PB97-963131
                            EPA/541/R-97/106
                            January 1998
EPA  Superfund
      Record of Decision Amendment:
      Preferred Plating Corp.
      Farmingdale, NY
      9/30/1997

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      RECORD OF DECISION AMENDMENT




       Preferred Plating Corporation




    Farmingdale,  Suffolk County,  New York
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.AGENCY





                  REGION II





             NEW YORK, NEW YORK

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                       DECLARATION STATEMENT

                   RECORD OF DECISION AMENDMENT
SITE NAME AND LOCATION

Preferred Plating Corporation
Farmingdale,  Suffolk County,  New York

STATEMENT OF BASIS AND PURPOSE     •

This decision document presents the selected modification to the
original remedial action for the first operable unit of the Preferred
Plating Corporation site (Site),  located in Farmingdale,  New York.
The original remedial action was selected in the Operable Unit 1
(OU1) Record of Decision (ROD) issued by the United States
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on September 22,  1989.

The modification to the original OU1 remedy was chosen in accordance
with the requirements of the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980, as amended, 42
U.S.C. ง 9601 et seq.. and to the extent practicable, the National
Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP), 40
C.F.R. Part 300.  This decision document explains the fundamental
changes to the OU1 remedy previously selected for the Site.
                                            *x

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation  (NYSDEC)
concurs with the modification to the selected OU1 remedy.  See
attached letter  (Appendix I).  The information supporting this
remedial action decision is contained in the administrative record
for the Site.  The index for the administrative record is attached to
this document  (Appendix II)..

DESCRIPTION OF MODIFICATION TO THE SELECTED REMEDY

The modification to the OU1 remedy reassesses the need for a pump and
treat system to address groundwater contaminated with cadmium,
chromium, and chlorinated organics.  This operable unit,  one of three
phases of remedial activity for the Site, addresses contaminated.
groundwater underlying the Site.  The second operable unit addressed
contaminated sediments and soils in underground leaching pits located
on the former PPC property; the excavation and off-site disposal of
these materials were completed ife June  1994.  The third operable unit

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investigated a potential upgradient source of groundwater
contamination which resulted in a September 1993 ROD to take no
further action.

The major components of the modification to the selected remedy
include:                                                            '

•  Elimination of the groundwater extraction and treatment system
  portion of the 1989 selected remedy, and

•  Implementation of -an annual groundwater monitoring program to
  ensure that the remedy remains protective of human health and the
  environment.
This ROD Amendment describes fundamental changes to the September
1989 OU1 ROD issued by EPA for the Site and which was concurred on by
NYSDEC.

The remedy specified in the 1989 OU1 ROD included the remediation of
the underlying aquifer through extraction and treatment of
groundwater contaminated with heavy metals and chlorinated organics,
followed by reinjection of the treated water.  The aquifer was to be
remediated to federal and state drinking water standards.

The 'levels of contamination observed in the aquifer in 1989' have
declined significantly.  Presently, only cadmium still exists above
its federal and state drinking water standard.  Therefore, because of
the change in Site conditions, the extraction and treatment system is
no longer necessary to ensure the protection of public health and the
environment.

The modified remedy will rely on natural attenuation to continue to
reduce contaminant levels, particularly cadmium, in the groundwater.
The aquifer will be monitored on an annual basis to evaluate the
continued effectiveness of the natural attenuation processes.

DECLARATION STATEMENT

This modification to the selected OU1 remedy is protective of human
health and the environment, complies with federal and state
requirements that are legally applicable or relevant and appropriate
to the remedial action, and is cost-effective.  This modified remedy
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utilizes permanent solutions and alternative treatment technologies
to the maximum extent practicable for the Site.

Because the selected remedy will result in hazardous substances
remaining on the Site above health-based levels,  a review will be
conducted within five years after issuance of this ROD Amendment to
ensure that the selected amended remedy continues to provide adequate
protection of human health and the environment.

EPA has determined that no further physical construction is necessary
at this Site and, therefore, it now qualifies for inclusion on the
Construction Completion List.
Regional Adm^mist
Jeanne M .  Fox      /Mr     /              Da
           m^mi
                                 ill

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 RECORD  OF  DECISION AMENDMENT SUMMARY
   Preferred Plating Corporation Site
Farmingdale, Suffolk County, New York

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                           TABLE OF CONTENTS



   Section                                                Page


   I.  Introduction	   1

  II.  Highlights of Community Participation	   3

 III.  Reasons for Issuing the Record of Decision
      Amendment	   4

  IV.  Summary of Site Risks	   7

   V.  Description of Remedial Alternatives	  10

  VI.  Summary of Comparative Analysis of
      Alternatives	  12

 VII.  Selected Remedy	  16

VIII.  Statutory Determinations	1	  16


Attachments

Appendix I     State Letter of Concurrence
Appendix II    Administrative Record Index
Appendix III   Responsiveness Summary
Appendix IV    Table of Groundwater Sampling Data
Appendix V     1989 Record of Decision

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I. INTRODUCTION

The Preferred Plating Corporation (PPC) site (Site)  includes the
former PPC facility located at 32 Allen Boulevard in Farmingdale,
Town of Babylon, Suffolk County,  New York.  The Site,  approximately
one acre in size, is situated in a light industrial area one mile
east of the Nassau-Suffolk County line.

The Site is almost entirely covered by a building and pavement with
two small grassy areas on the southern end and a gravel and grass
strip located along the west side of the building.  Most of the
homes and businesses in the vicinity of the Site are served by a
public water supply from the East Farmingdale Water District.. The
nearest public water supply well field is within one mile south, or
hydraulically downgradient,  of the Site.

Between September 1951 and June 1976, PPC conducted metal-plating
operations to increase the corrosion resistance of metal parts and
to provide a more cohesive base for painting.  The primary activi-
ties at the PPC facility included degreasing, cleaning, and
chemically treating the surface of metal parts.  These processes
involved the use of various chemicals which resulted in the genera-
tion, storage, and disposal of hazardous substances.  Untreated
wastewater was discharged into four below-grade concrete storage
pits located directly behind the original building.

Groundwater contaminated with heavy metals was detected, in the
immediate vicinity of the Site as early as June 1953.   During that
period an inspection of the PPC facility by the Suffolk County
Department of Health Services (SCDHS) discovered that the storage
pits were cracked and leaking.  Samples taken from the pits
revealed the major contaminants to be heavy metals.   From 1953 to
1976, SCDHS instituted numerous legal actions against PPC in an
effort to stop discharges to the pits and to institute an 'on-site
treatment system.  PPC prepared an engineering report in May 1974
in order to apply for a State Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System  (SPDES) permit which was issued in June 1975.  PPC claims to
have chemically treated the wastewater in the pits and have had the
waste material removed from the Site, but no documentation
supporting these assertions exists.  The facility was never in full
compliance with the terms and conditions outlined in the SPDES
permit.

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In June 1976, PPC  declared bankruptcy.  Since then, several firms
have occupied the  Site,  none of which conducted similar operations.
In 1982, the original building was extended to the north by 200
feet, and the four waste storage pits were filled and  covered by
the newly constructed extension.

In September 1984,  the New York State Department of Environmental
Conservation  (NYSDEC)  issued a Phase I Investigation Report which
summarized past  investigations and included a Hazard Ranking System
score for the Site.   Based on that score, the Site was proposed for
inclusion on the National Priorities List of hazardous waste sites
in October 1984  and was placed on the List in June 1986,  which
brings the Site  under the purview of the Federal Superfund Program.

From June 1987 to  June 1989, Ebasco Services, Inc., EPA's
contractor, conducted the initial remedial investigation and
feasibility study  (RI/FS) of the Site.  The study detected heavy
metals and chlorinated organics in the groundwater underlying the
Site; however, it  did not completely identify the source and the
extent of contamination within the soils underlying the former
storage pits.  Therefore, the remedy which resulted from the first
operable unit study (OU1) focused only on the treatment of the
contaminated groundwater.  The study resulted in the OU1 ROD which
was signed on September 22, 1989.  The major components of that
remedy included  extraction of the contaminated groundwater,
treatment of heavy metals and chlorinated organics, and reinjection
of the treated groundwater.  The design for this treatment- system
was completed in March 1992.  The construction of the  groundwater
treatment system was postponed while EPA completed its
investigation of the contaminant source areas.1

EPA undertook a  second RI/FS, which was conducted by Malcolm
Pirnie, Inc., to study the contaminant source areas, i.e., the
soils within and directly beneath the former leaching  pits.  A
second operable  unit (OU2) ROD for excavation and off-site
treatment and disposal of the contaminated soils and sediments was
signed on September 28,  1992.  In June 1993, EPA issued an'
      lln March 1992, EPA recognized that the contaminant source areas would need
 to be addressed prior to the construction of the groundwater treatment system and
 the likely approach to remediating  the source areas  would involve excavation
 beneath the existing building on the Site.  The postponement of the construction
 of the groundwater treatment  system was necessary because the limited space on
 the former PPC property would not permit source area excavation and groundwater
 treatment system construction to occur simultaneously.

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Administrative Order to the property owners requiring them to
implement this remedy.  The remediation,  resulting in the removal
and off-site disposal of approximately 1,500 tons of contaminated
soils and sediments, was performed by the property owners through
their consultant, Eder Associates, with EPA oversight.  The
excavated areas were backfilled with certified clean fill.  All
construction activities associated with OU2 were completed by June
1994 in accordance with OSWER Directive 9320.2-09, "Close Out
Procedures for National Priorities List Sites," dated August 1995,
and were done in accordance with the OU2 ROD and the approved
remedial design.

The OUl RI/FS also indicated contamination in monitoring wells
located upgradient of the PPC facility source area.  Therefore, a
third RI/FS was conducted to address a potential source of
groundwater contamination upgradient of the PPC facility.  The
upgradient property owner, Del Laboratories, Inc., initiated an
RI/FS in September 1990, pursuant to an Administrative Order on
Consent, to determine if its operations had impacted the
groundwater quality beneath the PPC Site.  The third operable unit
 (OU3) ROD, signed in September 1993, documented the determination
that no remedial action was necessary at the Del Laboratories, Inc.
property based in part on the fact that prior actions had been
taken to address environmental conditions at the Del Laboratories,
Inc. facility.

II. HIGHLIGHTS OF COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION                  -

The Post-Decision Proposed Plan  (PDPP) for the Site was released to
the public on July 31, 1997.  The PDPP, along with all other Site-  •
related documents, is available to the public at both the
administrative record and the information repository locations
presented below.  A notice was published in the Farmingdale
Observer on August 1, 1997, and again on August 8, 1997, to
announce the public comment period on the PDPP, the date of the
public meeting to present the PDPP, and the availability of the
technical documents at the repositories.

The public comment period began on July 31, 1997 and concluded on
August 30, 1997.  A public meeting was held on August 7, 1997 at
the W.E. Howitt Jr. High School located in Farmingdale, New York.
The purpose of the public meeting was to discuss the proposed
amendment to the September 1989 ROD.

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The responses to the comments expressed verbally at the public
meeting are summarized in the Responsiveness Summary, which is
attached to this Record of Decision Amendment as Appendix III.  No
objections to the proposed remedy were voiced at the public meeting
and no written comments were received during the public comment
period.  Public interest in this Site has always been relatively
low.

This Record of Decision Amendment presents the selected remedial
action for the grouridwater underlying the Site,  chosen in
accordance with the requirements of the Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)  of 1980, as
amended, and to the extent practicable, the National Contingency
Plan (NCP).   The amendment to the remedial decision for the Site is
based upon the administrative record.  An index for the
administrative record is attached to this document'as Appendix II.
This Record of Decision Amendment will become a part of the
administrative record file.

The administrative record file, containing the information upon
which the modification to the original remedy is based, is
available at the following locations:

                         Babylon Town Hall
                        Town Clerk's Office
                      200 East Sunrise Highway
                    Lindenhurst, New York 11757
                            516-957-3005

                U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
                   290 Broadway - Records Center
                    New York, New York 10007-1866
                            212-637-4308

III. REASONS FOR ISSUING THE RECORD OF DECISION AMENDMENT

Site conditions have changed significantly since the Issuance of
the 1989 ROD.  The on-site sources of contamination have been
excavated and removed for off-site disposal, and the use of
improved sampling techniques and resultant analytical data indicate
that the contaminant levels in the underlying groundwater have
decreased dramatically as have the risks associated with the Site
contamination.  The following summary explains the changed
contaminant levels and Site risks.

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Improvement in Groundwater Quality

Based on two rounds of sampling data, obtained in August and
September of 1988, from nine wells on the former PPC property and
two wells located downgradient from the former PPC property, the
OU1 RI documented the presence of heavy metals and chlorinated
organic compounds in the groundwater underlying the Site.  The
primary contaminants of concern were chromium and cadmium; chromium
was detected at 5850 parts per billion (ppb)  and cadmium at 399
ppb.  Lead, nickel, and 1,1,1-trichloroethane (TCA) were also
identified as contaminants of concern.

Subsequent sampling activities focused on metals contamination,
particularly cadmium and chromium.  The maximum concentrations of
cadmium and chromium detected during these subsequent sampling
events are provided in Table 1.  The results clearly indicate a
significant decrease in the concentration of the primary
contaminants of concern.  The first round of samples collected
after issuance of the OU1 ROD was obtained from the wells on the
former PPC property in February 1991 during performance of a
treatability study for the groundwater treatment system remedial
design.  The levels of contamination had decreased significantly to
1850 ppb of chromium and 254 ppb of cadmium.   In August 1993, prior
to implementation of OU2 construction activities for the source
removal, another round of samples was collected.  The levels of
contamination detected in this sampling event had decreased further
to 560 ppb of chromium and 123 ppb of cadmium.  In July 1994, after
the OU2 remediation activities were implemented, all wells were
sampled to monitor the effect of source removal.  The levels of
contamination detected had increased to 1630 ppb for chromium and
136 ppb for cadmium.  However, the chromium concentration of 1630
ppb was measured in a sample collected from monitoring well MW1SP;
the water from this well was extremely turbid.  The same sample
upon filtering yielded a much lower concentration of chromium at 35
ppb, indicating that the higher unfiltered reading was mostly a
result of sample turbidity.  This high concentration was not
expected since MW1SP is located upgradient of the source area.
Additionally, this result was not consistent with previous data
collected from this well.  In the next round of sampling in April
1995, a technique using a low-flow pump was utilized in an effort
to collect representative samples of the aquifer while minimizing

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sample turbidity.2  The  levels of contamination detected in these
samples decreased to 83 ppb for chromium  and 43  ppb for cadmium.
The low-flow  technique was also utilized  in  sampling conducted in
August 1996;  the detected concentrations,  57 ppb for chromium and
60 ppb for cadmium,  were very similar to  those  found in the April
1995 sampling.

Throughout the  sampling events, organics  were detected infrequently
and at low levels.   The most frequently detected contaminant was
TCA.  Concentrations of TCA ranged from 1.9  to  17 ppb.   The last
round of samples,  collected in August 1996,  detected TCA ranging
from 2 to 5 ppb,  and one detection of trichloroethene at 19 ppb;
the drinking  water standard for both of these contaminants is 5
ppb.

The two monitoring we*lls> MW-7 and MW-8,  are located 1200 and 2400
feet, respectively,  downgradient of the former  PPC property.  Both
are deep wells,  screened at the bottom of the Upper Glacial
aquifer.  MW-7  was only sampled in August and September of 1988.
Neither cadmium nor chromium was detected above  standards.  Lead
was detected  at 30.3 ppb.  MW-8 was sampled  in August and September
1988, July 1994,  and May 1995.  Tetrachlproethene and TCA were
detected slightly above MCLs in this well, but  no heavy metal
contamination has ever been detected.

The only surface water body in the Site vicinity is an unnamed,
intermittent  tributary to Massapequa Creek..  It  is located about
6,000 feet west,  or side-gradient, of the Site..  During the first
sampling period in 1988, this creek was dry.  Since it is not in
the direction of groundwater flow, no impact to  the creek is        •
believed to exist as a result of Site contaminants.

Over the past several years, the sampling results have indicated  a
significant decrease in concentrations of the primary contaminants
of concern, cadmium and chromium.  The decline  is most directly
attributable  to the removal of the on-site source.   Better sampling
      2Groundwater typically occurs naturally in the Upper Glacial Aquifer at low
 turbidity levels.   Elevated sample  turbidity may be  an  artifact of sample
 collection and well construction techniques.  The high turbidity associated with
 samples collected in 1988 raises  the question of  whether the reported results
 were representative of the metals contamination in  the aquifer.   EPA believes
 that the detected contaminant levels,  especially for chromium, were uncharacter-
 istically high and a result of highly turbid samples rather than representative
 of actual metals contamination in  the aquifer.

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techniques which have minimized the turbidity of the groundwater
have also resulted in providing a more accurate measurement of
contamination.  At present, only cadmium exceeds both its federal
and State drinking water standards.   Chromium does not exceed
either the federal or state drinking water standard of 100 ppb, but
does slightly exceed the state groundwater quality standard of 50
ppb.  TCA, the only organic contaminant consistently detected
throughout the sampling activities,  slightly exceeded its State
drinking water standard in three of ten wells sampled during the
April 1995 sampling round.  However, TCA was not detected above
federal or state standards in any of the samples collected in
August 1996.

IV. SUMMARY OF SITE RISKS

During the performance of the OU1 RI/FS, a baseline risk assessment
was conducted to estimate the risks associated with current and
potential (future) Site conditions.   The baseline risk assessment,
which was based on data obtained only during the OU1 RI/FS,
estimated the human health and ecological risk which could result
from the contamination at the Site if no remedial action were
taken.  A summary of the baseline risk assessment and a recalcula-
tion of the risk using current data are presented below.

There were no risks associated with the current uses of the Site.
Because the Site is covered by a building and pavement, the only
potential pathway which represents a potential risk to the- public
was determined to be ingestion of contaminated groundwater.
Although the 1988 OU1 groundwater sampling did indicate high levels
of heavy metal contamination, there was no direct human exposure to
contaminants because the surrounding population was presumed to be
supplied by public water.  However,  the Upper Glacial Aquifer is
classified as lib, or a potential drinking water source, and
therefore, a potential risk to human health would exist in the
event that this aquifer was developed for use.  The baseline risk
assessment evaluated the health effects which could result from
exposure to contamination as a result of ingestion for a future-use
scenario.

An analysis, in 1989, of the concentrations of chemicals present in
the groundwater with applicable or relevant and appropriate
requirements  (ARARs) indicated that numerous inorganic and organic
compounds exceeded those ARARs.  Based on this analysis, the
inorganics cadmium, chromium, lead, nickel, and cyanide were
evaluated in the risk assessment.  Although not all of the organic

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contaminants of concern exceeded ARARs,  they were carried through
the risk assessment in order to obtain a collective assessment of
risk frpm concurrent exposure to multiple contaminants.  At
present, an analysis of the concentration of chemicals present in
the 1995 and 1996 groundwater samples with ARARs indicates that
only cadmium, chromium, TCA, and one detection of trichloroethene
exceed their respective ARARs.

Human Health Risk Assessment

EPA's acceptable cancer risk range is 10'* to 10~s, which can be
interpreted to mean that an individual may have one in ten thousand
to one in a million increased chance of developing cancer as result
of site-related exposure to a carcinogen over a 70-year lifetime
under the specific exposure conditions at a site.

