REDUCTION OF
TOXICS LOADINGS TO
THE NIAGARA RIVER FROM
HAZARDOUS WASTE SITES
IN THE UNITED STATES:
September 2007
A Report by the United States Environmental Protection Agency
and the New York State Department of Environmental
Conservation
September 2007
-------
-------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Executive Summary
Introduction
1
Summary of Remediation Progress
7
Overview of Remediation Status
7
Highlights of Recent Actions
7
Estimated Remediation Costs
11
Acronyms
12
Glossary
13
References
18
Appendix: Priority Niagara River Hazardous Waste Sites
Occidental Chemical Corporation, Buffalo Avenue ...
A-l
Niagara County Refuse Disposal
A-6
DuPont Necco Park
A-9
CECOS International
A-13
Occidental Chemical Corporation, Hyde Park A-
16
102nd Street
A-22
Bell Aerospace Textron A-
25
Durez Corporation, Packard Rd. Facility, Niagara Falls (formerly OCC-Durez Div) .A-28
Occidental Chemical Corporation, S-Area A-
31
Stauffer Chemical A-
36
Solvent Chemical
A-38
Vanadium Corporation of America (formerly SKW Alloys) A-40
Olin Corporation
-------
A-43
46
51
56
58
60
62
65
A-67
A-70
74
A-77
DuPont, Buffalo Avenue A-
BufFalo Color Corporation Site
A-4 8
Buffalo Color Corporation, Area D A-
Bethlehem Steel Corporation Site
A-53
River Road (INS Equipment) A-
Niagara Mohawk — Cherry Farm A-
Frontier Chemical, Pendleton A-
Frontier Chemical, Royal Avenue A-
Occidental Chemical Corporation, Durez Division, North Tonawanda A-
Gratwick Riverside Park
Mobil Oil
Iroquois Gas-Westwood Pharmaceutical A-
Booth Oil
-------
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Since 1987, the Niagara River has been the focus of attention for four environmental agencies in
the United States and Canada (AThe Four Parties@). In a Declaration of Intent, the Four Parties
committed to reducing toxic chemical inputs to the Niagara River. Hazardous waste sites were
considered the most significant non-point source of toxics to the river. Therefore, the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and New York State Department of Environmental
Conservation (DEC) identified 26 U.S. sites responsible for over 99% of the estimated input from
all such sites on the U.S. side of the basin, and put them on ambitious remediation schedules.
Remediation of the sites is intended to virtually eliminate the migration of toxic pollutants from
the sites.
As of 2007 all remedial construction has been
completed at 21 sites including all
ACategory 1" sites, those with estimated
contaminant loads of >50 lbs/day of priority
toxic chemicals to the river. The remedial
technology will be operated and monitored for
effectiveness for years to come at those sites.
Remedial Actions (RAs) are underway at the 5
remaining sites, including 3 sites that are under
interim remediation with significant remedial
controls already operating while final remedies
are being designed or investigated. For many
of these sites, the load reductions are
substantial.
Based on various simplifying assumptions,
EPA estimates that remediations to date have
reduced the potential inputs into the river by
approximately 94%. This estimate is based
primarily on the sites where the final RA is
completed. It does not include the load
reductions at all the sites where remedial
controls are operating, though the reductions
may be substantial. Therefore, the actual
reductions to date may exceed 94%.
