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 ------- 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 ------- |