The results of the baseline risk assessment conducted as part of
the 1989 RI/FS indicated that if, in the event that the groundwater
was to be used as a source of drinking water, the Site posed unac-
ceptable risks to human health and the environment.  The risk
assessment was based on a worst case total lifetime exposure to
maximum organic concentrations at an assumed constant rate
(drinking 2 liters of water daily for 30 years in an adult, living
to the age of 70 years).  Utilizing the data from the 1995 and 1996
sampling events, it was determined that the total cancer risk for
the future-use scenario was 1 x 10"5 (i.e.,  an excess lifetime
cancer risk of one-in-one-hundred thousand), which is within EPA's
acceptable cancer risk range.

To assess the overall potential for noncarcinogehic effects posed
by more than one contaminant, EPA has developed a hazard index
(HI).  This index evaluates the potential adverse health effects
resulting from exposures to several chemicals simultaneously.  The
HI is the sum of the hazard quotients (HQ); the HQ being a
representation of the chronic daily intake  (GDI) divided by the
reference dose  (RfD) for a specific compound within a particular
exposure pathway  (i.e., HQ = CDI/RfD).  The RfD is a measure of a
chemical's threshold for causing effects to which many safety
factors have been added (i.e. a safe exposure dose).  When the HI
exceeds one, there may be concern for potential noncarcinogenic
effects.  The 1989 OU1 RI/FS calculated the HI under a worst case
scenario for cadmium and chromium as 22.8 and 170, respectively.
However, the significant decrease in contaminant levels over the
past several years has resulted in a significant decrease in
associated potential risk levels.  Under present conditions,  using

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the sampling data from 1995 and 1996, the recalculated HI for
cadmium and chromium is 2.2 and 0.06, respectively.

While there was once a significant noncarcinogenic risk from
potential future consumption of the Upper Glacial Aquifer because
of the previous high incidence of cadmium and chromium
contamination, such a risk no longer exists.   The HI is currently
only slightly above the acceptable HI of 1 because of the presence
of cadmium.  Furthermore, any risk is associated with an unlikely
future-use scenario because the Upper Glacial Aquifer at the Site
is not used as a drinking water supply and downgradient levels of
cadmium are below the federal and state drinking water standards.

Ecological Assessment

The ecological risk assessment considered potential exposure routes
of Site contamination to terrestrial wildlife.  The only potential
route of exposure to wildlife in the Site vicinity is if
contaminants were transported through groundwater and discharged
via groundwater into surface waters, particularly Great South Bay.
The potential effects of contaminated groundwater on aquatic life
were discussed in the 1989 ecological risk assessment performed for
the first operable unit.  It was determined that no significant
effect on aquatic organisms in the Great South Bay or creeks in the
vicinity of the Site would occur if contaminants were transported
from the Site through groundwater and discharged into surface
waters.                                  .•                 •  •

Uncertainties

The procedures and inputs used to assess potential human health
risks in this evaluation are subject to wide uncertainties.   In
general, the main sources of uncertainty include:

•     environmental  chemistry  sampling  and analysis;
•     environmental  parameter  measurement;
•     fate and  transport modeling;
•     exposure  parameter estimation; and
•     toxicological  data.

Uncertainty in environmental sampling arises in part from the
potentially uneven distribution of chemicals in the media sampled.
Consequently, there  is significant uncertainty as to the actual
levels present.  Environmental chemistry-analysis error can stem

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from several sources including the errors inherent in the
analytical methods and characteristics of the matrix being sampled.

Uncertainties in the exposure assessment are related to estimates
of how often an individual would actually come into contact with
the chemicals of concern, the period of time over which such
exposure would occur, and in"the models used to estimate the
concentrations of the chemical "of concern at the point of exposure.

Uncertainties in toxicological data occur in extrapolating both
from animals to humans and from high to low doses of exposure, as
well as from the difficulties in assessing the toxicity of a
mixture of chemicals.  These uncertainties are addressed by making
very conservative assumptions concerning risk and exposure
parameters throughout the assessment.  As a result, the risk
assessment provides upper bound estimates of the risks to
populations near the Site, and is highly unlikely to underestimate
actual risks related to the Site.

Actual or threatened releases of hazardous substances from this
Site, if not addressed by implementing the response action selected
in the ROD Amendment, may present a potential threat to the
environment through the groundwater pathway.

V. DESCRIPTION OF REMEDIAL ALTERNATIVES

CERCLA requires that each selected site remedy be protective of
human health and the environment, be cost-effective, comply with
other statutory laws, and utilize permanent solutions and alterna-
tive treatment technologies and resource recovery alternatives to
the maximum extent practicable.  In addition, CERCLA includes a
preference for the use of treatment as a principal element for the
reduction of toxicity, mobility/ or volume of the hazardous
substances.

This ROD Amendment evaluates two alternatives for addressing
groundwater contamination, namely, Alternatives GW-1 and GW-2.
Consistent with EPA's ROD amendment guidance, the original OU1
remedy, GW-2, is being.compared to the new preferred Alternative
GW-1, which was developed based upon existing Site conditions,
including the groundwater monitoring data presented above.  It
should be noted that the time assumed to implement the remedy
reflects only the time required to construct and the already
designed remedy, and does not include the time required to design
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the remedy, negotiate with any potentially responsible parties, or
procure contracts for design and construction.

The remedial action objectives for addressing groundwater
contamination are (1) to protect human health by ensuring future
residents are not exposed to contaminated groundwater, and (2) to
reduce groundwater contamination levels to drinking water stand-
ards.

The alternatives for addressing the Site groundwater contamination
are:

Alternative GW-1:    No Further Action/Natural Attenuation

Capital Cost:        $     0
0 & M Cost:          $ 5,000/year  (for 5 years)
Present Worth Cost:  $19,588
Time to Implement:   immediate

This alternative does not include active treatment of the aquifer;
it relies upon natural attenuation to reduce the contamination
below federal and state drinking water standards and/or groundwater
quality standards.  A monitoring program would be implemented on an
annual basis to demonstrate the effectiveness of the naturally
occurring mechanisms.  Since contaminants will remain on the Site
above health-based risk levels, EPA would conduct a five-year
review to ensure that the remedy is protective of human health and
the environment.  If the natural- attenuation of contaminants in the
groundwater at the Site has not improved groundwater quality to
federal drinking water standards and State drinking water and  .
groundwater standards, EPA and NYSDEC would reevaluate the need for
an active treatment remedy for the Site.

Alternative GW-2:    Extraction/Precipitation of Divalent Metals/
                     Ion Exchange/Activated Carbon/Reinjection

Capital Cost:        $ 1,923,900
0 & M Cost:          $   920,900/yr
Present Worth Cost:  $ 9,327,400
Time to Implement:   1 Year

This alternative consists of the extraction and on-site treatment
of contaminated groundwater.  Groundwater would be extracted from
one on-site collection well.  The extracted groundwater would  first

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go through a 2-stage precipitation and clarification/filtration
unit for the removal of divalent metals,  followed by an ion
exchange process for the removal of the chromate ion, and if
necessary, a carbon adsorption unit for removal of volatile organic
compounds.  The metals treatment would generate hazardous waste
residuals requiring ultimate disposal in a Resource Conservation
and Recovery Act Subtitle C facility.  The treatment scheme is a
proven technology capable of removing the contaminants of concern
from the groundwater.  The extracted groundwater would be treated
through this process to satisfy all federal and state standards for
Class lib waters, i.e., potential drinking waters, prior to
reinjection.  The treated groundwater would be discharged to a
reinjection well installed east of the former PPC property and
upgradient of both the extraction well and former leaching pits.  A
groundwater monitoring program would be required to evaluate the
effectiveness of this remedial action.

VI. SUMMARY OF COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVES

During the detailed evaluation of remedial alternatives, each
alternative is assessed against nine evaluation criteria, namely,
overall protection of human health and the environment, compliance
with applicable or relevant and appropriate requirements, long-term
effectiveness and permanence, reduction of toxicity, mobility, or
volume through treatment, short-term effectiveness, .
implementability, cost, and state and community acceptance.

The evaluation criteria are described below.

•      Overall protection of human health and the  environment  ad-
      dresses whether  a remedy provides adequate  protection and
      describes  how  risks posed through each pathway are eliminat-
      ed, reduced, or  controlled through treatment, engineering
      controls,  or institutional controls.

•      Compliance with  applicable or relevant and  appropriate
      requirements  (ARARs) addresses whether a remedy will.meet all
      of  the applicable or relevant and appropriate requirements of
      other Federal  and State environmental statutes 'and require-
      ments or provide grounds for invoking a waiver.

•      Long-term  effectiveness and permanence refers to  the ability
      of  a  remedy to maintain reliable protection of human health
      and the environment over time, once cleanup goals have  been
      met.
                                 12

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•     Reduction of toxicity. mobility, or volume through treatment
      is the anticipated performance of the treatment technologies
      a remedy may employ.

•     Short-term effectiveness addresses the period of time needed
      to achieve protection and any adverse impacts on human health
      and the environment that may be posed during the construction
      and implementation period until cleanup goals are achieved.

•     Implementability is the technical and administrative
      feasibility of a remedy, including the availability of
      materials and services needed to implement a particular
      option.

•     Cost includes estimated capital and operation and maintenance
      costs, and net present worth costs.

•     State acceptance indicates whether, based on its review of
      the RI/FS reports and Post-Decision Proposed Plan, the State
      concurs, opposes, or has no comment on the preferred
      alternative at the present time.

•     Community acceptance is assessed by reviewing the public
      comments received on all relevant reports and the Post-
      Decision Proposed Plan during the public comment period.

A comparative analysis of these alternatives based upon the
evaluation criteria described above follows.

Overall Protection of Human Health and the Environment

Both alternatives are similar in their abilities to protect human
health and the environment.  As noted above in the risk assessment
section, there are no current use risks associated with the
contamination at the Site.  The groundwater on the Site is not
being used as a source of drinking water.  In addition, no
significant impacts to ecological receptors have been observed.
The future use carcinogenic risks at the Site are within EPA's risk
range, and the noncarcinogenic risks are just slightly above EPA's
acceptable level; however, these risks assume that the Site
groundwater will be utilized as a potable water supply, an event
that is highly unlikely.

As there are no current or anticipated future users of the
groundwater on the Site, and since the levels of contaminants in

                                 13

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the groundwater have decreased dramatically in the last few years
and are expected to drop below drinking water and groundwater
quality standards in the future, EPA believes that both GW-2 and
GW-l would provide full protection of human health and the
environment. •

Compliance with ARARs

Since the impacted groundwater underlying the Site is' a potential  '
future source of drinking water, federal and state drinking water
standards, as well as State groundwater quality standards, are
ARARs.  For Alternative GW-l, EPA believes that ARARs would be
achieved over time through natural attenuation; compliance with
ARARs would be demonstrated through an annual monitoring program.
For Alternative GW-2, compliance with ARARs for the aquifer would
be achieved through extraction and active treatment for removal of
metals.  The treated groundwater would meet appropriate standards
prior to being reinjected.  Residual sludges from the treatment
system would be treated and disposed of in accordance with RCRA
regulations.

Long-Term Effectiveness and Permanence                         '

Both Alternatives GW-l and GW-2 are expected, over time, to provide
the same degree of long-term effectiveness and permanence.

Reduction in Toxicity. Mobility or Volume Through Treatment

Alternative GW-2 would reduce the toxicity, mobility and volume of
contaminated groundwater through extraction and .subsequent
treatment.  Alternative GW-2 would potentially achieve this
reduction in a shorter time frame than Alternative GW-l,. which
relies solely on natural attenuation and does not actively reduce
the toxicity, mobility or volume of contaminants in the
groundwater.

Short-term Effectiveness                                   .

Although Alternative GW-2 would potentially achieve cleanup goals
in a shorter time frame than Alternative GW-l, this is not expected
to be significant.  This is supported by the fact that groundwater
contaminant levels have decreased so significantly over the past
several years.
                                 14

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Alternative GW-1 presents virtually no short-term impacts to human
health and the environment since no construction is involved.  The
construction activities required to implement Alternative GW-2
would have potentially negative impacts on Site workers and nearby
residents.  While efforts would be made to minimize these impacts,
some disturbances would result from disruption of traffic,
excavation activities on public and private land, and noise.  It is
estimated that the construction activities for Alternative GW-2
would take approximately 12 months to complete.

Implementability

The technologies proposed for extraction and treatment of
contaminated groundwater in Alternative GW-2 are proven and
reliable in achieving the specified cleanup goals,  however,
Alternative GW-2 would be much more complex than Alternative GW-1
to implement.  Alternative GW-1 does not involve any construction
and is much easier to implement as it only requires a monitoring
program utilizing existing monitoring wells.

Cost

Alternative GW-1 has no direct costs associated with its implemen-
tation. The present worth of this alternative of $19,588 is for
implementation of an annual groundwater monitoring program.   For
cost-estimating purposes, a duration of 5 years was assumed.  The
capital and present worth costs of Alternative GW-2 are estimated
to be approximately $1,923,900 and $9,327,400, respectively.

State Acceptance

The State of New York concurs on the proposed modified remedy.  A
letter of concurrence is attached as Appendix I.

Community Acceptance

No objections from the community'were raised regarding the.selected
remedy.  A responsiveness summary, which addresses all comments
pertaining to the amended groundwater remedy received at the
August 7, 1997 public meeting, is attached as Appendix III.
                                 15

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VII.  SELECTED REMEDY

Based upon an evaluation of the various alternatives,  EPA and
NYSDEC have determined that Alternative GW-1,  No Further Ac-
tion/Natural Attenuation, is the appropriate modified remedy for
the Site.

This alternative provides the best balance of trade-offs among
alternatives with respect to the evaluating.criteria in that it is
protective of human health and the environment,  complies with
ARARs> is cost-effective, and utilizes permanent solutions and
alternative treatment technologies or resource recovery technolo-
gies to the maximum extent practicable.

VIII. STATUTORY DETERMINATIONS

Under its legal authorities, the EPA's primary responsibility at
Superfund sites is to undertake remedial actions that achieve
adequate protection of human health and the environment.  In
addition, Section 121 of CERCLA establishes several other statutory
requirements and preferences that the selected remedy must meet.
Section 121 of CERCLA specifies that when complete, the selected
remedial action for the Site must comply with ARARs .established
under federal and state environmental laws unless a statutory
waiver is justified.  The selected remedy also must be cost-
effective and utilize permanent solutions and alternative treatment
technologies or resource recovery technologies to the maximum
extent practicable.  Finally, the statute includes 'a preference for
remedies that employ treatment that permanently and significantly
reduce the volume, toxicity, or mobility of hazardous wastes as
their principal element.  The following sections discuss how the
selected remedy meets these statutory requirements.

Protection of Human Health and the Environment:

Since the levels of contaminants in the groundwater have decreased
dramatically in the last few years, it is anticipated that.the
natural attenuation component of the modified selected remedy will
continue to reduce the concentration of cadmium and chromium in the
groundwater at the Site.  As contamination above federal and state
standards is limited to the area of the Site and there are no
current or future users of the groundwater at the Site, the remedy
will provide full protection of human health and the environment.
                                 16

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It is EPA's belief that the groundwater natural attenuation remedy
will eventually provide for unlimited use of the groundwater at
this Site.  EPA has determined, as a matter of policy, that policy
reviews of the remedies should be conducted when ongoing remedial
actions will not allow for unlimited use within five years of the
initiation of the remedial action.  The remedies previously
selected for this Site have been reviewed as part of this ROD
amendment and have been found to remain protective of human health
and the environment.  This review was conducted pursuant to the NCP
Section 300.430(f) (4) (ii).  The next five-year review will be
conducted within five years of this Decision.  At that time, the
monitoring results will be reviewed to determine if drinking water
standards have been met.  In addition, a review of standards or
ARARs will be performed.

Compliance with ARARs:

The selected remedy will achieve ARARs, specifically the Safe
Drinking Water Act  (SDWA) Maximum Contaminant Levels  (40CFR 141.11-
141.16), 6NYCRR Groundwater Quality Regulation  (Parts 703.5, 703.6,
703.7) and NYS Sanitary Code 10NYCRR Part 5 for contaminants in
drinking water, over time through natural attenuation.  Compliance
with ARARs would be demonstrated through an annual groundwater
monitoring program.

Cost-Effectiveness:

The modified selected remedy is cost-effective and provides'the
greatest overall protectiveness proportionate to costs.

Utilization of Permanent Solutions and Alternative Treatment
Technologies  (or Resource Recovery Technologies) to the Maximum
Extent Practicable:                                   .

The modified selected remedy represents the maximum extent to which
permanent solutions and treatment technologies can be utilized in a
cost-effective manner at the Site.

'Preference for Treatment as a Principal Element:

Treatment of the aquifer-at-large is determined not to be cost-
effective at this Site.
                                 17

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           APPENDIX I





Concurrence Letter from the NYSDEC

-------
                                 of EnTi™ปปซ'ซ' Couservation
               Albany, New York  12233-7010
                                                                        Hit   uur
                                            SEP 23 1997

   Mr. Richard Caspe                      —  —  —  —   — •  —
   Director
   Emergency*: Remedial Response Division    PoaW Fax Note     7671
   U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
   Region n
   290 Broadway
   New York, NY 10007-1866
                                                                              John P. Cahlll
                                                                              Commissioner
                                          Covo.pt
                                          PhonM
                                                                 Co.
                                                                 Fwt
  Dear Mr. Caspe:


                        Re: Preferred Plating Corporation ID No. 152030

 decision^dm Yฐ* *** ^P**"1"* <* Environmental Conservation approves of the record of

 amendment, the major modification to the origin^Tedy wW beT*'" *** fTOfOK* RฐD

        1.     elimination of the groundwater extraction and treatment system portion of the 1989
              selected remedy;


       2.     implementation of an annual groundwater monitoring program to ensure that the rcmedv
              remains protective of human health and the environment.                         X

       Please contact Sal Ervolina at (518) 457-4349 if you have any questions.

                                       Sincerely,
                                       Michael J.OTooleljr
                                       Director
                                       Division of Environmental Remediation
c:     D. Garbarini, USEPA-Region II
be:
     J. Cahill
     M. O'Toole (2)
     T. Quinn
     S. Ervolina
     M. Chen/File

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           APPENDIX  II





Index for  the Administrative Record

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                  PREFERRED PLATING CORPORATION
                        OPERABLE UNIT ONE
                ADMINISTRATIVE RECORD FILE UPDATE
                        INDEX  OF  DOCUMENTS
RECORD OF DECISION
Amendments to the Record of Decision
    903-961    Report: Superfund Support Sampling Inspection
               Report. Preferred. Plating. Farmingdale. New York.
               August 17-18. 1993. prepared by Mr. David Dugan,
               Environmental Scientist, Source Monitoring
               Section, U.S. EPA, approved for the Director by
               Richard D. Spear, Ph.D., Chief, Surveillance and
               Monitoring Branch, U^S. EPA, December 16, 1993.

    962-1023   Report: Superfund Support Sampling Inspection
               Report. Preferred Plating. Farmingdale. New York.
               July 13-14. 1994f prepared by Mr. David Dugan,
               Environmental Scientist, Source Monitoring
               Section, U.S. EPA, approved for the Director by
               Richard D. Spear, Ph.D., Chief, Surveillance and
               Monitoring Branch, U.S. EPA, October 5, 1994.

    1024-1106  Report: Superfund Support Sampling Inspection
               Report. Preferred Plating. Farmingdale. New York.
               April 3-6. 1995. prepared by Mr, Michael A.
               Mercado, Environmental Scientist, U.S. EPA,
               approved for the Director by Richard D. Spear,
               Ph.D., Chief, Surveillance and Monitoring Branch,
               U.S. EPA, August 22, 1995.