Recent accomplishments include the
following:
21 si i i s Am (omi'i i i i d:
( L( OS (\i;hj;ii;i kills)
I Jell Aerospace Te\lron (\i;hj;ii';i kills)
Dure/. ('nip.. PiickiiI'd Rd (\khj;im kills)
Slnuffer Chemical (l.ewislon)
DuPonl liulValoAxc (NuiLiiira kills)
DuPonl \ecco Park (Niagara kills)
1'ronlicr Chemical (IVikllelon)
Occklenlnl Chan Dure/. (\orlh Toiumnikki)
Olm Corporal ion (\i;hjui;i kills)
IJul'I'iilo ( olor Aral I) (liuflhlo)
Occidental Chan I in I'lalo A\e (\i;uj;ir;i kills)
|n2ikl Suva (\khj;ii';i kills)
Ri\a' Ro;kl (ToiuiunikUi)
\ KiLiara Moluiwk Cherr\ kirm ( I onaw anda)
Niagara Counl\ Refuse Disposal (\\'Ilealfield)
Iroquois (i;is-Wesl\\iHkl Pluirimic (IJufllilo)
(imlwiek Rixerskle Park (\orlh Toiumnikln)
Oeeklenliil ( heniical S-Area (Niagara kills)
Sokenl ( heniical (Niagara kills)
lioolh Oil
Oeeklenlal ( hem. Mule Park (Niagara kills)
5 SI I I s IUM KIMI 1)1 \ l ll)\ I \di i<\\ « :
Mobil Oil (IJuffnlo)
I'roniier ( hemieal Rouil Axe k
\'anadiuni ( oi|ior;ilion (Niagara)
Iiellileliein Sleel ( oipomlion
liuflhlo ( olor Coipomlion Sile
Is)
Bethlehem Steel Corporation - BSC has
completed the field work for the site
investigation, and has prepared
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Facility Investigation (RFI) and
human health risk assessment reports. These had been delayed due to
i
-------
negotiations over the scope and the need to collect additional data, but
were finally submitted in December 2004. Alsoin2004, DEC approved an interim
corrective measures plan for the remediation of the Benzol Plant Area (i.e., the Coke Oven Area).
In November 2004, DEC issued a consent order to administer this project. A system of recovery-
well installation was completed in December 2004 which includes LNAPL recovery and
groundwater collection and treatment. The system became operational in April 2005. Eight
windmills were also constructed at the site under the Brownfield Cleanup Program in 2007.
DEC is negotiating a Corrective Measures Study (CMS) Order with Tecumseh Redevelopment
(current owner).
Buffalo Color Corporation (BCC) Site - The soil, groundwater and soil vapor
issues at the BCC site are currently being investigated by the Honeywell
Corporation. DEC=s Division of Environmental Remediation entered into an
agreement with Honeywell in 2005 to address groundwater contamination
at the site by designing and installing a groundwater collection system in
Area A pursuant to the Corrective Measures Report. The engineering design
was completed and construction began in Spring 2006. Honeywell has also
agreed to perform a Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) as part
of a June 30, 2006 Consent Order. This RI/FS will address data gaps from the
RFI. The fieldwork began in January 2007 with a draft report Remedial
Investigation Report submitted in September 2007. The draft FS will be
submitted by the end of October 2007. The Remedial Action is not yet
scheduled.
Dupont, Buffalo Avenue - Evaluation of O&M monitoring revealed that groundwater capture in
the Southwest Plant Area was not effective. Subsequent to additional investigations and
evaluations of groundwater capture alternatives for this area, DuPont installed two 300-foot long
blast-fractures rock trenches with additional extraction and monitoring wells. This improvement
in Southwest groundwater enhancement system became operational in late 2005.
DuPont, Necco Park - Construction of the hydraulic containment system
was completed in April 2005 and was tested to ensure that it is operating as designed._The
construction of the cap upgrade, the final element of the remedy, was completed in September
2006. All remedial actions for the site was completed in September 2007.
Frontier Chemical - A Record of Decision (ROD) for site soils and upper bedrock groundwater
(Operable Unit (OU) #1) was issued in March 2006. It requires the excavation and off-site
treatment/disposal of contaminated soil source areas with control/treatment of overburden and
upper bedrock groundwater. Negotiations are on-going between DEC and the PRP to finalize a
Consent Order for design, construction, and operation of the remedy. The investigation and
evaluation of the deeper bedrock groundwater (OU #2) will either be done by the PRPs under an
Order, or by the DEC using the State Superfund program.
Mobil Oil - In 2005 ExxonMobil submitted an application to the State=s Brownfield Cleanup
Program to address the environmental concerns on the entire property. In Spring 2006 the State
executed a Brownfield Cleanup Agreement and approved a Conceptual Site Plan addressing the
ii
-------
various operable units of the plant site. OU #1, which addressed the soil impacts in
the ESPA that were determined to be attributable to the former Tank 60
release from 1976, was completed in 2007.
