Community Advisory Group (CAG) Minutes for March 7, 2011

Transcription

1 Community Advisory Group (CAG) Minutes for March 7, 2011 Present: Ken Deschere, Jennifer Dotson, Michele Palmer, Leia Raphaelidis, Eric Rosario, Kathy Woodcock Absent with Excuse: Maria Coles, Regina Deschere, Peter Fortunato City Staff: Nels Bohn, Facilitator Guests: John Graves, President of the South Hill Civic Association Minutes from the February 7, 2011 CAG meeting are approved (w/nels listed as staff) and will be posted on the City of Ithaca website. Agenda Additions and/or Deletions Markels Flats First Street Remedial Plan for March 14 public meeting Hydro-fracking waste water processed at nearby waste treatment plant and released into Southern Cayuga Lake (hold this topic) PROJECT SITE UPDATES: *No progress report but two different public meeting notifications scheduled for March 11 and March 14 were received from the Department of Conservation (DEC) GENERAL DISCUSSION: THERM - Home Toxin Test Results: Information has not been released although it has been approximately 90 days. Karen Cahill reported there were delays in processing. Emerson Sign Posting John Graves reported there are signs posted every 10 feet and thanked Eric for contacting DEC about the matter. Markles Flats Appeal The City of Ithaca appealed a judge s recent decision to give the school district the power of determination but did not win. The city could appeal again at a higher level but will weigh the expense. NYSEG former Manufactured Gas Plant (MGP) - Coal Tar Remedial Action Plans: 1 st meeting: Friday, March 11at GIAC at 7 p.m. NYSEG MGP neighborhood of Court, N. Plain, W. Court, Esty and Washington Streets 2 nd meeting: Monday, March 14 at Ithaca City Hall at 7 p.m. NYSEG MGP neighborhood of First and Third Streets Jennifer Dotson suggested composing a letter voicing CAG s concerns and inviting these neighbors to participate in our next meeting to discuss options and a DEC March 31 response.

2 How to inform neighborhoods? DEC no longer does mailings -- only internet s Coal Tar Advisory Committee, Attention: Jutta Dotterwiech, (607) Washington Park Association Greater Ithaca Activities Center (GIAC) posting at front desk Laminate notices in strategic places Radio announcement Ithaca Journal meeting notification (Nels suggested putting both meeting announcements together for less confusion. This will also give the public more time to respond.) Provide DEC with a list of questions to answer at remedial public meetings - Why are high levels of toxins still being found after remediation of the former NYSEG Manufacturing Plant has been done? Why aren t barriers being used to contain the remediated area in order to prevent further contamination? If home basement sump pumps distribute ground water into yards, is it safe to plant and eat the produce? If someone s house burns down, can it be rebuilt? -- or will it incur an environmental expense for the owner? Being that chemical vapors are known to move around, how can residents be assured that on-going monitoring will be done? -- and for how long? Is the size of the remedial area big enough if there is future chemical migration? Assignments: ALL CAG Members Send more remedial questions to Ken by Wednesday evening so he can forward a list of questions to DEC by Thursday morning. Eric Rosario Tuesday 3/8/11 ask the City Clerk s office to post upcoming remedial meetings to The Ithaca Journal. Notify Jutta about these meetings and ask for outreach help. John Graves - Will deliver flyers door-to-door on Washington St. where the highest chemical recordings were found. Kathy offered to help. Ken Deschere - map and fact sheets to CAG, etc. Produce 50 copies for John to disperse. Publicize on WHCU tomorrow morning. Assemble list of questions and forward to DEC. Leia Raphaelidis Post laminates. Next Meeting Schedule: Tentatively schedule a meeting after hearing DEC reports at the two remedial meetings to allow CAG and neighbors to adequately respond to these plans by March 31, Monday, April 4, 2011 at City Hall, 2 nd floor Conference Room, 6-7:30 p.m. Attachments: - Fact Sheet NYSEG, Ithaca Court St. Former Manufactured Gas Plant Site OU2, Site # with Proposed Remedial Action Plan - Fact Sheet NYSEG, Ithaca First Street Former Manufactured Gas Plant, Site #755006