    1107-1185  Report: Sampling Report and Data Presentation.
               Preferred'Plating. Farmingdale. New York.
               Groundwater Sampling Event. August 27-29.- 1996r
               prepared by Mr. Michael A. Mercado, Environmental
               Scientist, Hazardous Waste Support Branch
                (DESA/HWSB), U.S. EPA, approved by Mr. Robert
               Runyon, Chief, Hazardous Waste Support
               Branch(DESA/HWSB), U.S. EPA, undated.

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P.  1186-1192  Plan: Superfund Proposed Plan.  Preferred Plating
               Corporation Superfund Site.  Farmingdale.  New York.
               prepared by U.S. EPA, July 1997.

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    APPENDIX III




Responsiveness Summary

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                           APPENDIX  III


                       RESPONSIVENESS SUMMARY

            PREFERRED  PLATING  CORPORATION  SUPERFUND  SITE


INTRODUCTION


A responsiveness summary is required by Superfund regulation.  It
provides a summary of citizens' comments and concerns, which in
this instance were raised at the August 7, 1997 public meeting.  It
also includes the responses of the United States Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) and the New York State Department of
Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) to those comments and concerns.
All comments summarized in this document have been considered in
EPA and NYSDEC's final decision for the selected remedy for the
Preferred Plating Corporation site (Site).

SUMMARY OF COMMUNITY RELATIONS ACTIVITIES

Community interest in the Site has been low throughout the remedial
investigation and feasibility study  (RI/FS) process during all
three operable units.

The Post-Decision Proposed Plan (PDPP)  for the Site was released to
the public for comment on July 31, 1997.  This document, together
with the Sampling Inspection Reports and the original operable unit
1  (OU1) RI/FS, was made available to the public in the Administra-
tive Record file at the EPA File Room in Region II,  New York, and
in the information repository located at the Babylon Town Hall,
Town Clerk's Office, 200 East Sunrise Highway, Lindenhurst., New
York.  The notice of availability for the above-referenced
documents was published in the Farming-dale Observer on August 1,
1997 and again on August 8, 1997.  The public comment period on
these documents was open from July 31,  1997 to August 30, 1997.

EPA conducted a public meeting on August 7, 1997 at the W.E. Howitt
Jr. High School in Farmingdale, New York to discuss the PDPP for
the Site and to provide an opportunity for the interested parties
to present oral comments and questions to EPA.  Three individuals
attended the public meeting.  Comments raised at the public meeting
reflected public support of the proposed amended remedy.  No
written comments were received by EPA.

Attached to the Responsiveness Summary are the following
Appendices:

     Appendix A -   Post-Decision Proposed Plan

     Appendix B -   Public Notice

     Appendix C -   August 7, 1997 Public Meeting Attendance Sheet

     Appendix D -   August 7, 1997 Public Meeting Transcript

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SUMMARY OF COMMENTS AND RESPONSES

Comments expressed at the August 7, 1997 public meeting and EPA's
responses to them are summarized below.

Comment fll:   A representative from Suffolk County Department of
Health Services  (SCDHS) asked about the possibility of a plume of
contamination leaving the former PPC property.

EPA7 s response #1:  There has been no evidence indicating that a
plume of contamination is migrating from the former PPC property.
EPA installed two separate deep groundwater monitoring wells
downgradient of the former PPC property in an attempt to identify a
potential plume.  Monitoring well MW7DP, installed approximately
1/4 mile southeast of the former PPC property, was screened at a
depth of 60 to 70 feet below grade.  Monitoring well MW8DP,
installed approximately 1/2 mile south-southwest of the former PPC
property, was also screened at a depth of 60 to 70 feet below
grade.  Both wells were sampled in 1988 and no heavy metal
contaminants were detected above drinking water standards.  Only
two organic compounds were found to exceed standards slightly. '
Additionally, data provided to EPA by SCDHS regarding a shallow
well sampled in 1994, located approximately 50 feet south of the
former PPC property, showed the presence of only chromium at 63
ppb, well below its drinking water standard of 100 ppb.  No cadmium
was found in this well.  Based on the preceding, EPA concluded that
a contaminated plume is not migrating from the former PPC property.

Comment ft 2:   A representative from SCDHS asked whether the annual
groundwater monitoring and data evaluation would be performed
utilizing only the wells on the former PPC property, or could
additional data from other wells be included?

EPA7 s response #2:  While the annual monitoring program would focus
on the wells installed on the former PPC property, additional
commercial or residential wells in the vicinity of the former PPC
property could be included.                               <

Comment #3:   A local property owner inquired as to the identity of
the Site's potentially responsible parties  (PRP),  whether the PRPs
had funded any of the studies or remediation activities, and
whether EPA had attempted to recover costs from the PRPs. '

EPA's response #3:  The names of the PRPs for the Site are Joseph
Gazza and George Paro, who are the current owners of the property
formerly occupied by the Preferred Plating Corporation.  In June
1993, EPA issued an Administrative Order to the property owners to
excavate the underground leaching pits and associated contaminated
soils and sediments.  This work was successfully completed in June
1994.  To date, EPA has not recovered any costs from these property
owners.

Comment #4:  A representative from SCDHS asked whether the soil
remediation involved the dismantlement of the existing on-site
building.

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EPA's response #4:  A large section of the existing on-site
building was dismantled during the implementation of the soils
remedy to allow for complete excavation of the underlying leaching
pits and soils/sediments beneath them.

Comment #5:   A local property owner questioned how the contaminants
could leach to underlying groundwater without infiltration of rain
water since the original pits were beneath the on-site building.

EPA's response #5:  Originally, the leaching pits were not covered
by a building, but exposed to infiltration of rainwater and runoff.
Even with the building extension covering the pits, the underlying
watertable was found to fluctuate as much as eight feet depending
on the season.  The bottoms of the concrete pits were cracked,
allowing groundwater associated with a high water table to enter,
thereby contaminating the underlying groundwater.

Comment #6:   A representative of the Town of Babylon asked whether
it was unusual to see such a dramatic drop in contaminant
concentration levels after the source removal given the fact that a
plume does not seem to be migrating from the former PPC property.

EPA's response #6:  It is EPA's belief that the original two rounds
of sampling contained very turbid water and were not completely
representative of the true concentrations in the underlying
groundwater.  As our sampling techniques improved, specifically the
use of low-flow pump technology, the turbidity of the samples
decreased and the contaminant concentrations for heavy metals
decreased as well.  That, together with the source removal,
accounts for the significant decline in concentrations detected in
the latest two rounds of sampling.

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        APPENDIX A



POST-DECISION PROPOSED PLAN

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Superfund Proposed Plan"
               PREFERRED PLATING CORPORATION
                                SUPERFUND SITE
                               Farmingdale, New York
EPA
Region 2
                                 July 1997
PURPOSE OF POST-DECISION PROPOSED PLAN

This Post-Decision Proposed Plan describes proposed
fundamental changes to the September 1989 Record of
Decision (ROD) issued by the United States
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with respect to
the Preferred Plating Corporation (PPC) Superfund site
(Site) and concurred on by the New York State
Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC).

The remedy specified in the 1989 ROD required the
extraction and treatment of groundwater contaminated
mainly with cadmium and chromium.

As described in this Post-Decision Proposed Plan, EPA is
proposing that the extraction and treatment of ground-
water is no longer necessary to ensure the protection of
human health and the environment

COMMUNITY ROLE IN SELECTION PROCESS

EPA and NYSDEC rely on public input to ensure that the
concerns of the community are considered in selecting an
effective remedy for each  Superfund site. Similarly, EPA
and NYSDEC also rely on public input when proposing
fundamental changes to a remedy previously selected. To
this end, this Post-Decision Proposed Plan and the
Sampling Inspection Reports have been made available to
the public for a public comment period which begins on
July 31,1997 and concludes on August 30,1997.

A public meeting will be held during the public comment
period at the W.E. HowittJr. High School on Thursday,
August 7,1997 at 7:00 p.m. to present the basis for the
proposed amendment to the 1989 ROD and to receive
public comments. Comments received at the public
meeting, as well as written comments, will be documented
in the Responsiveness Summary Section of this ROD
amendment.
  All written comments should be addressed to:

              Janet Cappelli
     U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
          290 Broadway - 20th Floor
         New York, NY 10007-1866
          DATES TO REMEMBER

      July 31,1997 to August 30,1997
         Public comment period on
        Post-Decision Proposed Plan

    - Thursday, August 7,1997 - 7:00 p.m.
Public meeting at the W.E. Howitt Jr. High School
       Vancott and Grant Avenues '
         Farmingdale. New York   .
       Copies of the Sampling Reports, the Post-
       Decision Proposed Plan and supporting
       documentation are available at the following
       locations:

       West Babylon Library
       211 Route 109  -
       West Babylon, New York 11704
       TeL (516) 669.5445
       Hours:Mon-Thurs., 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
       Fri-SaL, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

       Babylon Town Hall
       Town Clerks Office
       200 East Sunrise Highway
       Lindenhurst, New York 11757
       Tel. (516) 957-3005
       Hours: Mon-Fri.. 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

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SITE BACKGROUND

The PPC site includes the former PPC facility located at
32 Allen Boulevard in Farmingdale, Town of Babylon,
Suffolk County, New York. The PPC site, approximately
one acre in size, is situated in a light industrial area one
mile east of the Nassau-Suffolk County line.

The Site is almost entirely covered by a building and
pavement with two small grassy areas on the southern
end and a gravel and grass strip located along the west
side of the building. Most of the homes and businesses in
the vicinity of the Site are served by a public water supply
from the East Farmingdale Water District The nearest
public water supply well field is within one mile south of the
Site, which is hydraulically downgradient

Between September 1951 and June 1976, PPC conducted,
metal-plating operations to increase the corrosion
resistance of metal parts and to provide a more cohesive
base for painting. The primary activities at the PPC facility
included degreasing, cleaning, and chemically treating the
surface of metal parts.  These processes involved the use
of various chemicals which resulted in the generation,
storage, and disposal of hazardous substances.
Untreated wastewater was discharged into four below-
grade concrete storage pits located directly behind the
original building.

Groundwater contaminated with heavy metals was
detected in the immediate vicinity of the Site as early as
June 1953. During an inspection of the PPC facility by the
Suffolk County Department of Health Services (SCDHS), it
was discovered that the storage pits were cracked and
leaking. Samples taken from the pits showed the major
contaminants to be heavy metals. From 1953 to 1976,
SCDHS instituted numerous legal actions against PPC in
an effort to stop discharges to the pits and to upgrade the
on-site treatment system.  PPC prepared an engineering
report in May 1974 in order to apply for a State Pollutant
Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) permit which was
issued in June 1975. PPC claims to have chemically
treated the wastewater in the pits and had the waste
material removed from the Site, but no documentation
supittrting this action exists. The facility was never in full
compliance with the terms and conditions outlined in .the
SPDES permit   .                        ป

In June 1976, PPC declared bankruptcy. Since then,
several firms have occupied the Site, none of which
conducted similar operations.  In 1982, the original building
was extended to the north by 200 feet and the four waste
storage pits were filled and covered by the newly
constructed extension.

In September 1984. the NYSDEC issued a Phase I
Investigation Report which summarized past investigations
and included a Hazard Ranking System (HRS) score for
the Site. Based on the HRS score, the Site was proposed
for inclusion on the National Priorities List (NPL) of
hazardous waste sites in October 1984 and was placed on
the NPL in June 1986, which brings the Site under the
purview of the Federal Superfund Program.

From June 1987 to June 1989, Ebasco Services, Inc.,
EPA's contractor, conducted the initial remedial
investigation/feasibility study (RI/FS) of the Site. The
study detected heavy metals and chlorinated organics in
the groundwater underlying the Site, however, it did not
completely identify the source and the extent of
contamination within the soils underlying the former
storage pits. Therefore, the first operable unit study (OU1)
focused only on a remedy for the treatment of the
contaminated groundwater. The study resulted in a ROD
which was signed on September 22,1989. The major
components of that remedy included extraction of the
contaminated groundwater, treatment of heavy metals and
chlorinated organics, and reinjection of the treated
groundwater.  The design for this treatment system was
completed in March  1992.  The construction of the
groundwater treatment system was postponed while EPA
completed its investigation of the contaminant source
areas.1

EPA undertook a second RI/FS, which was conducted by
Malcolm Pimie, Inc., to study the contaminant source
areas, i.e., the soils within and directly  beneath the former
leaching pits.  A second operable unit (OU2) ROD for
excavation and off-site treatment and disposal of the
contaminated soils and sediments was signed on
September 28,1992. The remediation, resulting in the
removal and off-site  disposal of approximately 1500 tons
of contaminated soils and sediments, was performed by
the site owners with  EPA oversight and was completed in
June 1994.

The OU1 RI/FS also indicated contamination in monitoring
wells located upgradient of the PPC facility source area.
Therefore, a third RI/FS was conducted to address a
potential source of groundwater contamination upgradient
of the PPC facility. The upgradient property owner, Del
Laboratories, Inc., initiated an RI/FS in September 1990 to
determine if its operations had impacted the groundwater
quality beneath the PPC Site. The third operable unit •
(OU3) ROD, signed  in September 1993, determined that
no remedial action was necessary based on prior actions
which had been taken to address environmental conditions
at the Del Laboratories,  Inc. facility.
        '//> March 1992. EPA recognized that the contaminant
source areas would need to be addressed prior to the
construction of the groundwater treatment system and the likely
approach to remediating the source areas would involve
excavation beneath the existing building on the Site. The
postponement of the construction of the groundwater treatment
system was necessary because the limited space on the Site
would not permit source area excavation and groundwater
treatment system construction to occur simultaneously.

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                                        SUMMARY OF GROUNDWATER SAMPLING

                                        Based on two rounds of sampling data, obtained in August
                                        and September of 1988, from 9 on-site and 2 off-site
                                        monitoring wells, the OU1 Rl documented the presence of
                                        heavy metals and chlorinated organic compounds in the
                                        groundwater underlying the Site. The  primary
                                        contaminants of concern were chromium and cadmium;
                                        chromium was detected at 5850 parts  per billion (ppb) and
                                        cadmium at 399 ppb.  Lead, nickel, and 1,1,1-
                                        trichloroethane (TCA) were also identified as contaminants
                                        of concern.

                                        Subsequent sampling activities focussed on metals
                                        contamination, particularly cadmium and chromium.  The
                                        maximum concentrations of cadmium and chromium
                                        detected during these subsequent, sampling events are
                                        provMed in Table 1. The results clearly indicate a
                                        significant decrease in the concentration of the primary
                                        contaminants of concern.   The first round of samples
                                        collected after issuance of the OU1 ROD was obtained
                                        performance of a treatabilrty study for the groundwater
                                        treatment system remedial design. The highest levels of
                                        contamination had decreased significantly to 1850 ppb of
                                        chromium and 254 ppb of cadmium. In August 1993, prior
                                        from the on-ste wells in February 1991 during to
                                        implementation of OU2 construction activities for the
                                        source removal, another round of samples was collected.
                                        The highest levels of contamination detected in this event
                                        had decreased further to 560 ppb of chromium and 123
                                        ppb of cadmium.  In July 1994, after the OU2 remediation
                                        activities were implemented, all wells were sampled to
                                        monitor the effect of source removal. The highest levels of
                                        contamination detected had increased to 1630 ppb for
                                        chromium and 136 ppb for cadmium.  However, the
                                        chromium concentration of 1630 ppb was measured in a
                                        sample collected from Well 1SP; the water from this well
                                        was extremely turbid. The same sample upon filtering
                                        yielded a much lower concentration of chromium at 35
                                        ppb, indicating that the higher unfiltensd reading was
                                        mostly a result of the sample turbidity.  In the next round of
                                        sampling in April 1995, a technique using a tow-flow pump
                                        was utilized in an effort to collect representative samples
                                        of the aquifer while minimizing sample turbidity.2 The
                                        highest levels of contamination detected decreased to 83
                                        ppb for chromium and 43 ppb for cadmium.  The low-flow
                                        technique was also utilized in sampling conducted in
                                        August 1996; the highest detected concentrations, 57 ppb
FIGURE 1-SITE MAP
       ^Groundwater typically occurs naturally in the Upper
Glacial Aquifer at low turbidity levels. Elevated samplf
turbidity may be an artifact of sample collection and veil
construction techniques. The high turbidity associated with .
samples collected in 1988 raises the issue of whether the
reported results were representative of the aquifer. EPA
believes that the detected contaminant levels, especially for
chromium, were uncharacteristically high and indicative of
highly turbid samples rather than representative of the aqvtfer.

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                       TABLE 1 - MAXIMUM CONTAMINANT CONCENTRATIONS (ppb)
DATE OF SAMPLING EVENT
AUGUST 1988
SEPTEMBER 1988
FEBRUARY 1991
AUGUST 1993
JULY 1994
. APRIL 1995
AUGUST 1996
CADMIUM
399
348
254
123
136
43
48
CHROMIUM
5850
3390
1850
560
1630 (35 filtered)
83
57.
for chromium and 60 ppb for cadmium, were very similar
to those found in the April 1995 sampling.

Throughout the sampling events, organics were detected
infrequently and at low levels. The most frequently
detected contaminant was TCA. Concentrations of TCA
ranged from 1.9 to 17 ppb. The last round of sampling,
collected in August 1996, detected TCA ranging from 2 to
5 ppb and one detection of trichloroethene at 19 ppb; the
drinking water standard for both of these contaminants is
5 ppb.

The two off-site monitoring wells, MW-7 and MW-8, are
located 1200 and 2400 feet, respectively, downgradient of
the Site. Both are deep wells, screened at the bottom of
the Upper Glacial aquifer. MW-7 was only sampled in
August and September of 1988. Neither cadmium nor
chromium were detected above any standards. Lead was
detected at 30.3 ppb.  MW-8 was sampled in August and
September 1988, July 1994, and May 1995. Tetra-
chloroethene and 1,1,1-trichloroethane were detected
slightly above MCLs in this well, but no heavy metal
contamination was ever detected.

The only surface water body in the Site vicinity is an
unnamed, intermittent tributary to Massapequa Creek. It is
located about 6,000 feet west, or side-gradient, of the Site.
During the first sampling period in 1988, this creek was
dry.  Since it is not in the direction of groundwater flow, no
impact to the creek is believed to exist due to Site
contaminants.

Over the past several years, the sampling results have
indicated a significant decrease in concentrations of the
primary contaminants of concern, cadmium and chromium.
The decline is most directly attributable to the removal of
the on-site source.  Better sampling techniques to
minimize the turbidity of the groundwater have also been
helpful in providing a more accurate measurement of
contamination. At present, only cadmium exceeds both its
federal and state drinking water standards.  Chromium
does not exceed either the federal or state drinking water
standard of 100 ppb, but does very slightly exceed the
state groundwater quality standard of 50 ppb. TCA, the
only organic consistently detected throughout the sampling
activities, slightly exceeded its state drinking water
standard in 3 out of 10 wells from the April 1995 sampling
round.  However, TCA was not detected above standards
in any of the samples collected in August 1996.

SUMMARY OF SITE RISK

During the performance of the OU1 RI/FS, a baseline risl
assessment was conducted to estimate the risks
associated with current and potential (future) site
conditions. The baseline risk assessment, which was
based on data obtained only during the OU1 RI/FS,
estimated the human health and ecological risk which
could result from the contamination at the Site, if no
remedial action were taken. A summary of the baseline
risk assessment and a recalculation of the risk using
current data are presented below.