Vanadium Corporation - Niagara Mohawk and the New York Power Authority have completed
the Remedial Investigation for their portion of the site (OU #3). ARecord of Decision compiling
the results of operable units OU #1 (SKW Property), OU #2 (Airco Property), and OU #3 was
signed in March 2006.
Through 2008, completion of final remedial actions is expected at:
Vanadium Corporation - The Remedial Design for the last remaining operable unit, OU
#3, will address remaining surficial waste and slag and is expected to be completed by the end of
2007. The remedial action for OU-3 should be completed by the end of 2008.
Estimates of the cost of remediation are available for most of the 26 priority hazardous waste
sites. Based on these estimates, the costs incurred to date are at least $ 411,958,000. Additional
costs expected in the future are estimated at $ 2,621,500.
iii
-------
-------
INTRODUCTION
Since 1987, the Niagara River has U.S. Enyironmhntai. Protection Aghnc-y (EPA)
been the focus of attention for four Environment Canada (EC)
environmental agencies in the U.S. NY Stati: Di:i-t oi Enyironmhntai. Coxsi r\ \iio\ (DEC)
and Canada, called AThe Four Ontario Ministry or Ewirqwii \i (MOE)
Parties@. The Four Parties signed a
Niagara River Declaration of Intent, pledging cooperation to achieve significant reductions of
toxic chemical pollutants in the Niagara River. The Declaration of Intent and a work plan form
the Niagara River Toxics Management Plan (NRTMP).
Under the NRTMP, the Four Parties identified 18 persistent toxic chemicals as Apriority toxics@.
Actions to reduce the inputs of these priority toxics to the Niagara River have been aimed at point
sources and non-point sources. Significant point
sources on both sides of the Niagara River have
been identified and are being addressed in U.S.
and Canadian point source plans. The Four
Parties summarize progress in controlling point
sources in an annual report, last issued in
September 2005 (Niagara River Secretariat, 2005).
Non-point sources of toxic chemicals to the
Niagara River (e.g., leachate from hazardous waste
sites, storm water runoff, atmospheric deposition)
are more difficult to quantify and control. Given
the limited information available about non-point sources, the U.S. has proceeded with its actions
based on the assumption that hazardous waste sites are the most significant non-point sources of
toxic chemicals to the Niagara River.
In 1988, an EPA study estimated potential toxic pollutant loadings to the Niagara River from U.S.
hazardous waste sites (Gradient Corp/Geotrans Inc 1988). All known U.S. waste sites in the
Niagara River area were considered. To help EPA/DEC focus actions on the sites that have the
most significant potential for polluting the Niagara River, the report produced a list of 70 most-
significant U.S. sites. The agencies treated the 70 sites as 33 site clusters, largely based on the
manner in which data have historically been collected. Figure 1 shows the locations of these 33
clusters, and several additional hazardous waste sites.
