RJ
02-17-2007, 09:55 AM
DEC ANNOUNCES PUBLIC MEETING ON NASSAU UNIFORM SERVICE SITE Public Comment Period for Proposed Cleanup Plan Closes March 21, 2007
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), in conjunction with the New York State Department of Health (DOH), will hold a public meeting on Monday, February 26, 2007, at 7 p.m. to present its proposal for the cleanup of environmental contamination at the Nassau Uniform Service (NUS) site.
The meeting will be held at the Freeport Memorial Library located at 144 West Merrick Road, Freeport. At the meeting, DEC and DOH staff will review the history of the site, describe the results of investigations completed to date, and the rationale behind the proposed remedial action plan (PRAP).
The NUS site is a 0.5-acre site located at 525 Ray Street in Freeport. The site is bordered on the west by a man-made saltwater c**** off Milburn Creek. The site is a uniform supply company, where uniforms were dry-cleaned using tetrachloroethene (PCE), the most common solvent used for dry-cleaning. Dry-cleaning operations have been discontinued.
On April 27, 1990, an indoor 2,000-gallon waste oil/PCE tank was removed. Leakage from this tank had caused soil and groundwater contamination. A remedial investigation and various supplemental investigations were performed to determine the extent of the onsite contamination.
The results of the investigations indicate the following:
* Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), consisting primarily of PCE and related breakdown products including trichloroethene, cis-1,2-dichloroethene, and vinyl chloride, are the primary contaminants at the site.
* The primary source area is near the former waste tank.
* Other contaminated areas included soils under the compressor room floor, under two former dry-cleaning machines, and the soils in an unpaved area along the northern side of the site.
* The groundwater under the western portion of the site is affected by the tidal action in the adjacent c****. The preferential path of groundwater flow is westward toward the adjacent creek.
* Some limited contamination of the surface water and sediments immediately adjacent to the site by site related breakdown products was detected.
* Soil vapor contamination by chlorinated solvents has been detected at the site.
* DOH collected indoor and outdoor air samples at adjacent properties. All sample results were at or near normal background levels
Three interim remedial measures (IRMs) were conducted at the site. An IRM is conducted at a site when a source of contamination or exposure pathway can be effectively addressed before completion of a remedial investigation and feasibility study. The three IRMs were as follows:
* Soil Excavation: Some soil was excavated from the northwest corner of the site to remove surface soils contaminated with tetrachloroethene and heavy metals.
* Soil Vapor Extraction System: A soil vapor extraction system (SVES) has been operated at various times to treat soil and soil vapor contamination. The system was restarted in February 2006 and is currently in operation.
* Groundwater Treatment and Extraction System (GETS): Starting in February 2006, contaminated onsite groundwater has been extracted from three wells and treated in a low profile stripping unit.
The PRAP identifies the remedy preferred by DEC and DOH to remediate the VOCs and metals in groundwater and soil. The agencies chose the proposed alternative following a detailed investigation of the site and evaluation of alternatives for remediating the contamination.
The elements of the proposed remedy are as follows:
* A soil excavation would be performed near the oil/water separator to remove petroleum-related and inorganic contamination in the surface and subsurface soils. If, after this soil excavation is conducted, there is significant residual soil VOC contamination, an existing SVES extraction well would be used to treat it.
* The existing onsite SVES would be modified to improve system performance and would continue to treat the onsite soil contamination, limit migration of contaminants in the soils to the underlying groundwater, prevent onsite vapor migration from contaminated soils and groundwater to the site building and help prevent offsite vapor migration to nearby buildings.
* If needed, the SVES would be further modified and/or supplemental measures would be implemented to minimize potential exposures to contaminated vapors at offsite locations.
* The existing onsite groundwater extraction and treatment system (GETS) would be modified to treat onsite groundwater contamination and reduce the amount of contaminated groundwater that would discharge to the surface water and sediments in the adjacent saltwater c****.
* An environmental easement would a) require compliance with the approved site management plan, b) restrict use of groundwater as a source of potable water or process water, c) require the property owner to complete and submit to the DEC a periodic certification of institutional and engineering controls, and d) limit site use to restricted residential.
The total present worth to construct and implement the proposed remedy is estimated at $535,800. The site owner has funded the site investigations and IRMs. A new consent order will be negotiated with the property owner for the subsequent design and implementation of the site remedy by the owner*s consultants and contractors under DEC oversight.
Meeting participants will be given the opportunity to ask questions and provide comments on the proposed cleanup plan. Written comments may be submitted by March 21, 2007 to Bob Stewart, NYSDEC - Region One Headquarters, SUNY at Stony Brook, 50 Circle Road, Stony Brook, NY 11790-3409
All comments received during the public comment period will be considered as the remedy for the Nassau Uniform Service site is finalized. Public input will be factored into a record of decision (ROD) which will describe the remedy selected and why it was chosen. A responsiveness summary will be prepared to provide responses to public comments received. The responsiveness summary will be part of the ROD. Work will then continue on design of the selected remedy.
Copies of investigation reports and other site documents are available at the Freeport Memorial Library, located at 144 West Merrick Road, Freeport and at DEC*s regional office in Stony Brook. Information is also available by calling Bill Fonda at (631) 444-0350.