3 New York State Department of Environmental Conservation FACT SHEET Manufactured Gas Plant Program Receive Site Fact Sheets by . See For More Information to Learn How. NYSEG Ithaca Court Street Former Manufactured Gas Plant Site OU2, Site # North Plain, West Court, Esty and Washington Streets, Ithaca, NY February 2011 Remedy Proposed for Former Manufactured Gas Plant Site; Public Comment Period and Public Meeting Announced The public is invited to comment on the remedy proposed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) to address environmental impacts related to the NYSEG Ithaca Court Street Former Manufactured Gas Plant (MGP) Site, OU2. The site is located at between West Court and Esty Streets, east of North Plain Street, in the City of Ithaca, Tompkins County. This proposed remedy is for Operable Unit 2 (OU2) of the site which will address contamination to the north and west of the site, as well as contamination associated with the tar conduits below West Court Street beyond the area defined in Public Meeting Friday, March 11 7:00 pm Greater Ithaca Activity Center 318 North Albany Street Ithaca, NY NYSDEC invites you to a public meeting to discuss the remedy proposed for this site. You are encouraged to provide comments at the meeting and during the 30-day comment period described in this fact sheet. Operable Unit 1 (OU1). See the attached map for the site location. NYSEG (New York State Electric & Gas) has agreed to investigate and remediate the site to a level that is protective of public health and the environment. The investigation and remediation are being performed with the oversight of the NYSDEC and the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH). The Proposed Remedy The remedy proposed for the site includes excavation and off-site disposal of contaminated soil immediately north and west of the plant site. A seam of tar west of the plant site and north of Esty Street would be treated in place using chemical oxidation. The remedy also provides for monitoring and, where appropriate, treatment of residual contamination beyond the extent of the coal tar source areas. The proposed remedy is described in a draft cleanup plan called a Proposed Remedial Action Plan, developed under New York State s Manufactured Gas Plant Program. The document is available for public review at the locations identified below under Where to Find Information and on the internet at How to Comment NYSDEC is accepting written comments about the proposed remedy for 30 days, from March 1, 2011 through March 31, 2011.

4 About the Manufactured Gas Plant Program: NYSDEC has one of the most aggressive Manufactured Gas Plant (MGP) Programs site investigation and remediation programs in the country. Since the problems associated with the former MGP sites were identified, NYSDEC has been working with all the utilities on a state-wide basis to identify and address the issue of MGP sites for which they may have responsibility. This effort has resulted in approximately 235 sites identified for action by the eight utilities operating in New York State. Currently we have multi-site orders or agreements with six utilities, including NYSEG, and several other individual site volunteers, to address 222 MGP sites in NYS. Multi-site agreements are under negotiation with a seventh utility and several other responsible parties which have newly-identified sites. NYSDEC continues to seek to identify any other possible MGP sites throughout the State. For more information about the NYSDEC s MGP program, visit: Submit written comments to: William Ottaway, Project Manager NYSDEC 625 Broadway, 11th Floor Albany, NY wsottawa@gw.dec.state.ny.us Summary of the Proposed Remedy The proposed remedy represents the alternative preferred by NYSDEC, NYSDOH and NYSEG to address site impacts. The draft cleanup plan includes: Removal of soil containing visual indications of coal tar and contaminant levels that exceed the cleanup levels established for the site. Treatment of a tar seam north of Esty Street using in-situ chemical oxidation. Monitored Natural Attenuation for areas of impacted groundwater beyond coal tar impacts. Development and implementation of a site management plan The proposed remedy was chosen following a detailed investigation of the site and evaluation of alternatives to address MGP impacts, called a Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study. Other alternatives presented in the Feasibility Study include no action, capping and removal of contaminated soil to varying degrees. The proposed remedy would achieve the remediation goals for the site by permanently removing or or chemically treating contaminated soil from the site. The proposed remedy would greatly reduce the source of MGP impacts to groundwater, and as provide treatment, as necessary, to create the conditions needed to restore groundwater quality to the extent possible. The estimated cost to implement the remedy is $12,800,000, of which the cost of construction is estimated to be $9,700,000. The remainder of the cost is associated with long term monitoring and maintenance. NYSEG will be financially responsible for implementation of the remedy. Next Steps NYSDEC will consider public comments as it finalizes the remedy for the site. The selected remedy will be described in a document called a Record of Decision that will explain why the remedy was selected and respond to public comments. This document will be made available to the public (see Where to Find Information below). The project then moves to designing and performing the cleanup action to address the site contamination. NYSDEC will keep the public informed during the cleanup of the site.