I Jai/.( a )anl h mcaic \ I i iv \
l}ai/.n(ll)|1\ IVIK' OcLldlloi'OSH IVIK'
liai/o(h)lluomnihaK' PC I is
|}ai/.o(k)lluoi;inlhaK 1)1) I s
( hloaUiiK Diomiis
( hin saic Tamcliloi'oali\ laic
Dicklnn Aisanc
I k-vichloiolvn/viK I .cud
\lavui\ Tovinhaic
1
-------
2
-------
SITE
BERS
Ub-49
81
14
78a,b
39
,85,941
5
66
41a
255
251
1
59,248
19,250
254
20-122
118
136
67
24-37
253
68
141
162
242
22
182
241
108
107
207
25-127
123
38
(
Figure 1: LEGEND
SITE NAME
Occidental Chemical Corp. (OCC), Buffalo Ave. Avenue
Niagara County Refuse Disposal
DuPont Necco Park
CECOS International/Niagara Recycling
OCC, Hyde Park
102nd Street
Bell Aerospace Textron
Durez Corporation, Packard Road Facility (formally OCC, Durez Division)
OCC, S-Area
Stauffer Plant (PASNY)
Solvent Chemical
Vanadium Corp. (formerly SKW Alloys)
Olin, Buffalo Avenue
DuPont, Buffalo Avenue Plant
Buffalo Harbor Containment
Buffalo Color Corporation, including Area D
Bethlehem Steel Corporation
River Road (INS Equipment)
Frontier Chemical, Pendleton
OCC, Durez, North Tonawanda
Small Boat Harbor Containment
Gratwick Riverside Park
Mobil Oil
Alltift Realty
Charles Gibson
Great Lakes Carbon
Niagara Mohawk Cherry Farm
Times Beach Containment
Tonawanda Coke
Allied Chemical
Tonawanda Landfill
Dunlop Tire and Rubber
C olumbus-McKinnon
Love Canal
)ccidental 102nd Street site (#40), Olin 102nd Street site (#56),
Park (#85), and Niagara River Belden site (#94)
3
-------
The study showed that an estimated 694 lbs/day (315 kg/day) of toxic chemicals have the
potential of migrating from hazardous waste sites to the Niagara River. Because collection of
site-specific transport data is ongoing, estimates were made based on certain assumptions, e.g.,
that groundwater flow is horizontal, and that pollutants behave in a conservative manner. These
assumptions yielded conservative estimates (i.e., estimates of toxic loadings that are expected to
be higher than the actual loadings).
In November 1989, EPA and DEC issued a report prioritizing the 33 hazardous waste clusters in
order of their potential for polluting the Niagara River (EPA/DEC 1989). Table 1 presents the 33
clusters divided into three categories, based on Gradient/Geotrans estimates of their potential
toxic loads to the Niagara River. These categories are as follows:
Category I: Sites with loading greater than 50 lb/day
Category II: Sites with loadings from 1 to 50 lb/day
Category III: Sites with loadings less than 1 lb/day
Sites from Category I and II collectively represented 99.9% of the total estimated loadings.
Since 1989, EPA and DEC have also reevaluated the hazardous waste sites to identify those that
new information shows are significant sources of toxic chemicals to the Niagara River. Two sites
have been removed as insignificant sources of toxics, and four sites have been added as significant
sources. This update reports on remediation progress at the resulting 26 significant hazardous
waste sites.
The EPA estimates that site remediations have to date achieved a reduction of approximately 94%
in potential toxic chemical inputs from all sites to the Niagara River. The estimate is based on the
percentage of RAs in place at some of the 25 sites with completed or on-going remediation (Table
2). A 100%) reduction was assumed for 19 of the 21 sites with all RAs in place. Since estimates
could not be made for most of the sites with on-going remediation, actual reductions to date may
be greater than the estimated 94%>. Remedial systems, e.g., groundwater pump-and-treat systems,
are functioning at 3 of the 4 sites where remediation is underway and are expected to have already
reduced off-site loadings. Table 2 identifies the sites where remediation is not yet completed, but
which have operational remedial systems that are expected to have reduced contaminant loads to
the Niagara River.
Completion of final RAs are expected at two additional sites through 2008. Based on the
expected implementation of these RAs, EPA=s best estimates are that, by the end of 2008, the
estimated toxic chemical inputs from all sites will be reduced by almost 98%> from the 1989
inputs.
Estimates have recently been made of the potential loadings of the NRTMP priority chemicals to
the Niagara River from priority waste sites. The estimates are based on information that was not
available when the Gradient/Geotrans estimates were developed, such as information on chemical
concentrations in groundwater and groundwater flow. For example, a report by several site PRPs
addressing groundwater loadings for ten of the NRTMP priority waste sites estimated priority
chemical loadings from ten sites at 5.6 lbs/day (2.5 kg/day) prior to RA, and 0.0048 lbs/day
4
-------
(0.002 kg/day) after RA completion, a reduction of over 99% (CRA 1998). Since these estimates
only consider the NRTMP priority chemicals, they are not comparable to the Gradient/Geotrans
estimates of total toxic chemical loading. In addition, the report also used some assumptions (i.e.
non-conservative assumptions) that would tend to reduce load estimates. Therefore, although
actual loadings are probably greater than the estimates, the estimates do corroborate the reduction
in toxic chemical loadings to the Niagara River achieved through remedial programs.
