Ongoing Cleanup Activities at
the Consolidated Iron and
Metal Superfund site
Community Update
December 2008
EPA is continuing its cleanup ac-
tivities at the Consolidated Iron
and Metal site.
Current Activities
• Recently, EPA conducted a topo-
graphic survey, geophysical survey,
geoprobe sampling program and
test pit excavations to develop a
design document for the remedial
construction, which is expected to
commence in 2009.
• In addition, EPA conducted certain
preparatory activities at the site to
facilitate the remedial construction.
These included, the demolition and
removal of the garage, the demoli-
tion and removal of the remaining
building foundations, the removal
of scrap metal and debris, and the
dismantling and removal of a truck
frame and metal barges from the
shoreline of the site.
• The former building foundation
areas have been backfilled with
clean material and the truck frame
and barge areas of the site have
been replaced with boulders to re-
store the shoreline. The contami-
nated soil associated with the build-
ing foundation removal has been
sampled for disposal purposes. The
soil will be disposed of in an
appropriate facility in December.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is providing this notice to
update you regarding the progress made at the Consolidated Iron
and Metal Superfund site.
Site Background
The Consolidated Iron and Metal site is an inactive car and scrap
metal junk yard located at the foot of Washington Street in the City of
Newburgh, Orange County, New York. The facility operated from the
1950's until 1999. The site occupies about seven acres of land bor-
dering the Hudson River in a mixed industrial, commercial, and resi-
dential area.
Scrap metal processing and storage operations took place at the site
during its period of operation. Other operations included sorting fer-
rous and non-ferrous metal scrap for recycling, baling and shearing
large pieces of metal, including whole cars, into smaller pieces for
transport, and flattening of cars. From 1997 to 1999, the New York
State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) con-
ducted several inspections at the facility and cited the owner for a
number of violations. Subsequent inspections by NYSDEC noted
that the owner had failed to adequately correct the violations and in
the fall of 1999, the New York State Attorney General shut down op-
erations at the site for various violations, including illegal discharge
to surface water without a permit.
In August 1 998, EPA sampled an ash/slag pile at the site that was
generated by the aluminum smelting operation and found it to be
contaminated with lead and polychlorinated biphenlys (PCBs). The
scrap metal in the pile was segregated out and the resulting fine pile,
estimated at 6, 600 tons, was removed from the site in 1999 and
place in an approved treatment, storage, and disposal facility (TSDF)
for stabilization and landfilling. Also in 1999, EPA sampled other
processed soil piles at the site which were also found to be contami-
nated with lead and PCBs; these soil piles, too, were transferred to
an approved TSDF. Additionally in 1999, EPA constructed a berm
from site soils to prevent storm water from carrying site contaminants
www.EPA.gov/region2/superfund/npl/Consolidatediron
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Community Update
December 2008
EPA encourages public participa-
tion. If you have questions or
would like additional information,
please contact:
Michael Negrelli,
Remedial Project Manager
U.S. EPA
290 Broadway, 20th Floor
New York, New York 10007
212-637-4278
Negrelli. Mike@epa. gov
Cecilia Echols, Community
Involvement Coordinator
U.S. EPA
290 Broadway, 26th Floor
New York, New York 10007
212-637-3678
Echols.Cecilia@epa.gov
Beth Totman, EPA Press Officer
212-637-3662
Totman.Elizabeth@epa. gov
Toil-Free Hotline® 1-800-346-5009
Information Repository:
Newburgh Free Library
124 Grand Street
Newburgh, NY
EPA Record Center
290 Broadway, 18th Floor
New York, New York 10007
into the Hudson River.
In September 1999, EPA conducted an preliminary study at the site
to determine the horizontal and vertical extent of contamination. Sur-
face and subsurface soil and ground water samples were collected
and analyzed, indicating the presence of Volatile Organic Com-
pounds (VOCs), semivolatile organic compounds, pesticides, PCBs,
and metals at concentrations greater that background in the surface
and subsurface soils. Further, elevated concentrations of PCBs and
metals have been detected in the Hudson River, which is a fishery
and ecologically sensitive environment. Accordingly, the site was
placed on the National Priorities List in June 14, 2001.
In August 2002, EPA responded to local concerns about trespassing
and scavenging taking place at the site and began the construction
of a security fence. The fence was completed in September 2002.
Concurrently, EPA initiated the development of a work plan for the
performance of the RI/FS, which was completed in 2003. Prior to
conducting the Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS), it
was necessary to clear the site of the debris and some of the struc-
tures located on-site. Accordingly, from June to September 2003,
EPA conducted a site clearing which included the removal of tires,
scrap metal, concrete, lead-impacted soil, and hydraulic oil from the
site and the demolition and clearing of the office building and three
process-are buildings.
Completion of the site clearing enabled the initiation of the Rl sam-
pling program, which began in June 2004. The Rl determined site
soils to be impacted site-wide with metals contamination, particularly
lead, and VOC and PCB contamination in the soils of the former
process area of the site. A FS was developed in 2005 to evaluate
potential alternatives to address the widespread soil contamination at
the site. A preferred alternative was presented to the public for re-
view and comment in July 2006 and the site remedy, addressing the
public comments, was selected in a Record of Decision (ROD) which
was issued in October 2006.
The remedy outlined in the ROD includes: the excavation and the
removal of lead, PCB, and VOC-impacted soil and backfilling with
clean fill. A site management plan and institutional control will pro-
vide for post-remedial management of the site. The work will be
done by EPA following a consent decree cash out settlement with
the Potentially Responsibility Party (PRPs).
www.EPA.gov/region2/superfund/npl/Consolidatediron
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