HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CAG-2012-11-05Community Advisory Group (CAG) Minutes for November 5 , 2012 APPROVED Present: Nels Bohn as City Facilitator, Cynthia Brock, Ken Deschere, John Graves, Michele Palmer Guest s: Scott Nostrand (Barton & Loguidice, B&L), members of the Ithaca Gun CAG and Natural Areas Commission: Walter Hang, Chris Sinton, Stephanie Bartzick, Lee Ann Hill, Joe McMahon, Kim Michaels Minutes from the September 10, 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 ITHACA FALLS OVERLOOK SITE The CAG Meeting also served as the Public Meeting and Community Notification of the City’s intent to apply for an EPA Brownfields grant. The EPA came in about a decade ago and vacuumed the soil to the bedrock, where possible. They excavated on the Interim Remedial Measure (IRM) “Hot Spot” slope, to about three feet below ground surface (bgs). They cleaned some in the western path, in the parcel around “The Island”, and in the gorge – but there was no remediation on or under the island itself. The goal was to get areas to below 400 parts per million (ppm) of lead. When B&L sampled during their recent work, there were many detections of lead, including samples as high at 10,000 ppm along the slope. The area requiring IRM steps is much larger than originally proposed. The “plunge pool” area has been recontaminated. There are some physical barriers which affect where contamination collects. The western accessway has higher toxin levels over more area than originally reported. Groundwater test data has not yet been released. The issues now center on the questions: “Which efforts are worthwhile?” and “Are there funds available which could help accomplish these efforts?” The depth of excavation of contaminated soil is a good example – should the top three feet be removed and capped? This might be affordable, but the depth of soil remaining in place – roughly thirteen feet – would still be contaminated and would remain a concern. Leaving the clean-up incomplete is troublesome, as is simply leaving the areas alone. We need to determine if we can get enough “bang for the buck” to make a lasting difference.
The grant from the EPA Brownfield Cleanup Program (BCP) would be $200,000. The DEC is likely to have only small amounts left over from other projects. Even if we got strong letters of support from area groups, there simply isn’t very much money available. The City needs to provide a 20% match to any new grants, but funds available, even with the BCP grant, will not approach the higher-than -expected remedial cost of up to four or five million dollars. Other fund possibilities need to be explored: - “local funds” from Block Grants - EPA “re-engagement “ funds to resolve issues they claimed were fixed earlier - Some help from the site owner (Frost Travis) who could benefit from tax credits Long-term costs must be met as well. The standard remediation for lead is removal of the affected soil. Capping is cheaper, but less desirable, as the lead is left in place and doesn’t degrade. Thus, caps and other construction are needed, and these must be maintained over time. As both the EPA and NYSDEC have been involved, there will need to be agreement between both agencies as to how to proceed. It appears that further investigations will be performed in November and December. This will be followed by IRM design, exploration of remedial alternatives, and development of a “Draft Site Investigation Report”. Then the new IRM could begin. This is a slower time-frame than the site-owner would like. Adjourned at 7:00 PM. Next Meeting Schedule: Monday, Dec ember 3, at City Hall, 2nd Floor Conference Room, 6:00-7:30 p.m.
Updates from Karen Cahill: Axiohm: The second round of ISCO injections were completed in late August and the first quarterly post-ISCO groundwater sampling round was conducted in September. We are awaiting the quarterly report, expected within a few weeks. South Hill Phase VII SVI Testing: 4 additional Phase VII homes will be sampled by DEC's contractor on November 13-14 (Therm declined to conduct this sampling). A report on these results will be prepared for public distribution once the analytical data is validated. Therm: - Therm installed 3 wells pairs on their facility property in June 2012 per DEC request. Unfortunately due to the geology of the site and the dry season we are having, the water table is depressed approx. 3+ feet, so there has not been enough water in the wells to develop or sample. - I am expecting a report from Therm's consultant within the next few weeks responding to DEC's August 8 email (attached) requesting additional information based on a file review conducted by DEC. Emerson: - We are expecting a Pre-Design summary report within the next month which will provide results for the extensive pre-design work Emerson conducted at the facility. - Emerson will be collecting soil samples next week in support of a proposed State Superfund Site boundary modification request. The work plan was approved by the Department on October 15, 2012 (see copy attached). Update from Stephanie Harrington: Clinton West Plaza Site 755015: Final pilot study groundwater monitoring event scheduled to be conducted in early November 2012 Enhanced anaerobic bioremediation pilot test evaluation report expected in December 2012 315 N. Meadow Street: Monitoring the groundwater after the injection Court Street MGP: See attached schedule in addition to the Fact Sheet you received earlier in the month
Ithaca Court Street Former MGP OU-1 and OU -2 Milestone Schedule 1. Markles Flats Asbestos Removal and Demolition Start date -10/29/12 Completion date 1/9/13 2. Area 1A Remediation (Esty Street)-Road Closure Start Date -11/19 /12 Completion Date-2/4/13 3. Markles Flats Temporary Fabric Structure Installation Start Date - 1/18/13 Completion - 1/31/13 4. Area 1B Remediation area (N.Plain St)- Road closure Start Date -2/8/13 Completion Date-4/24/13 *This task will involve separate emerg ency access corridors from both N.Plain and Esty which will be used alternately. On-site MGP remedial contractor will advise Police and Fire as to which emergency access corridor is currently in use. 5. Project Completion Date- 5/31/13 Schedule may be subject to change based on field conditions