In addition to remediation efforts at the waste sites themselves, it is also important to recognize
the role of the Niagara Falls Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) in reducing toxic inputs from
a number of waste sites to the Niagara River. Based on information available in 1987, the U.S.
identified the Falls Street Tunnel, a major unlined industrial sewer cut into the bedrock under the
City of Niagara Falls, as the largest source of toxic pollutants from any of its point sources. By
the mid-1980s, the Tunnel was only receiving overflows of wastewater from the sewers of a
Niagara Falls industrial area, in addition to contaminated groundwater infiltrating from major
waste sites via cracks in the Tunnel=s bedrock walls. In contrast to flows from other point
sources, effluent from the Falls Street Tunnel entered the Niagara River untreated. In 1993, EPA
and DEC required the City of Niagara Falls to treat the Falls Street Tunnel discharges during dry
weather at the Niagara Falls WWTP. Data gathered by the U.S. indicate that WWTP treatment of
the Tunnel=s dry weather discharge has reduced mercury loadings by 70% relative to 1980
loads, tetrachloroethylene loadings by 85%, and the loadings of four other priority toxic
chemicals by almost 100% .
Since the Falls Street Tunnel captures portions of the upper Lockport bedrock groundwater flow
from seven hazardous waste sites, the actions taken to control discharge from the Tunnel reduce
loadings from the following sites:
DuPont, Buffalo Avenue
Solvent Chemical
OCC, Buffalo Avenue
CECOS International
Frontier Chemical, Royal Avenue
DuPont Necco Park
Durez Division, Packard Road Facility (formerly OCC, Durez Division)
For this report, estimates of site loading reductions do not include those obtained through
treatment of the Falls Street Tunnel dry weather flow.
5
-------
TABLE 1
Gradient/Geotrans Prioritization of Waste Sites According to
Potential Toxic Loadings to Niagara River in 1988
Category I: greater than 50 lb/dav
Occidental Chemical Corporation (OCC), Buffalo Ave.
Niagara County Refuse Disposal
DuPont Necco Park
CECOS International
Occidental Chemical Corporation, Hyde Park
Category IE: between 1-50 lb/dav
Occidental Chemical Corporation, 102nd Street
Bell Aerospace Textron
Durez Corporation, Packard Road Facility (formerly OCC, Durez Division, Niagara Falls)
Occidental Chemical Corporation, S-Area
Stauffer Plant (PASNY)
Solvent Chemical
Vanadium Corp. (formerly SKW Alloys)
Olin, Buffalo Avenue Plant
DuPont, Buffalo Avenue Plant
Buffalo Harbor Containment
Buffalo Color Corporation, including Area D
Bethlehem Steel Corporation
River Road (INS Equipment)
Frontier Chemical, Pendleton
Occidental Chemical Corporation, Durez, North Tonawanda
Small Boat Harbor Containment
Gratwick Riverside Park
Mobil Oil
Category HI: less than 1 lb/dav
Alltift Realty
Charles Gibson
Great Lakes Carbon
Niagara Mohawk, Cherry Farm
Times Beach Containment
Tonawanda Coke
Allied Chemical
Tonawanda Landfill
Dunlop Tire and Rubber
Columbus-McKinnon
Love Canal
-------
SUMMARY OF REMEDIATION PROGRESS
Overview of Remediation Status
Table 2 gives an overview of the remediation status at the 26 waste sites. In summary:
$ All remediation is in place at 21 of the sites. The remedial technology installed at these
sites will be operated and monitored for effectiveness for years to come.
$ Interim or final RAs are underway at 5 sites, including 3 sites under interim remediation
while final remedies are being investigated, designed, or constructed.
