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EPA Changes in Cleanup Plans Pave Way for Future Community Reuse and Historic Preservation at Superfund Site in Saratoga Springs, New York

Release Date: 01/23/2002
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(#02003) NEW YORK, N.Y. -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is modifying its 1995 cleanup plan for three areas of the Niagara Mohawk Power Corp. (NMPC) Superfund site in the city of Saratoga Springs, New York. The changes include a modification to the cleanup of chemical contamination at the former Excelsior Avenue Skating Rink Property that fits the city's present plans for the area; the relocation of the historic Round House building to preserve it; and, the decommissioning of a 4,000-foot section of an abandoned brick storm water that once carried chemical contamination off the site during and after storm events. NMPC expects to complete these new actions in 18 months, with EPA overseeing the project. Some of the work is already underway. "In a team effort, EPA, the city and Niagara Mohawk, with the support of the New York state Department of Environmental Conservation, have moved this site cleanup forward to protect public health and environment while integrating the local community's future redevelopment plans and wish to preserve the Round House," said EPA Regional Administrator Jane M. Kenny. "Our goal is to be responsive to the issues and concerns of communities near federal Superfund sites." The site consists of a 7-acre parcel of land used by NMPC as a district service center and headquarters for its linemen and tree trimming crews until 1999, the 2.3-acre, city-owned skating rink property and a 1-mile stretch of Spring Run Creek where the abandoned brick sewer is located. The soil, sediments and ground water at the site were contaminated with polyaromatic hydrocarbons and volatile organic compounds due to a lack of proper storage and disposal practices for coal tar and other materials, which were by-products of early gas production operations at the site dating back to 1868. EPA placed the site on its National Priorities List of hazardous waste sites in February 1990. The Excelsior Avenue Skating Rink Property The original 1995 plan called for removing the contaminated soil at the Excelsior Avenue skating rink property to meet residential cleanup levels, which was still in service at the time. Under EPA's new plan, two feet of surface soil across the entire property and any highly contaminated deep soil will be removed and disposed of off-site to meet commercial/industrial cleanup levels. This new approach has been selected since the skating rink was taken out of service when the municipality built a new one on Weible Avenue. In addition, the NMPC is in the process of purchasing the property with the understanding that its use will be permanently restricted. The Historic Round House In the 1995 plan, the historic Round House was slated for demolition so the contaminated soil beneath it could be removed. EPA has changed the original plan because of public interest in preserving this 1873 historical structure and the willingness of NMPC to pay the cost of relocating it. Now, the NMPC has already moved the Round House intact to another location on the NMPC property and the building will be preserved for future generations. The Brick Storm Water Sewer The original plan called for cleaning the entire length of the brick sewer to stop the transport of contaminants from the NMPC property to off-site areas, including Spring Run Creek, during and after storm events. However, the deteriorated condition of parts of the brick sewer, which was built in the 1860's, has made this plan impractical because EPA determined that cleaning the entire sewer would damage it further. Also, that work would have required the construction of a substantial access road for heavy load vehicles and equipment through the nearby wetlands, which would have adversely impacted this sensitive ecosystem. Under the new plan, the section of the sewer that runs through the NMPC property will be disconnected and the flow of upstream storm water will be rerouted around this section of the sewer. An 850-foot section of the sewer, which is in better condition than the rest of the sewer line, will be cleaned from the NMPC property line to the point where Loughberry Creek and Village Brook converge. This work has already started. The construction of an access road for this work was not necessary. Finally, a grout mixture will be injected into the remaining 4,000-foot section of the sewer that runs through Spring Run Creek, thus eliminating the potential migration of sewer sediments into the creek. EPA welcomes comments on its changes in the overall site cleanup plan, which is called an Explanation of Significant Differences (ESD). The ESD and supporting information are available for public review at the Saratoga Springs Library (Reference Section) on Henry Street. Written comments can be mailed to Ms. Maria Jon at: U.S. EPA, 290 Broadway, 20th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10007-1866. Her Fax number is (212) 637-3966.