There were no risks associated with the current uses of
the Site, because the Site is covered by a building and
pavement, the only potential pathway with a risk to the
public was determined to be ingestion of contaminated
groundwater.  Although the 1988 OU1 groundwater
sampling did indicate high levels of heavy metal
contamination, there was no direct human exposure to
contaminants since the surrounding population is supplied
by public water. However, the Upper Glacial Aquifer is
classified as lib, or a potential drinking water source, and
therefore, a potential risk to human health would exist in   .
the event that this aquifer were developed for use. The
baseline risk assessment evaluated the health effects
which could result from exposure to contamination as a
result of ingestion for a future-use scenario.

A comparison, in 1989, of the concentrations of chemicalj
in the groundwater with applicable or relevant and

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appropriate requirements (ARARs) indicated that
numerous inorganic and organic compounds exceeded
those ARARs.  Based on this comparison, the inorganics
cadmium, chromium, lead, nickel and cyanide were
evaluated and modeled in the risk assessment. Although
not all of the organic contaminants of concern exceeded
ARARs, they were carried through the risk assessment in .
order to obtain a collective assessment of risk from
concurrent exposure to multiple contaminants. At present,
a comparison of the concentration of chemicals in the
1995 and 1996 groundwater samples with ARARs
indicates that only cadmium, chromium, TCA,  and one
detection of trichloroethylene exceed their respective
ARARs, with TCA only slightly above its ARAR.

EPA's acceptable cancer risk range is 10"4 to 10"6, which
can be interpreted to mean that an individual may have
one in ten thousand to one in a million increased chance of
developing cancer as result of site-related exposure to a
carcinogen  over a 70-year lifetime under the specific
exposure conditions at a site.

The results of the baseline risk assessment conducted as
part of the 1989 RI/FS indicated that if, in the unlikely
event that the groundwater were used as a source of  .
drinking water, the Site posed unacceptable risks to
human health and the environment. The  risk assessment
was  based  on a worst case total lifetime exposure to maxi-
mum organic concentrations at an assumed constant rate
(drinking 2 liters of water daily for 30 years in an adult,
living to the age of 70 years). Utilizing the data from the
1995 and 1996 sampling events, it was determined that
|he total cancer risk for the future-use scenario was
Tx lO^i.e., one-in-one-hundred thousand), which is within
EPA's acceptable cancer risk range.

To assess the overall potential for noncarcinogenic effects
posed by more than one contaminant, EPA has developed
a hazard index (HI).  This index measures the assumed
exposures to several chemicals simultaneously at low
concentrations which could result in an adverse health
effect.  When the HI exceeds one, there may be concern
for potential noncarcinogenic effects. The 1989 OU1
RI/FS calculated the HI under a worst case scenario for
cadmium and chromium as 22.8 and 170, respectively.
However, the significant decrease in contaminant levels
over the past several years has resulted in a significant
decrease in associated risk levels.  Under present
conditions,  using the sampling data from  1995 and 1996,
the recalculated HI for cadmium and chromium is 2.2 and
0.06, respectively.

The significant noncarcinogenic risk from potential future
consumption of the Upper Glacial Aquifer because of the
previous high incidence of cadmium and  chromium
contamination no longer exists. The HI is currently only
slightly above the acceptable HI of 1 because of the
presence of cadmium. Furthermore, any risk is associated
with an unlikely future-use scenario, since the Upper
Iplacial Aquifer is not used as a drinking water supply.
REMEDIAL ACTION OBJECTIVES

Remedial action objectives are specific goals to protect
human health and the environment. These objectives are
based on available information and standards such as
applicable or relevant and appropriate requirements
(ARARs) and risk-based levels established in the risk as-
sessment.

The objective of the OU1 feasibility study was to identify
and evaluate a cost-effective remedial action alternative
which would minimize the risk to public health and the
environment resulting from groundwater contamination at
the Site. The FS report had evaluated in detail 7 remedial
alternatives for addressing the contamination associated
with the Site.  The remedy which EPA selected included
extraction and treatment of contaminated groundwater.

Given the significant decrease in site-related groundwater
contaminant levels over the past several years, EPA has
reevaluated the groundwater extraction and treatment
remedy specified in the 1989 OU1  ROD. The remedial
action objectives for the groundwater remedy are to (1)
protect human health by ensuring future residents are not
exposed to contaminated groundwater, and (2) reduce
groundwater contamination levels to drinking water stan-
dards.

SUMMARY OF REMEDIAL ALTERNA TIVES

CERCLA requires that each selected site remedy be
protective of human health and the environment, be cost-
effective, comply with other statutory laws, and utilize
permanent solutions and alternative treatment technolo-
gies and resource recovery alternatives to the maximum
extent practicable. In addition, the statute  includes a
preference for the use of treatment as a principal element
for the reduction of toxicity, mobility, or volume of the
hazardous substances.        .

The alternatives for addressing groundwater contamina-
tion are provided below and are identified as GW-1 and
GW-2. Consistent with ROD amendment guidance, the
components of the original remedy (described below as
Alternative GW-2) which has been proposed for
amendment have been updated and are being compared
to a newly designed Alternative, GW-1, which was
developed based upon existing Site conditions, including
the groundwater monitoring data presented above.

Alternative GW-1 - No Further Action/Natural
                  Attenuation
Capital Cost:
O & M Cost:
Present Worth Cost:
Time to Implement:
$0
$5000/year (for 5 years)
$19,588
immediate
This alternative does not include active treatment of the
aquifer; it relies upon natural attenuation to reduce the
contamination below federal and state drinking water stan-

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 dards and/or groundwater quality standards. A monitoring
 program would be implemented on an annual basis to
 demonstrate the effectiveness of the naturally occurring
 mechanisms. Since contaminants will remain on the Site
 above health-based risk levels. EPA will conduct a five-
 year review to ensure that the remedy is protective of
 human health and the environment. If the natural
 attenuation of contaminants in the groundwater at the Site
 has not improved groundwater quality to federal drinking
 water standards and state drinking water and groundwater
 standards, EPA and NYSDEC will reevaluate the need for
-an active treatment at the Site.

 Alternative GW-2: Extraction/Precipitation of Divalent
 Metals/Ion Exchange/Activated Carbon/Reinjection
 Capital Cost:
 O & M Cost:
 Present Worth Cost:
 Time to Implement:
$1.923.900
$  920.900
$  9,327,400
1Year
 This alternative consists of the extraction and on-site
 treatment of contaminated groundwater.  Groundwater
 would be extracted from one on-site collection well.  The
 extracted groundwater would first go through a 2-stage
 precipitation and clarification/filtration unit for the removal
 of divalent metals, followed by an ion exchange process
 for the removal of the chromate ion, and if necessary, a
 carbon adsorption unit for removal of volatile organic
 compounds. The metals treatment would generate
 hazardous waste residuals requiring ultimate disposal in a
 Resource, Conservation and Recovery Act Subtitle C
 facility. The treatment scheme is a proven technology
 capable of removing the contaminants of concern from the
 groundwater.  The extracted groundwater would be treated
 to satisfy all federal and state standards for Class lib
 waters, i.e., potential drinking waters, prior to reinjection.
 The treated groundwater would be discharged to a
 reinjection well installed east of the Site and upgradient of
 both the extraction well and former leaching pits. In order
 to evaluate the effectiveness of this remedial action,
 periodic sampling for metal and volatile organic
 concentrations in the groundwater would be required prior
 to reinjection.

 EVALUATION OF ALTERNATIVES

 During the detailed evaluation of remedial alternatives,
 each alternative is  assessed against nine evaluation
 criteria set forth in Federal Regulation. The nine criteria
 are overall protection of human health and the envi-
 ronment, compliance with applicable or relevant and
 appropriate requirements, long-term effectiveness and
 permanence, reduction of toxicity, mobility, or volume,
 short-term effectiveness, implementability, cost, and state
 and community acceptance.

 The evaluation criteria are described below.

 A  .     Overall protection of human health and the envi-
         ronment addresses whether or not a remedy pro-
 vides adequate protection and describes how risks
 posed through each pathway are eliminated, reduced, or
 controlled through treatment, engineering controls, or
 institutional controls.

*        Compliance with applicable or relevant and
         appropriate requirements addresses whether a
         remedy will meet the applicable or relevant and
         appropriate requirements of other federal and
         state environmental statutes and requirements
         or provide grounds for invoking a waiver.

A        Long-term  effectiveness and permanence refers
         to the ability of a remedy to maintain reliable
         protection of human health and the environment
         over time, once cleanup goals have been met.

*        Reduction  of toxicitv. mobility, or volume through
         treatment is the anticipated performance of the
         treatment technologies that a remedy may
         employ.

A        Short-term effectiveness addresses the period of
         time needed to achieve protection and any ad-
         verse impacts on human health and the
         environment that may be posed during the
         construction and implementation period until
         cleanup goals are achieved.

A        Implementabilitv is the technical and administra-
         tive feasibility of a remedy, including the avail-
         ability of materials and services needed to impl^jj
         ment a particular option.

A        Cost includes estimated capital and operation
         and maintenance costs, and net present worth
         costs.

A        State acceptance indicates whether, based on
         its review of the RI/FS reports and Post-Decision
         Proposed Plan, the state concurs, opposes, or
         has no comment on the preferred alternative at
         the present time.

A        Community acceptance will be assessed in the
         Record of Decision (ROD) following a review of
         the public comments received on the RI/FS
         reports and the Post-Decision Proposed Plan.

A comparative analysis of these alternatives based upon
the evaluation criteria noted above follows.

A        Overall Protection of Human Health and the
         Environment

Both Alternatives are similar in their abilities to protect
human health and the environment. As noted above in the
risk assessment section, there are ho current use risks
associated with the contamination at the Site. The Site
groundwater is not being used as a  source of drinking
water. In addition, no significant impacts to ecological

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receptors have been observed.  The future use
carcinogenic risks at the Site are within EPA's risk range,
and the noncarcinogenic risks are just slightly above
EPA's acceptable level; however, these risks assume that
the Site groundwater will be utilized as a potable water
supply, an event that is highly unlikely.

As there are no current or anticipated future users of the
Site groundwater and since the levels of contaminants in
the groundwater have decreased dramatically in the last
few years and are expected to drop below drinking water
and groundwater quality standards in the future, EPA
believes that both GW-2 and GW-1  would  provide full
protection of human health and the environment.

       Compliance with ARARs
                                   *
Since the impacted groundwater underlying the Site is a
potential future source of drinking water, federal and state
drinking water standards, as well as state groundwater
quality standards, are ARARs. For Alternative GW-1,
ARARs would be achieved over time through natural
attenuation; compliance with ARARs would be
demonstrated through an annual monitoring program. For
Alternative GW-2, compliance with ARARs for the aquifer
would be achieved through extraction and  active treatment
for removal of metals. The treated groundwater would
meet appropriate .standards prior to being reinjected.
Residual sludges from the treatment system would be
treated and disposed of in accordance with RCRA
regulations.

       Long-Term Effectiveness and Permanence

Alternative GW-1 is expected, over time, to provide the
same level of long-term effectiveness and  permanence as
Alternative GW-2. Alternative GW-2 would potentially
result in greater long-term exposure to contaminants by
workers who would come into contact with the
concentrated sludges from the treatment system.
However, proper health and safety precautions would
minimize any adverse impacts through treatment.

A      Reduction in Toxicity. Mobility or Volume Through
       Treatment

Alternative GW-2 would reduce the toxicity, mobility and
volume of contaminated groundwater through extraction
and subsequent treatment.  Alternative GW-2 would
potentially achieve this reduction in a shorter timeframe
than Alternative GW-1, which relies solely  on natural
attenuation, and does not actively reduce the toxicity,
mobility or volume of contaminants  in the groundwater.

*      Short-term Effectiveness

Although GW-2 would potentially achieve cleanup goals in
a shorter time-frame than GW-1, this is not expected to be
significant.  This is supported by the fact that groundwater
bontaminant levels have decreased so significantly over
the past several years.
Alternative GW-1 presents virtually no short-term impacts
to human health and the environment since no
construction is involved. The construction activities
required to implement Alternative GW-2 would have
potentially negative impacts on site workers and nearby
residents. While efforts would be made to minimize these
impacts, some disturbances would result from disruption of
traffic, excavation activities on public and private land,
noise, and fugitive dust emissions.  It is estimated that the
construction activities for Alternative GW-2 would take
approximately 12 months to complete.

*        Implementability

The technologies proposed for extraction and treatment of
contaminated groundwater in Alternative GW-2 are proven
and reliable in achieving the specified cleanup goals,
however, Alternative GW-2 would be much more complex
than Alternative GW-1 to implement. Alternative GW-1
does not involve any construction and is much easier to
implement as it only requires a monitoring program
utilizing existing monitoring wells.

*        Cost

•Alternative GW-1 has no direct costs associated with its
implementation. The present worth of this alternative of
$19,588 is for implementation of an annual groundwater
monitoring program for a duration of 5 years.  The capital
and present worth costs of Alternative GW-2 are estimated
to be approximately $1,923,900 and $9,327,400,
respectively.

*        State Acceptance

The State of New York concurs on the proposed modified
remedy.

*        Community Acceptance

Community acceptance of the preferred alternative will be
assessed in the ROD amendment following review of the
public comments received on this Post-Decision Proposed
Plan.

PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE

Based upon an evaluation of the various alternatives, EPA
and NYSDEC recommend Alternative GW-1,  No Further
Action/Natural Attenuation.

The Post-Decision preferred alternative provides the best
balance of trade-offs between alternatives with respect to
the evaluating criteria. EPA and the NYSDEC believe that
the preferred alternative will be protective of human health
and the environment, will comply with ARARs, will be cost-
effective, and will utilize permanent solutions and alterna-
tive treatment technologies or resource recovery technolo-
gies to the maximum extent practicable.

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 APPENDIX B




PUBLIC NOTICE

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                   Public Meeting
     The U.S. Environmental Prelection Agency Will hold a public
 meeting on the Post-Decision Proposed Plan for the Preferred Plating
 Superfund Site in Farmingdale, New York. Based on samples collected
  after the cleanup of site soil, EPA is proposing tp modify the original
  groundwater remedy chosen for this site '-< 1989 to no farther action/
 natural attenuation. The new proposed cleanup plan will be protective
              of human health and the environment.

                        Pliblk Meeting
                   Thursday, August 7.1997
                      7,00 p.m. - 9iOO p.m.
                W.E. Howitt Junior High School
                   Vancott A Grant Avenues
                   Farmingdale, New York
 A 30iday public comment period begins July 31, 1997 and ends August
30, 1997. All written/oral comments may be submitted by August 29 to:
Janet Cappelli, Project Manager, U.S. EPA, 290 Broadway, 20th Fl., New
              York. NY 10007 or call  (212) 637-4270.
     Copies of the Post-Decision Proposed Plan are available for
   review at the Babylon Town Hall and the West Babylon Library.
         For more information, contact Cecilia Echols
        US. EPA Community Involvement Coordinator
                       1-800-346-5009
                   Public  Meeting
     The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will hold a public
meeting on the Post-Decision Proposed Plan for the Preferred Plating
Superfund Site in Farmingdale, New York. Based on samples collected
 after the cleanup of site soil, EPA is proposing to modify the original
 groundwater remedy chosen for this site in 1989 to no further action/
natural attenuation. The new proposed cleanup plan will be protective
              of human health and the environment.

                        Public Meeting
                   Thursday, August 7,1997
                      7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
                W.E. Howitt Junior High School
                   Vancott & Grant Avenues
                    Farmingdale, New York

A 30-day public comment period begins July 31,1997 and ends August
30,1997. All written/oral comments may be submitted by August 29 to:
Janet Cappelli, Project Manager, U.S. EPA, 290 Broadway, 20th Fl., New
              York, NY 10007 or call (212) 637-4270.
      Copies of the Post-Decision Proposed Plan  are available for
    review at  the Babylon Town Hall and the West Babylon Library.
           For more information, contact Cecilia Echols
          US. EPA Community Involvement Coordinator
                         1-800-346-5009
         "Faroingdale Observer"  August 1,  1997 and August 8,  1997

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                  APPENDIX C




AUGUST 7, 1997 PUBLIC MEETING ATTENDANCE SHEET

-------
                         UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
                                          REGION II
                                        Public Meeting
                               Preferred Plating Superfund Site
                                    Parmingdale,  New York

                                   Thursday, Auguat 7, 1997
                                          ATTENDEES

                                    (Please Print Clearly)
    NAME
STREET
  -
       -ฃjr*M'  J*/ PUrt LA.
CT
CITY
ZIP
PHONE
                           [17f(
REPRESENTING

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               APPENDIX D




AUGUST 7, 1997 PUBLIC MEETING TRANSCRIPT

-------
 1

 2    UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
      REGION II
 3

 4
      Public Meeting  -  Post-Decision Proposed Plan
 5    for the Preferred Plating Corporation Superfund Site
      Farmingdale, New  York
 6

 7

 8                             August 7, 1997
                               7:00 p.m.
 9

10
                               W. E. Howitt Jr. High  School
11                             Vancott and Grant  Avenues
                               Farmingdale, New York
12

13    PRESENT:
      Introduction    Cecilia Echols
15                    Community Involvement  Coordinator
                      U.S.  EPA, Region 2
16

17

18
      Superfund  Overview         Doug Garbarini
19                                Superfund  Section Chief
                                  Eastern NY Section
20               ,                 U.S. EPA,  Region 2

21
      Site Background            Janet Cappelli
22                                Remedial Project Manager
                                  U.S. EPA,  Region 2
23

24

25
                            FINK & CARNEY
                     COMPUTERIZED REPORTING SERVICES
            24 West 40th Street, New York,  N.Y. 10018  (212)  869-1500

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   1
   2
   3
   4
   5
   6
   7
   8
   9
-  10
 ' 11
  12
  13
  14
  15
  16
  17
  18
  19
  20
  21
  22
  23
  24
  25
       MS. ECHOLS:   Good evening,  I'm
Cecilia Echols  and  I'm the Community
Involvement Coordinator for the
Preferred Plating Corporation Superfund
                  .       /
Site.  We are here  to discuss the
Post-Decision Proposed Plan for the
site.  This Proposed Plan is to modify
the original groundwater remedy that was
chosen back in  1989.
       We have  on our. agenda today, Doug
Garbarini, who  will give an overview of
the Superfund process; and Janet +
Cappelli, she will  give an overview of
the site background, a summary of
groundwater sampling activities 'and the
proposed amended remedy.
       After everyone's presentation, we
will open up for questions and answers
and then we shall close.  And .here's
Doug.
       MR, GARBARINI:  Since everybody
who is in the audience really knows the
.Superfund process pretty well, I'm not
going to spend  the  time giving an
                              FINK & CARNEY
                       COMPUTERIZED REPORTING SERVICES
              24 West 40th Street, New York, N.Y. 10018  (212) 869-1500

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 1    •  .              .  . •     . .
 2                overview of  the Superfund process or
 3                outline any  history  of  the process.
 4                       Unless  there  are any objections.
 5        •        I think Jefry  will hear this again
 6                Monday night.
 7                       If there are  no  objections, I'll
 8                just turn it over  to Janet,
 9       •     '  '         MS.  CAPPELLI:  I'll show you my
10                overheads.
                         •
11                     .1 think everybody here knows a
12    '            lot about the  site,  so  I think I can
13                skip most of the background.  Let*me put
14                up the chronology  of events and refresh
15                everyone's  memory.
16                       Preferred"is  a pretty small site,
17                it is just  under an  acre, on Allen
18                Boulevard,* just off  of  Route 110.  It is
19                in pretty much a light  industrial
20                commercial  area.   The residential
21       "         section starts about a  third of a mile
22                southwest of the site.
23                       Preferred began  operating back in
24                1951, using mainly cadmium and chromium
25        •        in their process.   The  wastewater was
                           FINK & CARNEY
                     COMPUTERIZED REPORTING SERVICES
           24 West 40th Street, New York, N.Y. 10018 (212) 869-1500

