HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CAG-2012-05-07Community Advisory Group (CAG) Minutes for May 7 , 2012 APPROVED Present: Nels Bohn as City Facilitator, Ken Deschere, Cynthia Brock, Jennifer Dotson, John Graves, Kathy Woodcock Please note: Peter Fortunato has resigned, but will continue to attend meetings of interest. Guest (s): None Minutes from the April 2, 2012 CAG meeting approved for posting. Agenda Additions and/or Deletions: No additional items suggested PROJECT SITE UPDATES: *See the Department of Conservation (DEC) update from Karen Cahill, Syracuse Office – after these Minutes Community Air Screening Program: It is not an adequate test for woodstove smoke particles, but can be used for gathering other types of air pollution information. CAG committee does not think Ithaca would qualify. DISCUSSION ABOUT DEC & OTHER COMMUNICATIONS: • Ask Karen to share information with The City/Town Emerson Task Force • Suggest the DEC update our community about projects, especially the Therm neighborhood which hasn’t heard anything about results in two years. • Ask Karen about Bioremediation method – (Ruth Richardson, CU Associate Professor in the Civil & Environmental Dept. is knowledgeable about this area.) • Cornell Resources Meeting – Need a project manager to organize current and past CU student work on Ithaca industrial pollution projects in order to link all information. It would be helpful in gaining a clearer picture of the toxin situation. REPORT by Ken Deschere: He attended the April 26 Markles Flats meeting. The city dropped its lawsuit but cleanup won’t happen until fall; currently some “in-situ chemical oxidation” (ISCO) is being used to breakdown toxins. REPORT by Nels Bohn • Met with Fall Creek Neighborhood Association • DEC & DOH (Dept of Health) approved environmental study to begin May 22 • Bed well location – determine whether groundwater is running into neighborhood • Analysis of the bridge and its weight bearing load • Geo probes • Fish and wildlife study • Fence installed
The City/Town Emerson Task Force: A City/Town Task Force will determine a use recommendation and tax sharing plan (Mayor’s idea). • A walking tour of the Emerson facility included Mayor Svante Myrick, Robert Sarachan, (Ci ty attorney) and members JoAnn Cornish (Director of Planning and Development) Cynthia Bock (City Administration and CAG Committees), Bill Goodman and Rich De Paolo (both on Ithaca Town Planning Committee) • A letter of intent was received by Emerson which signed 90 day non-binding agreement with a potential buyer. EPA meeting with Mayor Svante L. Myrick: A potential fo restry and biomass feasibility study was discussed. Next Meeting Schedule: Monday, June 4, at City Hall, 2nd Floor Conference Room, 6:00-7:30 p.m. UPDATES FROM KAREN CAHILL – May 7, 2012 Emerson Site: the supplemental pre-design investigation work has been approved by DEC and is scheduled to begin next week. See attached work plan and Emerson comment response letter for your records. Former Axiohm Facility: ISCO injections are scheduled to begin next week as well. Therm Facility: Onsite Groundwater sampling has still not been scheduled. I will be contacting their consultant to find out current status (they were having problems negotiating an agreement with the driller last I knew). Regardless, I will be spending some time in your lovely city and town next week!!