NORWICH – Cleanup and decontamination efforts at a former New York State Electric and Gas plant – located behind Front and Birdsall Streets and adjacent to the Tops parking lot – continue to remain on target for completion in June of 2011, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Originally utilized for the manufacturing of natural gas from 1863 to 1953, well over 50,000 gallons of coal tar-water mixture, containing nearly 25,500 gallons of coal tar, have been successfully removed from the site. Pumping for the remaining contaminants, as part of phase two of the project, is expected to resume this spring.
In November of 2010, NYSEG Manager of Regional Outreach and Development James Salmon said that “NYSEG will resume pumping in April of 2011 and continue pumping until no more coal tar can be removed.”
Following a sufficient period of coal tar oil removal at a second, off-site location south of Front Street, any remaining contaminants would be treated by in-situ chemical oxidation, which will destroy any remaining coal tar and break it down into carbon dioxide and water.
Coal tar oil monitoring and collection would continue during the chemical oxidation process if necessary, reported DEC spokesperson Maureen Wren.
Construction of a soil cover over the primary site – and the off-site location – is also expected to reach completion on schedule, stated Wren, who added the cover would be a minimum of one-foot thick and two-feet thick at the two locations respectively, following which the two would be topped by soil of sufficient quality to support vegetation where applicable. The soil cover would also be underlain by a demarcation layer – such as orange plastic snow fencing – and non-vegetated areas such as buildings, roadways and parking lots would be subsequently paved.
In addition, the DEC and city officials are working to develop a site management plan which would address residual contaminated soils that may be excavated from the site during future re-development; evaluate the potential for vapor intrusion for any buildings developed on the site; identify any use restrictions and provide for the operation and maintenance of the components of the remedy at both locations.
Holding phase one operations – which include the in-situ solidification of impacted soils and the future installation of the clean soil cover – during the winter months has helped to keep down dust which, otherwise, may have hampered the cleanup effort.
Mayor Joe Maiurano stated he’s received weekly reports on air quality at the primary site, which is tested on a daily basis for safety, throughout phase one.
“They’re definitely on schedule and maybe a little bit ahead of schedule at this point,” stated the mayor. “They’ve done a very professional job and hopefully things will get back to normal this summer.”