011 Present: Ken Deschere, Regina Deschere, Peter Fortunato, Michele Palmer, Leia Raphaelidis, Eric Rosario, City Staff: Nels Bohn, Facilitator Guests: Cynthia Brock, John Graves, President of the South Hill Civic Association Minutes from the May 2, 2011 CAG meeting are approved with no revisions. The City web site currently does not include our CAG. Agenda Additions and/or Deletions Addition: Discussion of potential Cornell DesignConnect project application. M Palmer described the DesignConnect organization at Cornell as being created to give students real-life project experience while providing underserved communities with access to design services. One of the topics to which the DesignConnect application is open involves research and analysis. Palmer envisions a project where the various sources of data about industrial pollution in the City are distilled into a series of maps that graphically portray the issues. Members asked several open ended questions that will guide Palmer in developing the application. It is due June 15th and will be circulated to the CAG prior to submission. It will generally describe the potential project but leave many details to be worked out, if accepted by the student group. DISCUSSION ON “ASSIGNMENTS ” FROM LAST MEETING: K. Deschere has not written a letter to Therm and it seems not needed at this point (see later update on Therm). K. Deschere has not contacted Dr. Gossett J. Dotson contacted Gail Steinhart regarding GIS based mapping. She has been helpful and is in need of more information. M. Palmer agreed to assist in providing addresses for mapped structures. The potential “Crib Sheet” for homeowners suggested at the last meeting was discussed. The goal is to share local information on ways to make homes safer from contaminants. E Rosario suggested that this pamphlet be run by the Planning and Economic Development Committee of Common Council. Rosario and Dotson are working on making it mandatory for landlords to test for radon in basement apartments. The City Attorney has been consulted to understand any potential legal issues. L. Raphaelidis volunteered to write an Op-Ed piece for the Ithaca Journal that will describe the ways homes can be made safer from contaminants. PROJECT SITE UPDATES: Neighborhood s downhill from Emerson The Operable Unit No. 3 90% draft documents for the replacement of the sanitary sewer on East Spencer Street were discussed. It was noted that the drawings did not provide enough detail to understand all of the potential issues of the design. The intended functioning of the system as a pathway for VOCs to emerge through the vent stack rather than migrating into homes was
discussed. Concerns were expressed about monitoring the efficacy of the vent system and what steps may be taken in the future should it not appear to be working. Since the stack is likely to be the scale of a utility pole, it was agreed that visual impact seemed to not be a consideration. The tax abatement money returned by Emerson was discussed. It is unknown exactly how the funds will be used by the City but J. Graves suggested that it would be useful if a portion of the funds could be set aside for purposes related to studying industrial pollution related issues and redevelopment strategies. Reports from the DEC: (see last page) K. Deschere stated that he had contact with Karen Cahill on several projects: Operable Unit No. 3 90% draft documents have been made available. Emerson Final report due out Early 2012 Therm affected neighborhood has additional testing has been completed. Therm has agreed to conduct more testing on-site. The area will be broken out of the Axoihm Off-site unit and will become a separate, as yet un-named site. Stephanie Harrington’s summary of sites downtown was relayed: Clinton West Plaza remediation is progressing although at a slower pace than anticipated. The work plan for the Campagnolo property is being moved forward. The 315 N. Meadow St. site’s owner has declined to work with the state to implement remediation, so the state is moving ahead without cooperation of the owner. The Markles Flats site is still uncertain and it is not yet known if the City will appeal the court decision to allow the school district to demolish the building. The PRAP for the Court Street site is believed to still be in process. The First Street site went to a Record of Decision. Next Meeting Schedule: Monday, July 11, City Hall, 3rd Floor Council Chambers, 6:00-7:30 p.m.
UPDATES FROM DEC STAFF REPORTED AT JUNE 6 CAG MEETING From Karen Cahill: June 2, 2011: Emerson: DEC received the draft 90% Design Report for OU3 from Emerson on May 13, 2011 and is in the process of reviewing. Emerson has slightly revised the schedule I originally sent you on May 4 based on results of their pre-design investigation: * FWR pre-design report submission to NYSDEC. End of June 2011 * FWR remedial action work (as warranted based on pre-design investigations). September 2011 * Former 507 Degreaser pre-design report submission to NYSDEC * End of June 2011; Pilot Test August 2011; Remedy Fall 2011 * Cap installation outside former 507 Degreaser Area. Fall 2011 * Final remedial action report submission for all 3 efforts. Early 2012 * OU No. 3 Remedy: Emerson anticipates starting the remedy implementation beginning mid July 2011, pending NYSDEC review and approval of 90% design and the permitting process. Therm: Phase VII - selected home re-sampling and initial testing of the two added homes was completed by DEC on May 5th. We are awaiting validated results. We met with Therm twice in May, and based on the Phase VII results to date, they have agreed to resample existing onsite monitoring wells and conduct a limited investigation of soil vapor in the vicinity of the most impacted offsite area. Pending these results, DEC will determine if further work is necessary. DEC hopes to have a report finalized by the end of July on the Phase VII results. Any subsequent reports prepared by Therm and/or the DEC will not be referencing "Axiohm Offsite". June 3 , 2011: I neglected to mention that Therm also intends to investigate area around SV-19. I guess it is not 100% official yet but should be next week. So you can indicate that DEC has requested these initial investigations and appears as if Therm is going to agree. They are supposed to be getting us a work plan next week and start field work in July. From Stephanie Harrington: June 3 &6, 2011: Ca mpagnolo Property (Site No. 755013) The Responsible Party (RP) entered into an Order on Consent (Order) with the State to perform the selected remedy. The consultant for the RP is currently preparing the work plan and/or site management plan pursuant to the requirements specified in the Order. 315 North Meadow Street (Site No. 755014) The Potential Responsible Parties (PRPs) have declined to enter into an Order on Consent with the State to perform the selected remedy. The State will continue to implement the remedial program in accordance with applicable State and Federal Law. Currently a new work assignment is being prepared to conduct the Remedial Design (RD). Once approved the RD work assignment will be issued to one of the standby engineering consultants under contract with the State. Clinton West Plaza 1) Remedial design investigations completed 2) Groundwater data and indoor air data under State review 3) Remedial Design Investigation report anticipated in late August 2011