5 Background The site is bounded by Esty, West Court and North Plain Streets in the City of Ithaca. It is the location of a former MGP, which produced combustible gas from coal and petroleum from 1852 until A complex mixture of liquid organic chemicals called coal tar condensed from the hot gas after it was manufactured. This tar is present in the subsurface at this site to a depth of approximately 18 feet, where silty clay acts as a confining layer. A wooden duct was used to transport the tar along West Court Street to Cayuga inlet, where it was loaded on barges for processing. The Cayuga Inlet site (# ) and the wooden duct (from the MGP site to Meadow Street) have already been successfully cleaned up. FOR MORE INFORMATION Where to Find Information Project documents are available at the following locations to help the public to stay informed. These documents include the proposed cleanup plan for the site, called the Proposed Remedial Action Plan, and the Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study reports. Tompkins County Public Library 101 East Green Street Ithaca, NY (607) Hours: 10-9 Monday - Thursday 10-5 Friday & Saturday 1-5 Sundays Coal Tar Advisory Committee 106 Washington Street Ithaca, NY14850 (607) Attn: Jutta Dotterweich NYSDEC Central Office 625 Broadway Albany, NY (518) Attn: William Ottaway, P.E. wsottawa@gw.dec.state.ny.us City of Ithaca Office of the Mayor 108 East Green Street (607) Who to Contact Comments and questions are always welcome and should be directed as follows: Project Related Questions William Ottaway NYSDEC Division of Environmental Remediation 625 Broadway, Albany, NY Phone #: wsottawa@gw.dec.state.ny.us Justin Deming NYSDOH 547 River Street Troy, N.Y Phone # : (800) x beei@health.state.ny.us

6 If you know someone who would like to be added to the site contact list, have them contact the NYSDEC project manager listed above. We encourage you to share this fact sheet with neighbors and tenants, and/or post this fact sheet in a prominent area of your building for others to see. Receive Site Fact Sheets by Have site information such as this fact sheet sent right to your inbox. NYSDEC invites you to sign up with one or more contaminated sites county listservs available at the following web page: It s quick, it s free, and it will help keep you better informed. As a listserv member, you will periodically receive site-related information/announcements for all contaminated sites in the county(ies) you select. You may continue also to receive paper copies of site information for a time after you sign up with a county listserv, until the transition to electronic distribution is complete. Note: Please disregard if you already have signed up and received this fact sheet electronically.

7 New York State Department of Environmental Conservation FACT SHEET Manufactured Gas Plant Program Receive Site Fact Sheets by . See For More Information to Learn How. NYSEG Ithaca First Street Former Manufactured Gas Plant Site, Site # Third Street, Ithaca, NY February 2011 Remedy Proposed for Former Manufactured Gas Plant Site; Public Comment Period and Public Meeting Announced The public is invited to comment on the remedy proposed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) to address environmental impacts related to the NYSEG Ithaca First Street Former Manufactured Gas Plant (MGP) Site. The site is located on Third Street, West of Route 13 and south of Cascadilla Creek in the City of Ithaca, Tompkins County. This site is the location of the Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Facility (IAWWTF). The proposed remedy will address contamination found between the IAWWTF and Cascadilla Creek. See the attached map for the site location. NYSEG Public Meeting Monday, March 14 7:00 pm Ithaca City Hall 108 East Green Street Ithaca, NY NYSDEC invites you to a public meeting to discuss the remedy proposed for this site. You are encouraged to provide comments at the meeting and during the 30-day comment period described in this fact sheet. (New York State Electric & Gas) has agreed to investigate and remediate the site to a level that is protective of public health and the environment. The investigation and remediation are being performed with the oversight of the NYSDEC and the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH). The Proposed Remedy The remedy proposed for the site includes enhanced NAPL recovery and a barrier wall to prevent migration of contamination into Cascadilla Creek. The remedy also provides for long term monitoring, a site management plan and institutional controls to restrict land use. The proposed remedy is described in a draft cleanup plan called a Proposed Remedial Action Plan, developed under New York State s Manufactured Gas Plant Program. The document is available for public review at the locations identified below under Where to Find Information and on the internet at How to Comment NYSDEC is accepting written comments about the proposed remedy for 30 days, from February 28, 2011 through March 31, 2011.