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 1                           '•         •      .
 2                discharged to four  concrete  underground
 3                pits, sort of constructed like  a
 4                swimming pool, below ground  swimming
 5  .     • •  -     , pool, behind the  old building.
 6                       Allen Boulevard is down  at the
 7                bottom.  The old  building ended pretty
 8                much right around here (indicating), and
 9                here is where.the four pits  were below
                *   '            •                    , ' •
10                .the ground, that  is where they
11                discharged.
12                       Back starting in 1953,  the county
13          .   .   health department started sampling the
14                sludges in those  pits and also  some
15                local wells, and  started to  find a
16                problem with elevated levels pf metals.
17        '        Between 1953 up to  1976,  until  Preferred
18                closed, they had  numerous violations
19                that the county tried to get them to
20               ' clean up the sludges in those pits.
21       '  .       They did some sort  of remediation with
22                the sludge that was left in  the pits.
23                However, the pits themselves were
24                cracked and leaking into the underlying
25                soils and groundwater.
                           FINK & CARNEY
                    COMPUTERIZED REPORTING SERVICES
           24 West 40th Street, New York, N.Y. 10018 (212) 869-1500

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 2      •                 In 1983,'the  state came in
 3    '            through the Department  of Environmental
 4                Conservation,'  and  started to investigate
 5         •       the site and recommended that it be
 6                added to the National  Priorities List,
 7              .  which is our listing of Superfund sites.
 8                In 1984, it was  added  to the NPL and
 9            .    that sort of kicked  off EPA's official
10                involvement in the site.
11                       The site-itself  has been, over
12    '            the years, split up  into three separate
13                operable units:                   <-•
14                       The first operable unit dealt
IS                with off-site  and  downgradient
16            .    groundwater investigation.  A ROD that
17                selected a pump and  treat remedy based
18                on data tha't showed  pretty high levels
19                of cadmium and mostly chromium, was
20                selected back-in 1989.   The design for
21        •        that pump and  treat  system was completed
22                in 1992.
23                       In the  meantime, we had begun  our
24                second operable unit,  which concentrated
25                on the source  for  the groundwater
                           FINK & CARNEY
                     COMPUTERIZED REPORTING SERVICES
           24 West 40th Street, New York, N.Y. 10018  (212) 869-1500

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 1
 2                contamination, which  by this  time the
 3                property owners,  the  property had been
 4                sold.  Preferred  went out  of  business,
 5                the. new property  owners had extended the
 6                building.
 7              '         So now  those four underground
 8                pits were covered by  a building.   So the
 9                second operable unit  focused  on soils
10                that were inside  of those  pits,  plus the
11                soils that were beneath the pits  before
12                the water table.   The ROD  for that site,
13                for the second operable unit,  was'issued
14                in 1992.  That selected excavation and
15                .off-site disposal for the  source  area.
16                       We decided, because the site is '
17                pretty small,  we  decided that we  ..
                             >         •
18                couldn't do both  construction activities
19                at the same time,  there really wasn't
20                enough space.  Since  it made  more sense
21       "         to get the source out of there before we
22                started to do  any kind of  pump and
23                treat, we put  in  the  remedial design, we
24                finished that, we put that on hold, .
25                implementation of that, for the
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 1  .
 2                groundwater system.
 3            .           And we waited until  the
 4                remediation of  the  source area was
 5        •        completed.  And that happened about
 6                1994.  We ended up  taking about 1,500
 7                tons of materials out from  that site.
 8                       While this was going on, we also
 9                started another operable unit, which was
10                No. 3.  That investigated what we
11                thought might have  been a possible
12    '         "   source of upgradient groundwater
13                contamination,  dealing with the Del Lab
14                that was north  of the site.  It was
15                found that there was no problem there
16                contributing to groundwater  •  -;
17                contamination.   Del Lab was taking care
18                of the well' water th'at was  on site, they
19                weren't adding  to the groundwater
20                problem, there  was  no ROD that was
21       •         issued in .1993.
22                       During this  whole time that the
23                implementation  was  put on hold, we kept
24                sampling'the groundwater.  We have nine
25                monitoring wells that are on the site
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 i                 .'•'..•
 2                itself.  We also  have two monitoring
 3   -             wells that are  off  the site.
 4                       I'll move  this around so you can
 5        •        see it.  We have  a  cluster at the
 6                southern end, a single small shallow
 7                well, and shallow wells in the middle of
 8                the property.   And  going up to the
 9            •.   north, we have  a  cluster of shallow and
10                deep.
11                       We also  have two off-site wells,
12   '             one is about a  quarter of a mile south
13         .   .    to southeast of the site, where t-he old
14                Army Nike base  was.  The other one is
15              -  about a half mile south to southwest
16                just off of the'the Southern-.State
17                Parkway.  Those two are deep wells.
18                They are 70.feet  deep, they are at the
19                bottom of the Upper Glacial.
20                       We have  seven rounds of 'data.
21       •         The original RI/FS  for OU1 had two.
22                rounds from August  and September of
23                1988.  The round  in February of 1991, we
                              i
24                collected as part of our treatability
25                study, while we were doing the design
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 1    •'•'•-.    .          • '         .     .
 2                for  the groundwater pump and treat
 3                system.
 4            '           We  then collected a round right
 5         •       before the remediation of the source
 6                area started,  in 1993.  We collected
 7                another round  after that was finished,
 8                in 1994.   As you can see, for the
 9                cadmium and the chromium, we started
10                seeing a pretty dramatic decrease in the
11                concentrations.  At that point, we
12    '  .          decided that instead of going forward
"13                with the groundwater pump and treat
14                system, we wanted to collect a couple
15                rounds of  more samples to see if that
16                decrease was going .to continue. ' -'And at
17                that point,  then we would reevaluate the
18                data.      '         "                ' :.
19                       Which brings us through April of
20            •    1995 and August of 1996, which is when
21       •         we reevaluated the data and basically
22                came up with this conclusion which we've
23                documented in  this Post-Decision
24                Proposed Plan, that we no longer think
25                the  pump and treat is necessary because
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 1            .                .  . .
 2                of the significant decrease  in  the
 3                concentrations for cadmium and  chromium.
 4                Lead and nickel pretty much  in  the  last
 5  .       '.       four and five rounds  of  sampling, have
 6                always been coming up as non-detect.
 7 .                       In the original OU RI/FS back  in
                             i
 8                1988, lead and nickel were in  there also
 9                as contaminants of concern,  but to  a
10                much lesser extent than  cadmium and
11                chromium.  Those have been our  two  big
12             .   players all along.  Chromium as it
13                stands now at 57, is  below the  drinking
14                water standard of 100, although slightly
15                above the New York State Groundwater
16                Quality Standard, which  is still' 'at 50.
17                       The cadmium, though,  is  above  the
                             ซ         -                 ;
18                drinking water standard,  which  is  10.
19                But it has come down  on  an order of
20                magnitude from a high of 399,  along with
21       '         the decrease  in the concentrations/the
22                risk number,  the associated
23                non-carcinogenic risk for metals,  has
24                also decreased significantly.   Right
25                now, we use a Hazard  Index for
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                                                             11
 1              • •            •             .
 2                non-carcinogenic  risk.  When the Hazard
 3                Index goes above  1.0,  we  consider there
 4                to be a problem.
 5  .      '               In the  past,  the numbers for
 6                cadmium and  chromium were 22, and I
 7                think chromium at the time was 170.
 8                Right now the  Hazard Index for chromium
 9                is below 1.0,  it  is  0.6.   And for
10                cadmium, it  is a  little bit above one,
11                it is 2.2 .
12                       MR. ROBBINS:   I presume-these are
13                maximum values.           •       '•
14                       MS. CAPPELLI:  These are the
15                maximum values.  For the last round,
16.               cadmium is Well No.  5.  I'll have to
17                pull out the data for you, Five is at
18                the southern end of  the property, down
19                here. You see  that right there.
20                       And the chromium,  I'll check on,
21       "         .1  think it was from Well .No. 3, which
22                was more  to  the side.
23                       .That  Hazard Index value for
24    "            cadmium now  is at 2.2.  When we
25                originally calculated it back in  1988,
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 i         '     • '• .               •                   •
 2                for the first  two  rounds  in  the first
 3                -issuance of the ROD,  it was  22.  So it
 4                has come down  an order of magnitude.
 5          .             Basically,  based on this data
 6                coupled with the risk assessment, which
 7                again you have to  remember,  that the
 8                risk assessment is only based on a
 9.        •        future use scenario.  For a  current use,
10                there is no risk.   For a  future use,
11                that a resident would be  drinking this
12                over a 70 year lifetime,  that is where
13                you get the Hazard Index  value of"'that
14                2.2, which is  a pretty unlikely
15                scenario, that we  would have somebody
16                drinking the Upper Glacial for that
17                length of time.        .           .
18                       MR. GARBARINI: I  think it is.
19                probably 30 years  of  exposure over a 70
                                                    I
20                year lifetime.              '     ,
21      ' "               MS. CAPPELLI:  I'm sorry, it is.
22   •             Drinking two liters of water a day.  So
23                the risk numbers coupled  with this data
24                is what prompted us to reevaluate the
25                system, the groundwater pump and treat
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                                                             13
 1                          •••-.-
 2                system, and  to  issue  this Post-Decision
 3                Proposed Plan.   As  part of the remedy
 4          .      that 'we are  proposing,  we'would continue
 5         '       annual monitoring.
 6                       We have,  under the Superfund
                                                             i
 7                Program, we  need to reevaluate the site
 8   '             .over a -five  year period.   So we are
 9                proposing to do the annual monitoring
                *
10                for the five years,  and then at that
11                point do our five year review' and
12                compare it,  in  case the MCLs have
13                changed, compare it to see whether the
14                concentrations  have increased,
15            •    decreased, or whether natural
16         ,       attenuation  will- add to the scenario and
17                bring the levels down lower..
18                       Based on this, we really didn't
19                feel that a  full-blown pump and treat
20                was necessary for this problem. -.
21       "                That  is  basically my
22                presentation.
23                       MS. ECHOLS:   Do you have any
24                questions?   State your name, sir.
25                       MR. ROBBINS:  . Sy Robbins,  I'm
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                                                            ,14
 1             .          '                  '   • .
 '2                from the Suffolk County Department of
 3                Health Services.   One  question that
 4               . might arise,  is  concentrations at the
 5                site have decreased.   Is it possible
 6                that this contamination has moved?
 7                       MS.  CAPPELLI:   We have looked at  .
 8                our downgradient wells.  One well in the
•9                Nike base in  the last  couple of years
10                has been removed.   So  we have sampling,
11                I believe for 1991 and 1993, that had
12    '            non-detect  for both cadmium and chromium
13                in it.  The other well, which is *
14                further, a  half  mile south to southwest,
15                which was off of the Southern State
16                Parkway, that one we've still been
17                sampling that was part of the last
18                sampling round,  and'that always has been
19                nondetectable.
20                       MR.  ROBBINS:  Do you have a
21       "         graphic that  shows the location of those
22                two wells?
23                       MS.  CAPPELLI:  I don't have  •
24                anything that great.  I can point out
25           -     where  they  are?
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                                     •                         1-5
 1                ;         '•/'•'.
 2                        Here is the old Army Nike  base.
 3                 Our first deep well off-site was  here,
 4                 that was the one  that was a quarter of  a
 5         -        mile away.  And that is between .60  to 70
 6                'feet.
 7   .                     The next well is down right  off
 8                 the easement of the Southern State
 9                .Parkway.  So we are about a half  mile at
 10                 that point.  And  that also is  screened
 11                 60 to 70.  That was a little deeper.
 12     •             The wells that are on-site, the
 13                 shallows, are screened between I0x.and 25
•14                 feet.              .
 15                        The deep wells that are on-site,
 16                 there are two deep wells, those'-are
 17                 screened at 40 to 60.
 18                        MR."ROBBINS: ' From land surface
 19                 or from the water table.
 20     .                   MS/ CAPPELLI:  From below  grade.
 21        •                MR. ROBBINS:  Now, both those
 22                 downgradient wells are aligned with the
 23                 assumption that groundwater 'below is in
 24                 a south southwesterly direction.
 25                        MS. CAPPELLI:  The one  that  is  %
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                                                             16
 1            '           ' '.         .              ;
 2   '             closer to the site  that  is  on the old
 3                Army Nike base was  put in a more south,
 4                southeast.  The  one that is off  of the
 5        •        Southern State Parkway was  put in more
 6                south southwest.  Because at the time,
 7  .              we were using those wells also to try to
 8                determine which  way the  flow was going.
 9                So .we put them off  side-gradient a
10              *  little bit.
11                       MR. ROBBINS:  And the periodic
12    •       •     monitoring that  you are  going to do, and
13                review of the data, is  that strictly on
14                the basis of the well that  you've shown
15                us the results from?  Or if additional
16                data came in, would that have to/be
17                considered also.               •
                                               '•
18                       MS. 'CAPPELLI.'  I  think we would
19                consider additional data also if there
20                were wells that  we  could also sample
21       •         from, we could include  that in our
22                sampling data base, include those wells.
23                       MR. GARBARINI:  We  would consider
24                any data you might  have.
25                       MS. CAPPELLI:  The  one well that
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                                                             17
 1
 2                is at  the  Faber's office building, we
 3                could  include that.
 4                       MR.  GARBARINI:   We are required
 5         .       to do  a  five year review by the statute.
 6                If the level of contaminants are above
 7                health risk levels,  until they drop
 8                below.   We could even do the reviews
 9                before five years.   But we have to do it
10                in; five.   Whenever we take samples,
11                we'll  do some sort of evaluation at that
12    •    '        part.
13                       MS.  CAPPELLI:  The first round '
                                     .  •          .   x.
14                for  annual monitoring would begin this
15                fall.
16                   -MS.  ECHOLS:   Anymore questions?
17                Sir, go  ahead.   State your name.
18                       : MR.  -ROSMARIN:-  Jefry Rosmarih.   I'
19                was  curious, what was the size of the
20                plume?                                     .
21       .                MS.  CAPPELLI:  We haven't
22                documented a plume leaving the site.
23                The  off-site wells have always turned
24                out  nothing above health base levels.
25                  .MR.  GARBARINI:  We actually
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                           •'••'•                       .18
 1      •         '      •
 2                designed a groundwater  remedy for the
 3                site.  Maybe you  can  just  touch on that.
 4  •                     MS. CAPPELLI:  We did.  When we
 5        .        selected the Record of  Decision in 1989,
 6                when we chose  the pump  and treat, we
 7                actually went  ahead and did the entire
 8                design.  It is complete.   The capture
 9       -         zone basically for that pump and treat,
10                only went to the  southern  edge of the
11                property boundary.  It  would probably
12    •            extend a little bit more,  but we
13                designed it just  to go  where we were
14                finding our contaminant levels.  That
15     ,           design was approved by  the state, as
16                well as the EPA..
17                       MR. ROSMARIN:  The  search for the
18                source of the  upgradient  contamination
19                is?
20                       MS. CAPPELLI:  We began that
21       -         because our upgradient  cluster on our
22                site property, had some hits that we
23                thought were too  high to  serve as
24                background.  So we looked  north orf us,
25                and we found a manufacturing facility
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                                                           .19
 1        •                ••                          •
 2                who had some  was.tewater. in pits on their
 3                facility.   So we  thought that we had
 4    ,            enough  reason to  look there.  They put
 5        .        in a host  of 'monitoring wells.  There is
 6                an empty wooded lot about an acre in
 7                size between  our  site and their
 8                manufacturing facility.  They put in a
 9                host of wells,  and they did not find
iO      •          anything.
11                        At  the same time, the county was
12    •            working with  them,  I believe, on their
13   •             own facility.   And they were taking care
14                of some problems  that they had.
15                        MR.  ROBBINS:  They were
16                remediating the-cesspools, this".is Del
17                Labs, on their property.  I don't know
18                if it was  under consent order or whether
19                it was  voluntary.
20                        MS.  CAPPELLI:  I believe there
21      -         was a consent order.
22             '           MR.  ROBBINS:  You represented the
23                data collected by Del Labs 'as indicating
24                there wasn't  contamination of
25                groundwater.
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     ;-.'..                                 20
 l                     ,                   •
 2                       I  think  it did indicate
 3  '"            • contamination of  groundwater.
 4              "        MS.  CAPPELLI:   It probably had
                                        •
 5                organics, but we  were looking in terms
 6    ..'.-.        of heavy  metals.   We found heavy metals
 7                in our upgradient wells, which we
 8                assumed couldn't  be from our source
 9                area.
10                       MR.'ROBBINS:  There were metals
             l
11      .          above background  in some of their wells,
12    '            nothing to  indicate remediation, nothing
13                to indicate a continuing source on their
14                site.  But  it certainly could have been
15                indicative  of prior discharges that
16                might have  moved  on.
17          '             MS.  CAPPELLI: :Something that
18                came off  of their property, and that is
19                what we picked  up.  We pretty much went
20                ahead with  that operable unit, because
21       •         we knew that we would be designing a
22                groundwater pump and treat. . And if
23                there was a problem coming onto our
24                site, we  needed to know about that and
25                make sure that  we could capture that and
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                                                             21
 2                bring it  into  our  treatment  system.
 3                       MR. ROSMARIN:   Is  this . an orphan
 4                site?
 5        -               MS. CAPPELLI:   An  orphan site?
 6                       MR. GARBARINI:   No.   The PRP'S
 7                actually  implemented  the  soil remedy.
 8                    .MS. CAPPELLI:   Second operable
 9'           .     unit.
10                       MR. ROSMARIN:   Who are the PRPs?
11                      'MS. CAPPELLI:   Joseph Gazza
12    •             (ph)and George Paro (ph) , current owners
13                of  the site, bought the property ^in
14                1976, so  they  were not part  of Preferred
15                Plating.  They sort of walked into a
16                problem,  unfortunately.  But. they did
17                step in and  under  --is it in a
18                unilateral* order?   •   •   ••
19"                       MR. GARBARINI:   Downgradient
20                there is  some  overlap. They are the
21       •         owners, but  there  is  some overlap.
22                       MS. CAPPELLI:   Yes,  there' was a
23                short period of time  after they bought
24                the property and Preferred wasn't
25                totally out  yet, so they  actually leased
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                                                             .22
 1            ."..''-.                          '      '
 2          '      back to  Preferred for some time.
 3                       MR.  GARBARINI:  It was a
 4                unilateral  order, but it was something
 5         -       sort of  negotiated.   They were very
 6        .        .cooperative.   It worked out .that we were
 7                'going  to implement the remedy quicker if
 8                it were  a unilateral order.
 9                     .  MR.  ROSMARIN:,  But .they paid for
10                the remedy.
11                       MS.  CAPPELLI:  They paid for the
12    •            soil.      .
13                       MR.  ROSMARIN:  The soil and the
14                studies,  the  studies to do groundwater
15                pump and treat.
16                       MS. 'CAPPELLI:  No, that was under
17                EPA, funded by the EPA.      .
18                       MR. • ROSMARIN.'  By;the Super fund.
19         .    -     .     MR.  GARBARINI:  Yes'.',
20                       MR.  ROSMARIN:  And there..was no
21       •      .   attempt  to  recover from the property
22                owners?
23                       MR.  GARBARINI: . We haven't closed
24                out  the  case  yet.
25                   •    MS.  CAPPELLI:' This is still with
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                                                             23
 1
 2                our regional counsel.   The  decision
 3             •   hasn't been made whether  or not we are
 4                going to pursue that.
 5         -             .MR. ROBBINS:  The  remediation of
 6                the waste pits, did  that  involve
 7              '  dismantling part of  the building?
 8                       MS. CAPPELLI:   Yes,  actually the
 9                middle section of  the  building pretty
10             "   much from here to  here, this whole
11                section of the building was torn down,
12                because there was  no way  to get to those
13                pits without taking  the middle part' of
14          -      that building down.  So that is what
15                they did.  And we  went to-visit it,
16                actually it has since  been  put up
17                exactly the way it was before.
18               "        MR.-ROBBINS: ' Just for the
19                record, the statements in the Proposed
20                Action Plan, will  be -- relative to the
21       -         availability or the  use of  public water
22                at all downgradient  locations, will be
23                modified reflecting  there are some, and
24                maybe some additional  downgradient wells
25                in use.
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                                                              24
 .1

 2           .             MS.  CAPPELLI:  'It will be

 3                 modified in terms of the Record of

 4                 Decision.   If you submit that as a

 5                 comment,  we'll respond to it in the
                          j
 6                 Responsiveness Summary section, which  is

 7   \      .        an appendix to the Record of Decision,

. 8                 and we'll  make sure that it is reflected

 9                 correctly within the text of the Record

 10                 of Decision.  Pretty much, this document

 11                 is now a public document.  So if there

 12                 is something that is wrong in this,  that

 13                 is how we  will correct it, througja  the

 14                 Responsiveness .Summary.

 15                        MR.  ROSMARIN:" I'm.a little

 16                 confused.   The-pits were underneath the

 17                 buildings  and then Preferred Plating at

 18                 some point-moved out.                '

 19                        So how did the contaminants  leach

 20                 into the soil without rainwater.

