AKWESASNE -- A project to remediate a 10,000,000-gallon lagoon at the former General Motors site is underway and expected to finish by the fall, according to the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe’s Environment Division.

The Environment Divison reviewed RACER Trust’s Remedial Design Work Plan, which the United States Environmental Protection Agency and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation have already approved.

“We are continuing to call for measures to be implemented that safeguard the environmental and public health of the Akwesasne community,” said Environment Division Director Ken Jock. “There are more air monitors in operation now compared to the number used two years ago. We have also concentrated on lowering the action level for air emission detections from earlier remedial actions conducted on site.”

The excavation work at the Superfund site’s lagoon will be conducted in two phases. The first involves removing sludge from a concrete structure inside the lagoon. The tribe says this will take three weeks. The second phase begins in June, during dryer weather conditions, and involves pumping water from the lagoon’s remaining portion and excavating sediments. All sludge and sediments will be dewatered by mixing them with wood pellets and then shipped off site to a hazardous waste landfill.

Earlier this year, RACER officials said the site cleanup should be mostly finished early next year. More details about that are here.

The Environment Division will have personnel on site to oversee the work activities and will be monitoring the air quality throughout this project to minimize the Akwesasne community’s exposure to emissions. Five high-volume PCB air monitors are set up on residential properties in Raquette Point with steps being taken to control the dust and odors on-site by covering waste piles with plastic. People in the area can expect an increase in noise due to the activity, the tribe said.

The air monitoring results are available online for individuals to download and review at http://racertrust.org/News/Massena_Community_Air_Monitoring_Plan_Reports. People with questions can call Environmental Specialist Craig Arquette at (518) 358-5937 ext. 119.