8 About the Manufactured Gas Plant Program: NYSDEC has one of the most aggressive Manufactured Gas Plant (MGP) Programs site investigation and remediation programs in the country. Since the problems associated with the former MGP sites were identified, NYSDEC has been working with all the utilities on a state-wide basis to identify and address the issue of MGP sites for which they may have responsibility. This effort has resulted in approximately 235 sites identified for action by the eight utilities operating in New York State. Currently we have multi-site orders or agreements with six utilities, including NYSEG, and several other individual site volunteers, to address 222 MGP sites in NYS. Multi-site agreements are under negotiation with a seventh utility and several other responsible parties which have newly-identified sites. NYSDEC continues to seek to identify any other possible MGP sites throughout the State. For more information about the NYSDEC s MGP program, visit: Submit written comments to: William Ottaway, Project Manager NYSDEC 625 Broadway, 11th Floor Albany, NY wsottawa@gw.dec.state.ny.us Summary of the Proposed Remedy The proposed remedy represents the alternative preferred by NYSDEC, NYSDOH and NYSEG to address site impacts. The draft cleanup plan includes: Removal of coal tar from the subsurface using an enhanced recovery system. Installation of a barrier wall to prevent migration of contamination into Cascadilla Creek Development and implementation of a site management plan, which will include maintenance of a soil cover and fencing. The proposed remedy was chosen following a detailed investigation of the site and evaluation of alternatives to address MGP impacts, called a Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study. Other alternatives presented in the Feasibility Study include no action, capping and removal of contaminated soil to varying degrees. The proposed remedy would achieve the remediation goals for the site by extracting the most mobile contamination from the subsurface and creating a barrier to migration between the contamination and Cascadilla Creek. The estimated cost to implement the remedy is $3,200,000, of which the cost of construction is estimated to be $2,200,000. The remainder of the cost is associated with long term monitoring and maintenance. NYSEG will be financially responsible for implementation of the remedy. Next Steps NYSDEC will consider public comments as it finalizes the remedy for the site. The selected remedy will be described in a document called a Record of Decision that will explain why the remedy was selected and respond to public comments. This document will be made available to the public (see Where to Find Information below). The project then moves to designing and performing the cleanup action to address the site contamination. NYSDEC will keep the public informed during the cleanup of the site. Background Gas for cooking, heating, and lighting in Ithaca was initially produced by the gas plant located at North Plain Street and West Court Street (the NYSEG Ithaca Court Street site ). The

9 cleanup of that site is in progress. A tar handling facility associated with that plant (the Cayuga Inlet site, ) was cleaned up by NYSEG in the In 1927, the Court Street gas plant closed, and was replaced by the plant at the Ithaca First Street site. This plant used the carburetted water gas process to produce gas from petroleum and coal. The plant operated until Byproducts of the manufactured gas process remained at the site after it was closed. FOR MORE INFORMATION Where to Find Information Project documents are available at the following locations to help the public to stay informed. These documents include the proposed cleanup plan for the site, called the Proposed Remedial Action Plan, and the Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study reports. Tompkins County Public Library 101 East Green Street Ithaca, NY (607) Hours: 10-9 Monday - Thursday 10-5 Friday & Saturday 1-5 Sundays NYSDEC Central Office 625 Broadway Albany, NY (518) Attn: William Ottaway, P.E. wsottawa@gw.dec.state.ny.us City of Ithaca Office of the Mayor 108 East Green Street (607) Who to Contact Comments and questions are always welcome and should be directed as follows: Project Related Questions William Ottaway NYSDEC Division of Environmental Remediation 625 Broadway, Albany, NY Phone #: wsottawa@gw.dec.state.ny.us Kristin Kulow NYS Department of Health Oneonta District Office 28 Hill Street, Suite 201 Oneonta, NY (607) beei@health.state.ny.us

10 If you know someone who would like to be added to the site contact list, have them contact the NYSDEC project manager listed above. We encourage you to share this fact sheet with neighbors and tenants, and/or post this fact sheet in a prominent area of your building for others to see. Receive Site Fact Sheets by Have site information such as this fact sheet sent right to your inbox. NYSDEC invites you to sign up with one or more contaminated sites county listservs available at the following web page: It s quick, it s free, and it will help keep you better informed. As a listserv member, you will periodically receive site-related information/announcements for all contaminated sites in the county(ies) you select. You may continue also to receive paper copies of site information for a time after you sign up with a county listserv, until the transition to electronic distribution is complete. Note: Please disregard if you already have signed up and received this fact sheet electronically.