 21       -                 MS.  CAPPELLI:  The old building

 22                 right here where you see the indentation

 23                 going in?   This is where Preferred

 24                 Plating's building ends.

 25                        Pipe's went out of the buildings,
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                                                             25
 1          ••'-..•••
 2                and discharged  into  those  pits that look
 3                like a swimming pool,  they are level
 4                with the ground,  and went  down about 10
 5  •      .        feet into the ground.   They had baffles
 6                built into .them.   They were actually
 7                sectioned off into four quadrants.
 8          .      After -- Preferred Plating did some kind
 9                of remediation  of the sludge material
                ^         -
10                that was left in  those pits, but nobody
11       .         ever went underneath the pits.
12    •                   The pits had been cracked and
13                leaking so nothing ever was done jabout
14                the soils that  were underneath the pits
15                before you encountered 'the water.
16                       When  the :new owners came'in, not
17                knowing really, I guess, about 'the
18                problem, filled in those pits and
19                decided to-extend the building.  Now we
20                have the situation where we knew the
21       -         pits were there,  but access to them was
22                pretty hard.
23           •            MR. GARBARINI:  The-other problem
24                too is similar  to what we have been
25                talking about a couple of years ago at
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                                                             26
• 1          '         ._-.'.
 2                 Liberty,  actually.  The fluctuation in
 3                 the  groundwater table would result in
 4        .         some of those contaminants that were
 5                 below the pits, again contacting the
 6                 groundwater and then moving out.
 7    .                    MR. ROSMARIN:  Assuming they were
 8                 in the saturated season and assuming
 9                 that what is happening in Nassau County
10 .                isn't happening in Suffolk County, which
11                 is that the fluctuations in groundwater
12    '             are  off by over 5 feet these days.
13                        MR. GARBARINI:  This is bark in
14                 1992.
15                        MS. CAPPELLI:  We measured that
16                 too  through historical data, and'-data we
17                 found.  The measurable water .table was
18                 anywhere from 10 to'18 feet.  the pits
19           .  "    were about 10 feet down.  During pretty
20                 wet  seasons, the water table was
21       •          actually encountering the bottom of
22                 those pits.  If they had been leaking,
23                 they were going into the soils below the.
24                 bottom of the pits.
25                        MR. GARBARINI:  I think I know
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                      .                                       27
 1                     '                                      •
 2                 this a little better  than you do.
 3                        The situation  wasn't  the same
 4        ,         necessarily.  In  the  last few years,
 5   .      •        noticed a much  larger difference in the
 6                 groundwater  fluctuation.   So there was
 7     •            still some contact, we believe there to
                           •
 8                 be some contact of  the groundwater with
 9                 the contaminants  that were just below
10     .            the leaching pits themselves.  That is
11            •     why we needed to  go in and remove the
12     '            soils.
13              •          MS. ECHOLS:  Brian, do you*have
14                 any questions?
15                        MR. ZITANI:  Brian Zitani,  Town
16                 of Babylon.  Out  of curiosity, since the
17    .             initial studies didn't seem to indicate
18                 that .there"was  a  plume migrating
19                 off-site, and after the remediation of
20      -           the soils, with the removal, is .it
21        •         unusual that the  numbers should drop so
22                 quickly since it. doesn't appear to be
23                 that much material moving through the
24                 site?
25                '    •    MS. CAPPELLI:   There is a part
                            FINK & CARNEY
                     COMPUTERIZED REPORTING SERVICES
            24 West 40th Street, New York, N.Y. 10018  (212) 869-1500

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                                                             28
 1                        -            .-.
 2                that you asked  me  to  include,  and I
 3                forgot  to mention.
 4                        Part  of  the reason for that, I
 5            .    don't really think that the source
 6              .  removal brought the levels down that
 7                dramatically on its own.   In the last
 8                two rounds of our  sampling, we started
 9                to use  a technique which we pretty much
                i
10                commonly use now when we are sampling
11                for metals,  using  a low-flow pump to get
12    •            the turbidity down-.  Pretty much we are
13                seeing  a big decrease in metals  x.
14                concentration.   I  went back and checked
15                the turbidity samples for the previous
16                sample  round. '  We  usually try to -get
17                them below 50 NTUs.  They were pretty
18                high, in th'e hundreds, some of them. .
19                        I think  that is really more of a
20        .        reason.
21       -                 MR. ZITANI:   Methodology change
22                that brought the number down.
23                        MS. CAPPELLI:   The first two
24                rounds  are not  representative of what
25                was there.   If  we  had that low-flow
                           FINK & CARNEY
                    COMPUTERIZED REPORTING SERVICES
           24 West 40th Street, New York, N.Y. 10018 (212) 869-1500

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                           ,.  -             -                  29
 1
 2 .   •            technique  -- because  this  next round.,
 3                you see the decrease  here,  the source
 4                was still  there.   Those pits weren't
 5        '      .  remediated yet,  and that is still quite
 6                a drop from the  original round of
 7                sampling.  It might have something to do
 8                with the water table  fluctuations, if it
 9                was a wet  season,  carrying more down
10                with it.   But I  think the  low-flow
11                technique  really gave us a much truer
12                reading of what  was in that water.
13                       MS. ECHOLS:   Any more questions?
14                       MS. CAPPELLI:   The  comment period
15            .    goes until August 30th.  If you want to
16                jot down my phone number,  my .address,
17                you can write with any comments, that's
                           - • ซ         •                 '
18                fine.  If  you want to call with any
19                comments,  -it is  212,' 637,  4270.  And the
20                comments will all be  responded to in the
21       "         appendix to the  Record of  Decision that
22                we call the Responsiveness Summary
23                Section.
24                       MR. ROBBINS:  I will send you
25                copies of  the private well samples that
                           FINK & CARNEY
                     COMPUTERIZED REPORTING SERVICES
           24 West 40th Street, New York, N.Y. 10018  (212) 869-1500

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                                                                30
 1

 2       -  "        we took in  the area of the  survey.

 3                        MS.  CAPPELLI:  I appreciate that.

 4                        MS.  ECHOLS:   If you  want to reach

 5  .       •        me, there is  an 800 number  you can reach

 6                 me at.

 7                        MS.  CAPPELLI:  Thank you very

 8                 much.

 9                        MS.  ECHOLS:   Thank you for

10    ..            coming

11                    -    (Whereupon,  at 7:41  p.m., the

12    '             proceedings were adjourned)

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25
                           . FINK & CARNEY

                     COMPUTERIZED REPORTING SERVICES

            24 West 40th Street, New York, N.Y. 10018  (212) 869-15,00

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                                                              31
 1

 2                    CERTIFICATE

 3    STATE OF NEW  YORK  )
                          )  SS.
 4    COUNTY OF SUFFOLK  )

 5        •                I,  JENNIFER MAUE,  a  Registered

 6                Professional  Reporter,  do hereby certify

 7                that the foregoing Matter,  taken at the

 8                time and place aforesaid, is a true and

 9                ' correct transcription  of  my shorthand

10                notes.

11                .        I further certify  that I am

12                neither counsel for nor related to any

13                party to said action,  nor in any .wise

14                interested in the result  or outcome

15                thereof.

16                        IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  I .have

17                hereunto set my hand this llth day of

18                August, 1997.

19

20

21

22 .                                	

23                              S/  JENIFER' MAUE

24

25
                            FINK & CARNEY

                     COMPUTERIZED REPORTING SERVICES

           24 West 40th Street, New York, N.Y. 10018  (212) 869-1500

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          APPENDIX IV




Table of Groundwater Sampling Data

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GROUNDWATER SAMPLING DATA
 MAXIMUM CONTAMINANT LEVELS (ppb)
DATE OF
SAMPLING
AUGUST 1988
SEPTEMBER 1988
FEBRUARY 1991
AUGUST 1993
JULY 1994
APRIL 1995
AUGUST 1996
CADMIUM
399
348
254
123
136
43
60
CHROMIUM
5850
3390
1850
560
163Q (35 FILT)'
83
57 '

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     Appendix V




1989  Record of Decision

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               DECLARATION FOR THE RECORD OF DECISION
SITE NAME AND LOCATION

Preferred Plating Corporation, Farmingdale, Suffolk County, New York

STATEMENT OF BASIS AND PURPOSE

This decision document presents the selected remedial action for the
Preferred Plating Corporation Site developed in accordance with the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability
Act, 42 USC ง 9601, et seq., and to the extent applicable, the
National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan , 40
CFR Part 300.  This decision is based on the administrative record
for the Site.  The attached index identifies the items that comprise
the administrative record upon which the selection of the remedial
action is based.

The State of New York has concurred with the selected remedy.

ASSESSMENT OF THE SITE

Actual or threatened releases of hazardous substances frort this Site,
if not addressed by implementing the response action selected in this
Record of Decision, may present an imminent and substantial
endangerment to public health, welfare, or the environment.

DESCRIPTION OF SELECTED REMEDY

This operable unit represents the first of two planned for the Site.
It addresses the treatment of ground water contaminated primarily
with heavy metals and volatile organics.  The second operable unit
will involve the continued study and possible remediation of soils
located beneath the building on the Site if the study so indicates.
These soils could not be adequately characterized during the first
operable unit.  The second operable unit will also investigate
potential sources of upgradient contamination.

The major components of the selected remedy include:

  A  Extraction and treatment, via metal precipitation, ion
     exchange, and activated carbon, of ground water in the Upper
     Glacial Aquifer to restore the ground water quality to cleanup
     levels identified in the decision summary; and

  *  Disposal of treatment residuals at a RCRA subtitle C facility.

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Treatability studies will be undertaken to confirm the effectiveness
of the selected remedy.  If these studies indicate that the ion
exchange process used in the selected remedy is ineffective in
reducing the chromate ion to the required levels, a contingency
remedy, which utilizes a separate precipitation unit for the removal
of the chromate ion, will be implemented.

STATUTORY DETERMINATIONS

Both the selected remedy and the contingency remedy are protective of
human health and the environment and are cost-effective.  The total
remedial action, consisting of both this first operable unit and a
future second operable unit, when fully completed will comply with
Federal and State requirements that are legally applicable or
relevant and appropriate.  Both the selected remedy and the
contingency remedy utJLlize permanent solutions and alternative
treatment technologies to the maximum extent practicable and satisfy
the statutory preference for remedies that employ treatment that
reduce toxicity, mobility, or volume as a principal element.  Due to
the existence of an upgradient source area, neither the selected nor
the contingency remedy, by itself, will meet chemical-specific ARARs
and be capable of restoring the area ground water to applicable
ground water quality standards until that upgradient source area is
removed.  The upgradient source area will be addressed as part of the
second operable unit.  Although the remedial action selected, the
first operable unit, will not meet chemical-specific ARARs, it is
only part of a total remedial action that will attain clean-up levels
when fully completed.  In the event the second operable unit fails to
identify or control the source area, a waiver for technical
impracticability will be sought.

The need for conducting a five-year review will.be evaluated upon
completion of the second operable unit.              :
William J. Mustyrfskl,,&&•                     Date
Acting Regional Administrator

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               DECISION SUMMARY




        PREFERRED PLATING CORPORATION




            FARMINGDALE, NEW YORK
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY




                  REGION II




                   NEW YORK

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                           TABLE OF CONTENTS
   SECTION
   I.  Site Location and Description	      1
  II.  Site History and Enforcement Activities	      2
 III.  Community Relations History	      3
  IV.  Scope and Role of Operable Unit
        Within Site Strategy	      3
   V.  Summary of Site Characteristics	      4
  VI.  Documentation of Significant Changes	      5
 VII.  Summary of Site Risks	      5
VIII.  Description of Alternatives	      6
  IX.  Summary of Comparative Analysis
        of Alternatives	     10
   X.  Selected Remedy	     13
  XI.  Statutory Determinations	    14
   ATTACHMENTS

   Appendix   I
   Appendix  II
   Appendix III
   Appendix  IV
   Appendix   V
- Figures
- Tables
- Adminstrative Record Index
- NYSDEC Letter of Concurrence
- Responsiveness Summary

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SITE LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION

The Preferred Plating Corporation Site (the "Site") is located at 32
Allen Boulevard in Farmingdale, Town of Babylon, Suffolk County, New
York.  This 0.5-acre Site is situated in a light industrial area
approximately 1 mile west of the Nassau-Suffolk County border.  Route
110 passes just west of the Site (see Figure 1).

The land to the east and west of the Site is occupied by commercial
or light industrial properties.  Immediately north of the Site is a
large wooded area followed by various industrial facilities further
north of that.  To the south are a residential community and a U.S.
Army facility.

The 1980 census records a population of greater than 10,000 within a
3 mile radius of the Site.  The population density in the area is
estimated to be 3,000 to 6,000 persons per square mile.  All homes
and businesses, in the area surrounding the Site, are supplied by two
public water companies.  Ground water is the source of water supplies
for the entire population of both Nassau and Suffolk Counties.  All
public water supply wells in the Site area draw water from the deeper
aquifer, the Magothy Aquifer.  The nearest public water supply well .
fields are located approximately 1 mile east and 1 mile south of the
Site.

The nearest body of surface water is an unnamed intermittent
tributary of Massapequa Creek which is approximately 6000 feet west
of the Site.  There is no designated New York State Significant
Habitat, agricultural land, nor historic or landmark site directly or
potentially affected.  There are no endangered species or critical
habitats within close proximity of the Site.  The Site is located
more than 2 miles from a 5-acre coastal wetland and more than 1 mile
from a 5-acre fresh-water wetland.

The Site is situated in the south-central glacial outwash plain of
Long Island, which constitutes the Upper Glacial Aquifer, estimated
to be 90 feet in thickness under the Site.  The naturally occurring
surface soil is a sandy loam which promotes rapid infiltration to the
ground water.  On the Site proper and throughout much of the region,
soils have been classified as urban.  This is primarily due to the
development and pavement which promote greater run-off of
precipitation.  The Upper Glacial Aquifer overlies the Magothy
Aquifer and the two may act as distinct aquifers, or as one,
depending upon the degree of hydraulic connection between the two.
In the Site area, it is believed that the two are not hydraulically
connected.

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                                 -2-


SITE HISTORY AND ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES

The Preferred Plating Corporation (PPC) conducted operations
beginning in September 1951 through June 1976.  The primary
activities at the Site were to chemically treat metal parts to
increase their corrosion resistance and provide a cohesive base for
painting.  The plating processes included degreasing, cleaning, and
surface .finishing of the metal parts.  These processes involved the
use of various chemicals which resulted in the generation, storage,
and disposal of hazardous waste.  Untreated waste water was
discharged to four concrete leaching pits directly behind the
original building.

Ground water contaminated with heavy metals was detected in the Site
area by the Suffolk County Department of Health Services (SCDHS) as
early as June 1953.  SCOHS indicated that the leaching pits on the
Site were severely cracked and leaking.  Samples taken from the pits
showed the major contaminants to be heavy metals.  From 1953 to 1976,
SCDHS instituted numerous legal actions against PPC in an effort to
stop illegal dumping of wastes and to install or upgrade the on-site
treatment facility.  PPC prepared an engineering report in May 1974
in order to apply for a State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
(SPDES) permit which was issued in June 1975.  PPC chemically treated
the waste water in the pits and, allegedly, then had the treated
waste water removed.  Whether the treated ground water was ever
removed has not been confirmed by EPA.  The facility was never in
full compliance with the terms and conditions outlined in the permit.

In 1976, PPC declared bankruptcy.  Since then, several firms have
occupied the Site, none conducting similar operations to PPC.  In
1982, the original building was extended by 200 feet, thereby burying
the concrete leaching pits.  Nearly the entire Site is covered either
by the one existing building or paved driveways and parking areas.

In September 1984, Woodward-Clyde Consultants, Inc. performed a Phase
I-Preliminary Investigation of the Preferred Plating Site for NYSDEC
for the purpose of computing a Hazard Ranking System (HRS). score
needed to evaluate whether to place the Site on the National
Priorities List (NPL).  In the Phase I report, an HRS score of 33.76
was documented, thereby enabling the Site to be included on,the NPL.
On October 15, 1984, (49 FR 1984), the Site was proposed for the NPL
and was added with a ranking of 500 on June 10, 1986,.(51 FR 21054).

At EPA's direction, a remedial investigation  (RI) was initiated in
1987.  The RI consisted of a field sampling and analysis program
followed by validation and evaluation of the data collected.  The
field work was initiated in June 1988 and completed in February 1989.
The work was conducted by EPA's REM III contractor, Ebasco Services,
Inc.  The soil sampling program involved the determination of lateral
and vertical extents of contamination by obtaining samples from six

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                                 -3-


on-site monitoring wells, two off-site monitoring well locations/ six
surface soil locations, and seven angle borings which extended
underneath the on-site building overlying the former leaching pits.
The groundwater sampling program involved the installation of nine
on-site and two off-site monitoring wells.  In addition, two storm
water run-off samples and two sediment samples were collected from
on-site storm sewers.

The potentially responsible parties (PRP's) were notified in writing
on February 12, 1988 via a special notice letter and given the
opportunity to conduct the RI/FS under EPA supervision.  However,
none elected to undertake these activities.

In July 1989, Ebasco's remedial investigation (RI) and feasibility
study (FS) reports were released to the public along with the
Proposed Remedial Action Plan (PRAP) developed by EPA.  A 28-day
public comment period was provided, ending on August 18, 1989.

