X

DEC seeks input on Oswegatchie petroleum cleanup plan

Posted 2/8/13

OSWEGATCHIE -- Department of Conservation officials are seeking input on a proposed cleanup plan of the Collins Property, 7610 State Highway 68, Oswegatchie. A public meeting will be held at 7 p.m. …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

DEC seeks input on Oswegatchie petroleum cleanup plan

Posted

OSWEGATCHIE -- Department of Conservation officials are seeking input on a proposed cleanup plan of the Collins Property, 7610 State Highway 68, Oswegatchie.

A public meeting will be held at 7 p.m. March 6, at the Oswegatchie Town Hall.

NYSDEC will accept written comments about the proposed remedial action plan for 45 days, from Feb. 8, 2013 through March 25, 2013. The proposed plan is available for review at http://www.dec.ny.gov/cfmx/extapps/derexternal/haz/details.cfm?pageid=3&progno=E645045

Proposed Remedial Action Plan

The remedy proposed for the site includes:

1. A remedial design program will be implemented to provide the details necessary for the construction, operation, maintenance, and monitoring of the remedial program.

2. On-site petroleum impacted soil will be excavated and staged followed by mechanical aeration to promote bioremediation. Approximately 16,300 cubic yards of petroleum impacted soils are estimated to require treatment. The mechanical soil turning will continue until there is no visual, olfactory or photo-ionization detector readings.

3. Treatment of off-site petroleum-impacted soil will utilize the same approach as the on-site soil, with the soil piles placed on the site. Since the off-site area is not under the control of the

Town, the unrestricted SCOs must be achieved.

4. Any site redevelopment will require and maintain a site cover.

5. Imposition of an institutional control in the form of an environmental easement for the controlled will be required to restrict future use and use of groundwater, requires compliance with the Department approved Site Management Plan and require an evaluation of the potential for soil vapor intrusion for any buildings developed on the site, including provision for implementing actions recommended to address exposures related to soil vapor intrusion.

Summary of the Investigation

Based upon investigation conducted to date, the primary contaminants of concern are volatile organic compounds, semi-volatile organic compounds and metals. Soil and groundwater contamination exists above standards as the result of spills of petroleum at the facility. The majority of subsurface soil contamination is present in a smear zone from 4 to 8 feet below grade beneath both the site and the adjacent off-site property to the southwest. Visual and olfactory evidence of petroleum was found to be widespread across the site at this depth. NYSDEC developed the proposed remedy after reviewing the detailed investigation of the site and evaluating the remedial options in the “analysis of alternatives” submitted under New York’s Environmental Restoration Program by Town of Oswegatchie.

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. NYSDEC will keep the public informed throughout the investigation and cleanup of the site. Background

The site is situated northwest of State Highway 68 and southeast of the St. Lawrence River. The City of

Ogdensburg’s drinking water intake and the Former Diamond International Paper Mill Site are located to the west.

Site Features: The site is vacant and is covered with mixed vegetation, including grass and small shrubs. The site is relatively flat with a gentle slope toward the St. Lawrence River. The 5.4-acre parcel is bisected by the Former New York Central Railroad right-of-way which runs east to west. The right-of-way is 80 feet wide and separates the site into what is referred to as the lower or Riverside parcel, and upper or South Side Parcel. The Collins-Hammond Electrical

Contractors property is located immediately adjacent the southeast corner of the site and was part of the original major oil storage facility site.

Current Zoning/Use(s): The site is zoned commercial. Land use in the area is mixed, including residential and commercial properties. The nearest residence is approximately 250 feet west of the site.

Past Use of the Site: The site was historically used as a petroleum bulk storage facility and was owned by several petroleum companies since the late 1930s including Atlantic Fuels, Ultramar Petroleum, Inc., Augsbury Corporation, Gulf Oil Corporation, and Esso Standard Oil Company.

Gasoline, fuel oil and kerosene were stored in tanks ranging in size from 353,000 to 3,300,000 gallons during its operation. These above-ground storage tanks were reportedly removed in the 1980s.

An initial site assessment was performed in 1986 and the report documented the size of the tanks and the original layout of the facility. In 1988, the New York State Department of Environmental

Conservation assigned Spill No. 88-07224 to the site. The spill was closed in November 1990. In 2004 a subsurface investigation revealed the presence of additional petroleum contamination on the Riverside Parcel, the South Side Parcel, and contamination that appeared to be emanating from the Collins-Hammond Electrical Contractors property. A second Spill No. 03-12434 was assigned to the site on February 9, 2004 due to contamination found in soil borings.

Geology and Hydrogeology: Site soils consist of gravelly, sandy loam. Groundwater is found at an elevation between 4 and 7 feet below grade. Groundwater flow is to the northwest toward the St. Lawrence River. Bedrock was encountered between 8.5 and 17 feet below grade.

Additional site details, including environmental and health assessment summaries, are available

on NYSDEC's website at:

http://www.dec.ny.gov/cfmx/