Mark Lowery, Chief
Bureau of Public Outreach
Division of Public Affairs and Education New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
625 Broadway
****ny NY 12233-4500
518-402-8044
FAX:518-402-9036
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), in conjunction with the New York State Department of Health (DOH), will hold a public meeting on Monday, February 26, 2007, at 7 p.m. to present its proposal for the cleanup of environmental contamination at the Nassau Uniform Service (NUS) site.
The meeting will be held at the Freeport Memorial Library located at 144 West Merrick Road, Freeport. At the meeting, DEC and DOH staff will review the history of the site, describe the results of investigations completed to date, and the rationale behind the proposed remedial action plan (PRAP).
The NUS site is a 0.5-acre site located at 525 Ray Street in Freeport. The site is bordered on the west by a man-made saltwater c**** off Milburn Creek. The site is a uniform supply company, where uniforms were dry-cleaned using tetrachloroethene (PCE), the most common solvent used for dry-cleaning. Dry-cleaning operations have been discontinued.
On April 27, 1990, an indoor 2,000-gallon waste oil/PCE tank was removed. Leakage from this tank had caused soil and groundwater contamination. A remedial investigation and various supplemental investigations were performed to determine the extent of the onsite contamination.
The results of the investigations indicate the following:
* Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), consisting primarily of PCE and related breakdown products including trichloroethene, cis-1,2-dichloroethene, and vinyl chloride, are the primary contaminants at the site.
* The primary source area is near the former waste tank.
* Other contaminated areas included soils under the compressor room floor, under two former dry-cleaning machines, and the soils in an unpaved area along the northern side of the site.
* The groundwater under the western portion of the site is affected by the tidal action in the adjacent c****. The preferential path of groundwater flow is westward toward the adjacent creek.
* Some limited contamination of the surface water and sediments immediately adjacent to the site by site related breakdown products was detected.
* Soil vapor contamination by chlorinated solvents has been detected at the site.
* DOH collected indoor and outdoor air samples at adjacent properties. All sample results were at or near normal background levels
Three interim remedial measures (IRMs) were conducted at the site. An IRM is conducted at a site when a source of contamination or exposure pathway can be effectively addressed before completion of a remedial investigation and feasibility study. The three IRMs were as follows:
* Soil Excavation: Some soil was excavated from the northwest corner of the site to remove surface soils contaminated with tetrachloroethene and heavy metals.
* Soil Vapor Extraction System: A soil vapor extraction system (SVES) has been operated at various times to treat soil and soil vapor contamination. The system was restarted in February 2006 and is currently in operation.
* Groundwater Treatment and Extraction System (GETS): Starting in February 2006, contaminated onsite groundwater has been extracted from three wells and treated in a low profile stripping unit.
The PRAP identifies the remedy preferred by DEC and DOH to remediate the VOCs and metals in groundwater and soil. The agencies chose the proposed alternative following a detailed investigation of the site and evaluation of alternatives for remediating the contamination.
The elements of the proposed remedy are as follows:
* A soil excavation would be performed near the oil/water separator to remove petroleum-related and inorganic contamination in the surface and subsurface soils. If, after this soil excavation is conducted, there is significant residual soil VOC contamination, an existing SVES extraction well would be used to treat it.
* The existing onsite SVES would be modified to improve system performance and would continue to treat the onsite soil contamination, limit migration of contaminants in the soils to the underlying groundwater, prevent onsite vapor migration from contaminated soils and groundwater to the site building and help prevent offsite vapor migration to nearby buildings.
* If needed, the SVES would be further modified and/or supplemental measures would be implemented to minimize potential exposures to contaminated vapors at offsite locations.
* The existing onsite groundwater extraction and treatment system (GETS) would be modified to treat onsite groundwater contamination and reduce the amount of contaminated groundwater that would discharge to the surface water and sediments in the adjacent saltwater c****.
* An environmental easement would a) require compliance with the approved site management plan, b) restrict use of groundwater as a source of potable water or process water, c) require the property owner to complete and submit to the DEC a periodic certification of institutional and engineering controls, and d) limit site use to restricted residential.
The total present worth to construct and implement the proposed remedy is estimated at $535,800. The site owner has funded the site investigations and IRMs. A new consent order will be negotiated with the property owner for the subsequent design and implementation of the site remedy by the owner*s consultants and contractors under DEC oversight.
Meeting participants will be given the opportunity to ask questions and provide comments on the proposed cleanup plan. Written comments may be submitted by March 21, 2007 to Bob Stewart, NYSDEC - Region One Headquarters, SUNY at Stony Brook, 50 Circle Road, Stony Brook, NY 11790-3409
All comments received during the public comment period will be considered as the remedy for the Nassau Uniform Service site is finalized. Public input will be factored into a record of decision (ROD) which will describe the remedy selected and why it was chosen. A responsiveness summary will be prepared to provide responses to public comments received. The responsiveness summary will be part of the ROD. Work will then continue on design of the selected remedy.
Copies of investigation reports and other site documents are available at the Freeport Memorial Library, located at 144 West Merrick Road, Freeport and at DEC*s regional office in Stony Brook. Information is also available by calling Bill Fonda at (631) 444-0350.
Mark Lowery, Chief
Bureau of Public Outreach
Division of Public Affairs and Education New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
625 Broadway
****ny NY 12233-4500
518-402-8044
FAX:518-402-9036