COMMUNITY RELATIONS ACTIVITIES

A Community Relations Plan for the Preferred Plating Site was
finalized in March 1988.  This document lists contacts and interested
parties throughout government and the local community.  It also
establishes communication pathways to ensure timely dissemination of
pertinent information.  Subsequently, a fact sheet outlining the RI
sampling program was distributed in June 1988.  The RI/FS and the
Proposed Plan were released to the public in July 1989.  All of these
documents were made available in both the administrative record and
two information repositories maintained at the Babylon Town Hall and
the West Babylon Library.  A public comment period was held from July
19, 1989 to August 18, 1989.  In addition, a public meeting was held
on August 3, 1989 to present the results of the RI/FS and the
preferred alternative as presented in the Proposed Plan for the Site.
All comments which were received by EPA prior to the end of the
public comment period, including those expressed verbally at the
public meeting, are addressed in the Responsiveness Summary which is
attached, as Appendix V, to this Record of Decision.

SCOPE AND ROLE OF OPERABLE UNIT ONE WITHIN SITE STRATEGY

The objective of this operable unit is to address the overall
groundwater contamination attributable to the Site.  The selected
remedy will treat ground water until the influent contaminant
concentrations equal the upgradient concentrations.  When this has
been achieved, the saturated soils underlying the Site will have been
essentially flushed of any contaminants, thereby resulting in no net
contribution of contaminants from the Site to the aquifer below.

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                                 -4-


The results of the RI failed to detect evidence of soil contamination
in any of the samples collected.  However, since the
downgradient groundwater contaminant concentrations were, on the
average, an order of magnitude greater than the upgradient
concentrations, a source of contamination is believed to exist in the
saturated soils beneath the Site.  Due to fluctuating water table
levels, the zone of saturated soils beneath the building varies.
Directly, the selected remedy will be cleaning the ground water.
Indirectly, it will be flushing contaminants out of the saturated
soils.

If the source of contamination in those saturated soils could be
located and controlled, the restoration time frame for cleaning the
ground water would be greatly reduced.  Therefore, a second operable
unit will be undertaken to more fully characterize and identify any
contaminated soils, both saturated and unsaturated, located beneath
the building and to investigate potential upgradient sources of
contamination.

SUMMARY OF SITE CHARACTERISTICS

The purpose of the RI conducted at the Preferred Plating Site was to
identify the nature and extent of contamination in environmental
media on-site, including soil, sediment, ground water, and storm
water run-off.  To accomplish this, two rounds of ground water
samples were collected from the nine on-site monitoring wells as well
as the two off-site wells.  In addition, various soil samples were
collected, including samples from seven sub-surface angle borings
drilled beneath the building.   (See Figure 2 for on-site sample
locations).  All samples were subjected to complete Target Compound
List analyses.  The results of the investigation indicate the
following:

  A Ground water underlying the Site is contaminated with high
    levels of heavy metals.  Low levels of chlorinated hydrocarbons
    and cyanide were also detected in a few samples.  Upgradient
    ground water also showed high levels of heavy metals, though
    significantly lower than on-site levels.

  * The soils sampled on-site, including those collected from
    beneath the building, failed to detect any sources of
    contamination.
                                                      t

Chemical analysis of the 24 groundwater samples collected from the
Upper Glacial Aquifer detected concentrations of cadmium, chromium,
lead, and  nickel above the allowable maximum contaminant levels
(MCLs) in  numerous samples.  The highest value for a contaminant was
that of chromium at 5,850 ppb.  On-site wells, installed downgradient
of the former leaching pits, showed the highest levels of
contamination.  Upgradient wells also showed levels of contamination
above allowable MCLs, however, at an order of magnitude lower than

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                                 -5-


the downgradient wells.  Low levels of chlorinated organics,
predominantly 1,1,1-trichloroethane; trichloroethylene; 1,2-
dichloroethane; 1,1-dichloroethane; and tetrachloroethylene were
detected in a few samples.  In addition, three samples indicated the
presence of cyanide above allowable MCLs. Concentrations for all
inorganic and organic contaminants and their frequency of detection
are shown in Table 1.

The sub-surface soil analyses collected from both the seven angle
borings and the eleven monitoring well borings showed normal
background levels for contaminants.  Since the downgradient wells
have much higher levels of contaminants than the upgradient wells, it
is assumed that a source of contamination exists in the saturated
soils located beneath the building that was not identified during
this investigation.  This will attempt to be identified as part of
the second operable unit.

Surface soil samples collected from six separate locations indicated
contamination to be generally below normal background levels.

Storm water run-off showed no significant contamination.  Storm sewer
sediments showed the presence of organics currently being used on-
site.

DOCUMENTATION OF SIGNIFICANT CHANGES

The Proposed Plan for the Preferred Plating Site was released to the
public in July 1989.  The Proposed Plan identified Alternative 3 as
the preferred remedy and Alternative 2 as ..the contingency remedy.
EPA reviewed all comments submitted during the public comment period.
Upon review of these comments, it was determined that no significant
changes to the selected remedy, as it was originally identified in
the Proposed Plan, were necessary.

SUMMARY OF SITE RISKS

The National Contingency Plan requires that a Risk Assessment (RA) be
conducted to document and justify whether an imminent and substantial
risk to public health or the environment may exist at a Superfund
site.  The risk assessment for the Preferred Plating Site is
contained in the RI report dated July 1989.

The baseline RA defines the actual and potential risks to human
health and the environment from the presence of the hazardous
substances on and around the Site if no action is taken.  The
baseline RA determined that the contaminants in the ground water and
the Site soils have no major negative impact on the environment.
Since the Site is presently covered by a building and pavement, the
only potential pathway with a risk to the public was determined to be
ingestion of contaminated ground water.  Although the groundwater
sampling did indicate high levels of heavy metal contamination, there

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                                 -6-


is no present direct human exposure to contaminants since the
surrounding population is supplied by public water.  However, the
Upper Glacial Aquifer is classified as lib, or potential drinking
water, and therefore, a potential risk to human health would exist in
the event that this aquifer is developed for use.  Also, the
potential for off-site downward migration of contaminants exists due
to a possible connection off-site between the Magothy and Upper
Glacial Aquifers.

A comparison of the concentrations of chemicals in the ground water
with applicable or relevant and approriate requirements (ARARs)
indicated that numerous inorganic and organic compounds are in
exceedance of those ARARs.  Based on this comparison, the inorganics
cadmium, chromium, lead, nickel and cyanide were evaluated and
modeled in the RA.  Although not all of the organic contaminants of
concern exceeded ARARs, they were carried through the RA because they
are potential carcinogens.

Based on the review of available data, the Site geology and the
results of the public health evaluations, a significant non-
carcinogenic risk from consumption of the Upper Glacial Aquifer
ground water exists at the Preferred Plating Corporation Site.  Given
the potential risk posed by the contribution of metal contamination
by the Site, the following Remedial Objective was developed for the
first operable unit  (OU I):

  A Reduce the groundwater contaminant concentrations in the Upper
    Glacial Aquifer underlying the Site to upgradient
    concentrations.                      .

The second operable unit  (OU II) will attempt to identify and control
the upgradient source area.  The selected remedy,for OU I is only a
portion of a total remedial action, including OU II, and will attain
all clean-up levels when fully completed.

The quantitative clean-up levels for remediating the ground water are
presented in Table 2.  In removing contaminated ground water, any
contributing sources of contamination in the saturated soils beneath
the building will be indirectly removed.

Actual or threatened releases of hazardous substances from this Site,
if not addressed by implementing the response action selected in this
ROD, may present an imminent and substantial endangerment to public
health, welfare, or the environment.

DESCRIPTION OF ALTERNATIVES

This section describes the remedial alternatives which were
developed, using suitable technologies, to meet the objectives of the
National oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan
(NCP), 40 CFR Part 300, and the Comprehensive Environmental Response,

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                                 -7-


Compensation,  and Liality Act (CERCLA),' 42 USC ง 9601, et seq.  These
alternatives were developed by screening a wide range of technologies
for their applicability to site-specific conditions and evaluating
them for effectiveness, implementability, and cost.

A comprehensive list of remedial technologies was compiled for
remediation of the ground water.  These technologies were screened
based on the characteristics of the Site.  Those technologies which
were retained after the preliminary screening process were assembled
to form seven groundwater alternatives.  The alternatives developed
for the Preferred Plating Site are detailed below.  The restoration
time frames provided below assume that a source of contamination
exists in the saturated soils located beneath the building and will
continue to exist and contribute to ground water contamination.  The
findings of the second operable unit may affect the following time
frames.

Alternative 1 - No Action

Construction Cost:  $  12,700
Annual O&M Costs:   $  11,600
Present Worth Cost: $ 175,300
Construction Time:     1 month
Restoration Time:     19 years

The no-action alternative is required by the NCP to be considered
through the detailed analysis.  It provides a baseline for comparison
of other alternatives.  Under this alternative, a public awareness
program will be developed describing the risks associated with the
Site.  In addition, existing monitoring wells will be used to conduct
long-term monitoring of the contaminant concentrations in the Upper
Glacial Aquifer underlying the Site until such time that the
downgradient contaminant concentration levels reach upgradient levels
due to natural attenuation.

Alternative 2 - Pumping/Precipitation of Metals/Activated Carbon/
                Reinjection

Construction Cost:  $  2,286,900
Annual O&M Costs:   $  1,071,300
Present Worth Cost: $ 10,899,600
Construction Time:    18 months
Restoration Time:     12 years

This alternative consists of one on-site collection well for the
extraction of contaminated ground water to be sent for treatment.
Groundwater modelling predicts that the extraction system will
capture essentially all the ground water in the Upper Glacial Aquifer
over a capture radius of 150 feet by providing a continual flow of
300 gallons per minute to the treatment plant.  The influent ground
water will enter the treatment plant where it will first go through a

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                                 -8-


2-stage precipitation and clarification/filtration unit for the
removal of all heavy metals/ followed by a carbon adsorption unit for
removal of volatile organic compounds.  The metals treatment will
generate 4, 55-gallon drums of wet cake per day to be ultimately
disposed of in a Resource, Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
subtitle C facility.  The treatment scheme is a proven technology
capable of removing the contaminants of concern from the ground
water.  The ground water pumped from the Site shall be treated to
satisfy all federal and state standards for class lib waters,
potential drinking waters, prior to reinjection."  The treated ground
water will be discharged to a reinjection well installed east of the
Site and upgradient of both the extraction well and former leaching
pits.  In order to evaluate the effectiveness of this remedial
action, periodic sampling for metal and volatile organic
concentrations in the ground water prior to reinjection will be
required.

Alternative 3 - Pumping/Precipitation of Divalent Metals/Activated
                Carbon/Ion Exchange/Reinjection

Construction Cost:  $ 1,923,900
Annual O&M Costs:   $   920,900
Present Worth Cost: $ 9,327,400
Construction Time:    18 months
Restoration Time:     12 years

Under this alternative, the same extraction system is used to
withdraw the contaminated ground water as that of Alternative 2.  The
treatment scheme differs in that only the .divalent metals will be
treated by a  precipitation unit, whereas the chromate ion will be
treated with an ion exchange unit.  The ion exchange process is a
proven technology, however, a treatability study must be performed to
demonstrate if the concentrations of chromium can be reduced to the
necessary levels.  The equipment used in the treatment scheme
occupies less space and, therefore, the treatment plant will 'be
smaller than that needed for Alternative 2.  The reinjection scheme
will be identical to that of Alternative 2.

Alternative 4 - Pumping/Precipitation of Metals/Activated Carbon/
                Discharge to Recharge Basin

Construction Costs:  $  2,547,700
Annual O&M Costs:    $  1,071,300
Present Worth Cost:  $ 11,160,500
Construction Time:     18 months
Restoration Time:      12 years

The collection and treatment systems in this alternative are both
identical to Alternative 2.  The discharge system differs in that the
treated ground water will be pumped approximately 2,000 feet south of
the site, through an underground pipeline, to a recharge basin.

-------
                                 -9-


Alternative 5 — Pumping/Precipitation of Divalent: Metals/Activated
                Carbon/Ion Exchange/Discharge to Recharge Basin

Construction Costs:  $ 2,184,800
Annual O&M Costs:    $   920,900
Present Worth Cost:  $ 9,588,300
Construction Time:     18 months
Restoration Time:      12 years

The collection and treatment systems in this alternative are both
identical to Alternative 3.  The discharge system is identical to
Alternative 4.

Alternative 6 - Pumping/Precipitation of Metals/Activated Carbon/
                Discharge to Surface Water

Construction Costs:  $  4,333,300
Annual O&M Costs:    $  1,071,300
Present Worth Cost:  $ 12,946,100
Construction Time:     18 months
Restoration Time:      12 years

This alternative is essentially identical to Alternative 4 except
that the treated ground water will be discharged at the headwater of
the Amityville Creek, through a 9,000 foot underground pipeline.  The
concentration levels required for discharge to surface water are
lower for certain chemicals than the levels for discharge to ground
water.  The more stringent surface water discharge limitations are
technically impossible to achieve using available technologies.

Alternative 7 - Pumping/Precipitation of Divalent Metals/Activated
                Carbon/Ion Exchange/Discharge to Surface Water

Construction Costs:  $  3,970,400
Annual O&M Costs:    $    920,900
Present Worth Cost:  $ 11,373,900
Construction Time:     18 months
Restoration Time:      12 years

The collection and treatment systems of this alternative are both
identical to Alternative 3 and the discharge system is identical to
Alternative 6.

-------
                                -10-


SUMMARY OF THE COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVES

All alternatives were evaluated in detail utilizing nine criteria.
These criteria were developed to address the requirements of Section
121 of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) of
1986.  The nine criteria are as follows:

Threshold Criteria     A Overall protection of human health and the
                         environment; and
                       A Compliance with applicable or relevant and
                         appropriate requirements.

Primary Balancing      A Long-term effectiveness and permanence;
Criteria               A Reduction in toxicity, mobility, or volume
                         through treatment;
                       A Short-term effectiveness;
                       A Implementability; and
                       A Cost.

Modifying Criteria     A State/support agency acceptance; and
                       A Community acceptance.

The discussion which follows provides a summary of the relative
performance of each alternative with respect to the nine criteria.

Overall Protection of Human Health and the Environment

This criterion addresses whether or not a remedy provides adequate
protection and describes how risks are eliminated, reduced or
controlled through treatment, engineering controls, or institutional
controls.

Protection of human health and the environment is the central mandate
of CERCLA.  Protection is achieved primarily by taking appropriate
action to ensure that there will be no unacceptable risks to human
health or the environment through any exposure pathways.  No direct
risk to human health or the environment presently exists because the
ground water in the immediate vicinity of the Site is not currently
used as a potable water source.

Alternatives 2-7 will require 12 years, while Alternative 1 will
require  19 years, to achieve downgradient contaminant concentration
levels equal to upgradient levels.  When this has been achieved, the
saturated soils underlying the Site will have essentially been
flushed  of any contaminants, thereby resulting in no net contribution
of contaminants to the aquifer below.  All treatment alternatives,
aside  from the no-action alternative, will result in permanent
protection of the environment and human health through the reduction
in toxicity, mobility, and volume of the contaminants.

-------
                                 -11-
Coropllance with ARARs

This criterion addresses whether or not a remedy will meet all
applicable or relevant and appropriate requirements and/or provide
grounds for invoking a waiver.  ARARs can be chemical-specific,
location-specific, or action-specific.

Alternatives 2- 5 achieve ARARs to a similar degree and more so than
Alternatives 6 and 7.  None of the alternatives will achieve
chemical-specific ARARs for ground water rated lib, potential
drinking water, unless off-site upgradient sources are removed.
Although the selected remedial action, the first operable unit, will
not meet chemical-specific ARARs, it is only part of a total remedial
action that will attain such clean-up levels when fully completed.  A
second operable unit will be conducted in an attempt to identify
upgradient sources of contamination.  In the event the second
operable unit fails to identify or control upgradient sources, a
waiver for technical impracticabilty will be sought.

Alternatives 2-7 will meet action-specific ARARs.  Under
alternatives 2-5, treated ground water will meet pertinent federal
and state ARARs for either reinjection or discharge to the recharge
basin.  Under Alternatives 6 and 7, ground water will be treated as
close as technically possible to the Class C surface water body
ambient standards for parameters of concern since it is technically
impracticable to meet all of these standards.  A technical
impracticability waiver would also be needed for discharge to surface
waters if Alternatives 6 or 7 were selected.

Reduction of Toxicitv. Mobility, or Volume

This evaluation criterion relates to the anticipated performance of a
remedial technology, with respect to these parameters, that a remedy
may employ.

Alternatives 2-7 will control the mobility of the contaminants,
contributed by the Site, by extraction within the Upper Glacial
Aquifer over a 150-foot radius capture zone.  These alternatives will
also significantly reduce or eliminate the toxicity and volume of the
contaminated ground water by treating to remove metals and volatile
organics.  Alternative 1 will gradually reduce the toxicity1and
volume of the contaminated ground water by natural attenuation but
will do nothing to prevent the migration of contaminants.

Short-term Effectiveness

This criterion involves the period of time each alternative needs to
achieve protection and any adverse impacts on human health and the
environment that may be posed during construction and implementation
of the alternative.

-------
                                 -12-


Alternative 1 will take approximately 1 month to implement and
presents no short-term risks to on-site workers or the community.
Alternatives  2-7 present minimal short-term risks to workers
through direct contact pathways and normal construction hazards
during remedial action.  Each of these alternatives will take
approximately 12 years to achieve remediation goals, with their
respective construction phases being completed in two years or less.

Long-term Effectiveness and Permanence

This criterion refers to the ability of a remedy to maintain reliable
protection of human health and the environment over time, once clean-
up levels have been met.  It also addresses the magnitude and
effectiveness of the measures that may be required to manage the risk
posed by treatment residuals and/or untreated wastes.

Alternatives 2-7 present no long-term threat to public health
because these alternatives are designed to reduce contaminant
concentrations in the ground water to levels that are health
protective prior to discharge.  Alternative 1 may present a long-term
risk because it relies on natural attenuation of ground water to
reduce contaminant concentrations to action levels.

Implementability

This criterion involves the technical and administrative  feasibility
of a remedy, including the availability of materials and services
needed to implement the chosen solution.

Alternative 1 will require a public awareness program and groundwater
monitoring which can be easily implemented.  Alternatives 2-7 may
require off-site property procurement for construction of a treatment
plant if the plant cannot be placed on-site.  Equipment used in the
treatment schemes are readily available.  The differences in
implementability between Alternatives 2-7 depend upon the degree' of
access needed for the discharge system involved in each and the need
for treatability studies.  Alternatives 2 and 3 will require the
installation of one reinjection well which will require property
rights for the well placement and a 500 foot underground pipeline.
Pipelines, totaling 2,000 feet, needed for discharge to the recharge
basin under Alternatives 4 and 5 will be installed beneath public
roads.  Pipelines, totaling 9,000 feet, needed for discharge to
surface water under Alternatives 6 and 7 will be installed beneath
both public and private properties.

Alternatives 3, 5, and 7 require a treatability study to ensure the
effectiveness of the ion exchange process involved in each and,
therefore, their respective implementation time frames are 6 months
longer than Alternatives 2, 4, and 6.

-------
                                -13-


Cost

This criterion includes both capital and operation and maintenance
(O&M) costs.  Cost comparisons are made on the basis of present worth
values.  Present worth values are equivalent to the amount of money
which must be invested to complete a certain alternative at the start
of construction to provide for both construction costs and O&M costs
over time.  Present cost estimates for all of the alternatives are as
follows:

Alternative 1: $     175,300
Alternative 2:    10,899,600
Alternative 3:     9,327,400
Alternative 4:    11,160,500
Alternative 5:     9,588,300
Alternative 6:    12,946,100
Alternative 7:    11,373,900

Alternative 1, no-action, will be the least costly to implement
followed by Alternatives 3, 5, 2, 4, 7, and 6.

