HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CAG-2011-12-05Community Advisory Group (CAG) Minutes for December 5, 2011
Present: Ken Deschere, Jennifer Dotson, Peter Fortunato, John Graves, Michele Palmer, Leia
Raphaelidis, Kathy Woodcock
Guests: Student Representatives, Inna and Lucy, from the Cornell Design Connect Team; Pam
Mackesey, George McGonigal, Patrick Sewell, Micheline Zion
Minutes from the Nov. 7, 2011 CAG meeting were approved and will be posted.
Agenda Additions and/or Deletions
Several members attended the CU Engineer student presentation at Cornell that could help drive
Emerson Remediation. We will try to put this student work on SHIP for public perusal.
PROJECT SITE UPDATES:
See the Department of Conservation (DEC) update from Stephanie Harrington, Syracuse Office,
following these Minutes.
DESIGN CONNECT TEAM: Student representatives, Inna and Lucy
Students produced overlays using GIS, a geographical information computer program that gives
an overview of the South Hill area. These illustrated data maps show the percent of water
contaminants along sewer lines running down from Emerson, Axiohm and Therm sites. This
project provides a visual documentation showing where toxin chemicals have been found during
soil vapor and ground-water testing.
A sewer system visual that connects all three factories provides information about chemical
migration. The graphic map is interactive with pie charts that enhance understanding. It is the
first time all these sites have been combined.
Concern was expressed that this study of more recent toxin documentation does not include older
documentation. Combining this work with earlier studies could better determine whether more
changes have happened over time. Due to time constraints, this work could be continued by
another student group.
The $400 payment for this student project was further discussed. J. Dotson will continue her
inquiry into possible city funding.
TOPICS FOR FUTURE MEETINGS:
• Consideration of ways to utilize the EPA Human Health Assessment, released on
September 28.
• CAG status as an “ad hoc” committee – effects of ballot Propositions, need for defined
terms of service.
Next Meeting Schedule:
Monday, January 9, at City Hall, Common Council Chambers, 6:00-7:30 p.m.
NOTES FROM STEPHANIE HARRINGTON – received after 12/5 Meeting
12/6:
What I've received so far...
Ithaca 1st St. MGP:
The latest phase of the pre-design investigation fieldwork was completed in November.
Ithaca Court St. MGP:
50% Remedial Design for Area 1 of OU-2 is under review.
12/7:
315 N. Meadow Street: Starting the injection well installation 12/12/2011.
Links to Cornell Student Presentations from http://ithaca-ship.org/
"Cornell Green Consulting Group" Presents Emerson Site Ideas at
November 17th Meeting
There have been two groups of Cornell Graduate Students working on projects related to
Emerson and other South Hill industrial sites this year. One of them, participants in
Prof. Francis Vanek's CEE 5910 course, gave a fascinating look at some possibilities for
the Emerson site on the evening of November 17th. They showed the favorable
economics of various approaches to transforming part of the site into a "clean energy
generation facility for the city of Ithaca."
PDF version (5 MB file) of the slides they presented.
Single-page "Scenario Summary" PDF.
Cornell "DesignConnect" Team Show South Hill Maps and Tools at
December 5th Meeting
A second group of students, working with the Cornell DesignConnect project, is merging
data from recent tests for toxins with data in GIS maps, to try to produce a better picture
of where and which toxins have been found on South Hill. They presented their project
work at the Monday, December 5 meeting of the Community Advisory Group at City
Hall. A preliminary draft of their final report is here.