State Acceptance

The  State of New York, through the New York State Department of
Environmental Conservation  (NYSDEC), has concurred with EPA's
selected remedy and contingency remedy.  The NYSDEC letter of
concurrence is attached as Appendix IV.

Community Acceptance

No objections from the community were raised regarding the selected
remedy  or the contingency remedy.  Community comments can be reviewed
in the  August 3, 1989 public meeting transcript, which has been
included in the Administrative Record.  A responsiveness summary
which addresses all comments received during the public comment
period  is attached as Appendix V.

THE  SELECTED REMEDY

Based upon  all available data and analyses conducted to date, EPA has
selected Alternative 3: Pumping/Precipitation of Divalent Metals/
Activated Carbon/Ion Exchange/Reinjection as the most appropriate
solution  for meeting the goals of this remedial investigation.  This
alternative does involve a  treatability study to ensure that the ion
exchange unit can meet all  necessary treatment level requirements for
the  chromate  ion.  In the event the treatability study indicates that
the  ion exchange process is ineffective in reducing the chromate ion
to the  necessary levels, Alternative 2: Pumping/Precipitation of
Metals/Activated Carbon/Reinjection will be selected as the
contingency remedy.

-------
                                -14-


For both the selected remedy and the contingency remedy, ground water
within a capture zone radius of approximately 150 feet will be
extracted and treated to remove heavy metals and chlorinated
hydrocarbons.  The treated ground water will be reinjected to the
underlying aquifer, the Upper Glacial Aquifer.  The treatment
residuals will be disposed of in a RCRA subtitle C facility.  The
major components of the selected remedy and the contingency remedy
are depicted in Figures 3 and 4, respectively.

The purpose of this response action is to control risks posed by the
ingestion of contaminated ground water by addressing the following
issues:

  * The divalent metal concentrations (cadmium, lead, and nickel)
    will be reduced through a metals precipitation process
    involving a clarification/filtration unit.

  .A The chlorinated organic concentrations (1,1,1-trichloroethane,
    trichloroethylene, 1,2-dichloroethane, 1,1-dichlorpethane, and
    tetrachloroethylene) will be reduced using carbon adsorption.

  A The chromate ion will be reduced using an ion exchange process
    as stated in the selected remedy, or a precipitation process as
    stated in the contingency remedy.

During the remedial design phase of the project, additional sampling
will be conducted to check for any changes in contaminant levels.  If
this sampling indicates concentrations of'cyanide above the allowable
state and federal standards, a treatment process for cyanide removal
will be added to the selected alternative.  This treatment process is
known as alkaline chlorination.  The process is depicted in Figure 5.

All contaminant concentrations will be reduced until they are equal :
to or less than their respective federal or state standards'prior to
reinjection.  The treated effluent will be tested to ensureithat the
treatment system is operating efficiently.  Any waste residuals
generated by the treatment processes will be disposed of in
accordance with applicable disposal standards.  Although the remedial
action selected, the first operable unit, will not meet chemical-
specific ARARs, it is only part of a total remedial action that will
attain such cleanup levels when fully completed.

STATUTORY DETERMINATIONS

EPA believes that both the selected remedy as well as the contingency
remedy will satisfy the statutory requirements of providing
protection of human health and the environment, being cost-effective,
utilizing permanent solutions and alternative treatment technologies
or resource recovery technologies to the maximum extent practicable,
and satisfying the preference for treatment as a principal element.

-------
                                -15-


Protection of Human Health and the Environment

The selected remedy and the contingency remedy eliminate all
outstanding threats posed by the site.  Both remove any contribution
of contaminants in the saturated zone to the underlying aquifer and
reduce contaminant concentration levels in that aquifer to upgradient
levels.

Compliance with ARARs

The following ARARs and considerations apply to both the selected
remedy and the contingency remedy:

Action-specific ARARs:

  A SDWA Maximum Contaminant Levels (40 CFR 141.11 - 141.16), 6 NYCRR
    Part 703, and 10 NYCRR Part 5 provide standards and goals for
    toxic compounds for public drinking water systems.  The
    reinjection process for the treated ground water will meet
    underground injection well regulations by its status as a
    Superfund remedial action under 40 CFR 147.  The extracted
    ground water will be treated to meet all standards prior to
    reinjection.

  A Spent carbon from the groundwater treatment system for removal
    of organics will be disposed of off-site, as well as any
    treatment residuals, consistent with applicable RCRA land
    disposal restrictions under 40 CFR 268.

Chemical-specific ARARs:

  A Since the ground water at the site is classified as lib,
    drinking water standards are relevant and appropriate.  Again,
    these include SDWA MCLs, 6 NYCRR Groundwater Quality Regulations
    and/or limitations of discharges to Class GA waters, and 10 NYCRR
    Part 5 standards.

Location-specific ARARs:

    none

other Criteria, Advisories/ or Guidance To Be Considered:

  A NY TOGS 2.1.2 and l.l.l provide standards for reinjection of
    treated ground water and are to be considered.  SDWA MCL Goals
    (40 CFR 141.50 - 141.51) provide goals for toxic compounds for
    public drinking systems and are also to be considered.

-------
                                -16-


Neither the selected remedy nor the contingency remedy, by itself,
will meet all chemical-specific ARARs and be capable of restoring
area ground water to groundwater quality standards until upgradient
source areas are removed.  The second operable unit will attempt to
identify and control the upgradient sources.  Although the selected
remedial action, the first operable unit, will not meet chemical-
specific ARARs, it is only part of a total remedial action that will
attain such cleanup levels when fully completed.  In the event the
second operable unit fails to identify those sources, a waiver of
ARARs for technical impracticability will be sought.  In this case,
treatment of the ground water will continue until the concentration
of contaminants in ground water downgradient of the Site is less than
or equal to concentrations in ground water upgradient of the Site.
At that time, groundwater recovery and treatment will be discontinued
even though area ground water may not meet applicable groundwater
quality standards.

Cost Effectiveness

The preferred alternative, Alternative 3, provides overall
effectiveness proportionate to its cost.  It is $1.5 M less costly
than the contingency remedy, Alternative 2, and offers comparable
performance, requires construction of a smaller treatment plant, and
has a lower possibility of initiating secondary pollution problems.

Utilization of Permanent Solutions and Alternative Treatment
Technologies or Resource Recovery Technologies to the Maximum
Extent Possible

EPA has determined .that the selected remedy as well as the
contingency remedy represents the maximum extent to which permanent
solutions and treatment technologies can be utilized in a cost-
effective manner for the Preferred Plating Site.  The selected remedy
represents the best balance of the nine evaluation criteria used to
judge all alternatives.

The groundwater treatment used in both the selected and contingency
remedies will reduce the contaminants of concern to health protective
levels prior to reinjection.  After treatment is complete, the Site
will no longer be contributing contaminants to the underlying
aquifer.

Preference for Treatment as a Principal Element

The statutory preference for treatment is satisfied by both the
selected remedy and contingency remedy which employ on-site treatment
of the ground water through different precipitation technologies and
carbon adsorption.  These treatment methods effectively reduce the
toxicity, mobility, and volume of the contaminants.

-------
APPENDIX I




  FIGURES

-------
                                  PREFERRED
                                  PLATING
                                                 PREFERRED PLATING SITE RI/F8
SITE LOCATION MAP

     FIGURE 1
SCALE 124000
                                                                                 40*45'

-------

B>
t



MWIOf
 i ', ป
•ill 3{l I TJA AUTO SALES
j ' I " 4 ' j ! 32 ALLEN BLVD. .
! i ^ ! ' PTK AUTO MEPAIK MWซ8P[
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!ii . Mwass
j CRK ELECTRIC
I j 1 1 1 MW6(
^MW48P pi J, (51 4
SSI 8B4Q SB> MW28P
8 A trOIIM PMM* III
(•*) iNntnwnoN mmm 1*1
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1 ฎ tHMUONWIUin
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ICAlCINrCET ^—=3 OANAOC DOOMS FIOUMI I
^^ DOORS (MSItlMOMITOIimatMtlS
AMO lAUri INO IOCAIIONS

-------
                                        FIGURE  3
                PROCESS FLOW SCHEME  FOR ALTERNATIVE  3
 CROUNDWATER
SODIUM SULFIDE

SODIUM HYDROXIDE
      EQUALIZATION
         TANK
TREATED CROUNDWATER
TO DISCHARGE
 CONCENTRATED SOLUTION
 TO DISPOSAL
COAGULANT

   POLYMER
                                        RAPID MIXING TANK
                                    SLUDGE CAKE
                                    TO DISPOSAL
                     ION EXCHANGE
                       SYSTEM
                       CARBON
                      ADSORBER
                                                                              BACKWASH
                                                LAMELLA
                                                CLARIFIER
                                                                     { SLUDGE
                                          FILTER PRESS
                                            SYSTEM
   SAND
   FILTER
   SYSTEM
                                                 DISCHARGE
                                                   PUMP
COLLECTION
  TANK
                                                                            NOTATION
                                                                                     INTERMITTANT'
                                                                                      OPERATION

-------
                                      FIGURE 4
               PROCESS' FLOW SCHEME  FOR ALTERNATIVE   2
CROUNDWATER
       I
     EQUALIZATION
        TANK

                   SODIUM SULFIDE
                   SODIUM HYDROXIDE
                        FEED
                        PUMP
                       COAGULANT
                       POLYMER
           l   T
                                    RAPID MIXING TANK
                                                             t
                                 LAMELLA
                                 CLARIFIER
                     FILTRATE
               JSLUDGE
                                SLUDGE CAKE
                                TO DISPOSAL
                           FILTER PRESS
                               SYS7FM
                      BACKWASH
                                    ,POLYMER AND COAGULANT
                             SODIUM
                             HYDROXIDE
  TREATED
  CROUNOWATER
  TO DISCHARGE
                 SAND
                 FILTER
                SYSTEM
                                                                                    SULFURIC
                                                                                    ACID
                                                 t   T
                                    SULFUR
                                    I DIOXIDE


                                   T
                                                                               CHROMIUM
                                                                               REDUCTION
                                                                                TANK
                         DISCHARGE
                           PUMP
SLUDGE CAKE
TO DISPOSAL
FILTER PRESS
   SYSTEM
FILTRATE


   NOTATION
            INTERMITTANT
             OPERATION

-------
                                    FIGURE 5 .

PROCESS FLOW  SCHEME  FOR CYANIDE REMOVAL BY AKLALINE CHLORINATION
   CROUNDWATER
                       CAUSTIC
                             I

                       SODIUM HVPOCHLORITE
               vv
             CONTACT

              TANK
                            FEED
                            PUMP
                                             1
EQUALIZATION

   TANK
TO DOWNSTREAM
PROCESS STEPS
                  FEED
                  PUMP
 COMMENT;

 THE CONTACT TANK IS USED FOR THE
 FIRST-STAGE CHLORINATION, AND THE
 EQUALIZATION TANK IS USED AS THE
 SECOND-STAGE CHLORINATION.

-------
APPENDIX II




   TABLES

-------
             TABLE  1
PRIMARY CONTAMINANTS  IN GROUNDWATER
PREFERRED PLATING
Comoonent Ranoe
Cadmium 8 .
Chromium 56.
Lead 4.
Mercury 0.
Nickel 39.
Silver 1.
Zinc 30.
Cyanide 10.
1, 1, 1-trichloro-
ethane
Trichloroethylene
1,2-dichloroe thane
Benzene
1, 1-dichloroethane
Tetracljloroethylene
Toluene

4-399
3-5,850
6-437
27-0.40
9-358
1-18.5
3-1,330
5-830
2-13
1-8
2-5
1-12
1-3
1-17
3-11
CORPORATION SITE
Median
79
479
143
0
212
12
573
82
3
2
2
2
1
1
2
.


.5
.36

.8

.7
.3
.8 . ''
.0
.3
.2
.9
.4
Frequency of
.1 Detection
18/24
23/24
22/24
7/24
15/24
10/24
22/24
7/24
: 9/24
11/24
6/24
4/24
4/24
6/24
3/24

-------
    TABLE 2
CLEAN-UP LEVELS


FEDERAL ARARi
MAXIMUM RCRA MAXIMUM SOWA HCL'S CLEAN WATER ACT
CONTAMINANT CONCENTRATION CONCENTRATION LIMIT WOC
Cadoilun
Chromium
Iron
Ltid
Mercury
Nickel
Sliver
Zinc
Cyanide
Toluene
Bcnieni
1,2-nichloro-
elhane
1,1-Olchloro-
e thane
Tetrachloro-
eihylne
Trlehloro-
•thylnt
1,1,1-Trleh-
loroethane
399 10
5850 50
81,000 NC
398 50
4 2
358 NC
18.5 SO
133ซ
830
11
'2
5
3
17
a -
13
10 10
SO SO
NC
50 50
2 10
NC 15.4
SO 50
5,000
200
143
5 4Q
5 243
.
0.8
2.7
18.4
NY ArBlENT WATER QUALITY
STANDARDS/GUIDANCE VALUES
DRINKING
WATER
10
50
300
50
2
NC
50
-
• -
' 5
5
, 5 /
5
5
5
5
G.W. FOR CLASS "C
DRINKING WATER SURFACE WA
10
50
300
25
-
.NO
50
5,000
200
50
NO
0.8
50
0.7
5
50
1.1
11
300
i 3.2
-
95.6
0.1
30
5.2 (ai
free
cyanide)
-
6
•-
-
1
II
-

-------
         APPENDIX IV




NYSDEC LETTER OF CONCURRENCE

-------
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
50 Wolf Road, Albany, New York 12233 ~  701ฐ
                                                                         Thomas C. Joriing
                                                                         Commissioner
           Mr. Stephen D. Luftig, P.E.
           Director                                    orn  0 0  1G
           Emergency & Remedial  Response Division      OCi  L L  Is/
           U.S. Environmental  Protection Agency
           Region II
           26 Federal Plaza
           New York, NY  10278
           Dear Mr.  Luftig:
                                Re:  Record of Decision (ROD)
                                     Preferred Plating Corp.  #152030
           The New York State Department of Environmental  Conservation (NYSDEC) has
           reviewed the draft Record of Decision and its modifications (September
           5, 1989) for the referenced site.  I am pleased to advise you that the
           NYSDEC concurs with the selected remedy.

           Since the short schedule will not allow a review of the final ROD before
           the September 29, 1989 deadline, my acceptance of the remedy is based on
           our reading of the draft copy.  In an effort to avoid a misunderstanding
           between our offices, the remedy that will.appear in the final"ROD should
           be as follows:

                DESCRIPTION OF SELECTED REMEDY                                   .  .

                This operable unit represents the first of two planned for the
                site.  It addresses the treatment of groundwater contaminated
                primarily with heavy metals and volatile organics.  The second
                operable unit will involve the continued study and possible
                remediation of soils located beneath the building on the.site if
                the study so indicates.  These soils could not be adequately
                characterized during the first operable unit.  The second operable
                unit will also investigate potential sources of upgradient
                contamination.

                The major components of the selected remedy include:

                        Extraction and treatment, via metal precipitation,
                        ion exchange, and activated carbon, of groundwater
                        in the Upper Glacial Aquifer to restore the
                        groundwater quality to cleanup levels identified in
                        the decision summary under the section entitled
                        Compliance with ARARs; and

                      •  Disposal of treatment residuals at a RCRA subtitle C
                        facility.

-------
Mr. Stephen D. Luftig, P.E.                                 Page 2


     Treatability studies will be undertaken to confirm the
     effectiveness of the selected remedy.  If these studies indicate
     that the ion exchange process used in the selected remedy is
     ineffective, a contingency remedy, which utilizes a separate
     precipitation unit for the removal of the chromate ion, will be
     implemented.              I

     STATUTORY DETERMINATIONS

     Both the selected remedy and the contingency remedy are protective
     of human health and the environment, are cost-effective, and comply
     with Federal and State requirements that are legally applicable or
     relevant and appropriate to the remedial action.  Both the selected
     remedy and the contingency remedy utilize permanent solutions and
     alternative treatment technologies to the maximum extent
     practicable and satisfy the statutory preference for remedies that
     employ treatment that reduce toxicity, mobility, or volume as a
     principal element.

     Existing groundwater quality data suggests that another source of
     groundwater contamination may exist upgradient of the Preferred
     Plating Site.  If an upgradient source exists, this proposed remedy
     may not, by itself, be capable of restoring the area groundwater to
     applicable water quality standards.  A second operable unit at this
     site will attempt to identify and control the apparent upgradient
     source.  In the event the second operable unit fails to identify
     and control the upgradient source, a waiver for technical
     impracticability will be sought.  In this event, treatment of the
     groundwater will continue until the concentration of .-contaminants
     in groundwater downgradeent of the Preferred Plating Site is less
     than or equal to those contaminants found in groundwater upgradient
     of the site.  At that time, groundwater recovery and treatment due :
     to the Preferred Plating Site will be discontinued even though area
     groundwater may not meet applicable groundwater quality standards.

     The need for conducting a five-year review will be evaluated upon
     completion of the second operable unit.

Additionally, a correction to the section Compliance with ARARs was
agreed on between our staffs.  The corrected version is to read:

     COMPLIANCE WITH ARARs

     At the completion of response actions, both the selected remedy and
     the contingency remedy will have complied with the following ARARs
     and considerations:

-------
Mr. Stephen 0. Luftig, P.E.

     Action-specific ARARs:
                                                       Page 3
          •  The reinjection process for the treated groundwater will
             meet underground injection well regulations by its status
             as a Superfund remedial action under 40 CFR 147..  The
             extracted groundwater will be treated to meet all  standards
             (SDWA Maximum Contaminant Levels [40 CFR Part 141], SDWA
             MCL goals [40 CFR Part 141]), 6 NYCRR Part 703 and 10 NYCRR
             Part 5, prior to reinjection.

          •  Spent carbon from the groundwater treatment system for
             removal of organics will be opposed of off-site,  as well
             as any treatment residuals, consistent with applicable RCRA
             land disposal restrictions undei  40 CFR 268.

     Chenl cal -Sped f 1 c ARARs :

          •  Since the groundwater at the site is cla^c
-------
                     ROD AMENDMENT FACT SHEET
SITB_
Name:
Location/State:
EPA Region:
HRS Score  (date):
Site ID #:
                    Preferred Plating Corporation
                    Farmingdale, Suffolk County, New York
                    II
                    33.76 (Sept. 1984)
                    NYD980768774
ROD
Date Signed:
Remedy:
Operable Unit #:
Capital Cost:
O & M/Year:
Present Worth:
                         September 30, 1997
                         No Further Action/Natural Attenuation
                         01
                         $ -0-
Construction Completion: N/A (ROD Amendment served as a
                         construction completion for site).
                         $ 5,000/yr (for monitoring)
                         $ 19,588 (5 yrs O&M assumed)
LEAD
Agency/Type:
Primary Contact:
Secondary Contact:
Main PRP(s):
                         USEPA/Remedial
                         Janet Cappelli (212-637-4270)
                         Doug Garbarini (212-637-4263)
                         Joseph Gazza & George Paro  (prop owners)
                         (516) 694-1640
WASTE
Type:
Medium:
Origin:
Est. Quantity;
                         Cadmium
                         Groundwater
                         Contamination resulted from improper
                         storage of wastewater during plating
                         operations.
                         N/A  (Very little cd remains above MCLs
                         in groundwater - no plume detected)

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