Highlights of Recent Actions
For each site, a detailed description of progress is provided in the Appendix. Highlights of
progress made, in particular since the September 2005 progress report, are summarized below.
DuPont. Necco Park
$ Remedial Design (RD) was completed in April 2004. Some of the
additional groundwater wells installed during the RD serve as
component parts of the hydraulic containment portion of the Final
Remedy.
$ Construction of the Final Remedy began November 2001 with the installation of the
additional groundwater wells. The following are among the measures included in the Final
Remedial Design:
upgrading the existing cap;
containment of the overburden and bedrock source areas using hydraulic measures;
treatment of the extracted groundwater on-site;
collection and off-site disposal of DNAPL; and,
comprehensive monitoring and additional site characterization.
$ Construction of the hydraulic containment system was completed in April 2005 and was
tested to ensure that it is operating as designed. The construction of the cap upgrade, the
final element of the remedy was completed in September 2006. Remedial action for the
cap site was completed in September 2007.
-------
TABLE 2
STATUS OF SITE REMEDIATIONS
Investigation and Design: Remediation:
Potentially Responsible Party (PRP) Search Remediation Underway:
None Interim Remedy In Place or Under Construction:
Site Investigation Underway MOBIL OIL OU#l and OU#2
VANADIUM CORP.1: OU#2 & OU#3
Frontier Chemical, Royal Avenue2 Frontier Chemical, Royal Avenue2
BETHLEHEM STEEL SITE3 BETHLEHEM STEEL SITE3
Buffalo Color Corporation Site
Remedial Design (RD) Underway
Remediation Completed (O&M Underway)
VANADIUM CORP. OU#31
Stauffer Chemical
Frontier Chemical, Pendleton
Bell Aerospace Textron
CECOS International
Dupont Necco Park
Durez Corporation, Packard Road Facility
OCC, Durez, North Tonawanda
DuPont Buffalo Avenue
Olin Plant Site
Buffalo Color, Area D
OCC, Buffalo Avenue
102nd Street (Olin /OCC)
River Road
Niagara Mohawk, Cherry Farm
Niagara County Refuse Disposal
Iroquois Gas-Westwood Pharmacy
Gratwick Riverside Park
OCC S-Area
Solvent Chemical
Booth Oil
OCC-Hyde Park
The sites in interim remediation are also under investigation or design, and therefore are listed twice.
Sites in bold have achieved progress since the September 2005 report.
These sites, though not completed, have operational remedial systems that are expected to have
reduced contaminant loadings to the Niagara River.
1 Preliminary investigations were completed. Two Interim Remedial Measure (IRMs) have been
completed by PRPs for OU1 and OU2.
2 The RI/FS for soils and the upper bedrock (OU1) was completed in 2004 with a ROD issued in March 2006. An
Rf/FS is still required for the deeper bedrock groundwater (OU2).
3 In 2004 DEC approved an interim corrective measures plan for the remediation of the Benzol Plant Area (i.e., the Coke
Oven Area). Recovery-well installation was completed in December 2004. The system includes LNAPL recover and
groundwater collection and treatment. The system began operating in April 2005.
Dupont. Buffalo Avenue
$ Evaluation of O&M monitoring revealed that groundwater capture in the Southwest Plant Area
was not effective. Subsequent to additional investigation and evaluation of groundwater
-------
capture alternatives for this area, DuPont installed two 300-foot long blast-fractures rock
trenches with additional extraction and monitoring wells. The Southwest groundwater
enhancement system became operational in late 2005.
Vanadium Corporation
$ A Record of Decision compiling the results of operable units OU#l, OU#2, and OU#3 was
issued in March 2006.
$ Remedial actions were completed at OU#l and OU#2 in 2007.
$ The Remedial Design for OU#3, to address remaining surfical surface wastes and slag, will be
completed by the end of 2007 with construction to begin in Spring 2008. The Remedial Action
for this last OU should be completed by Fall 2008.
Buffalo Color Corporation Site
$ In March 2005 Honeywell (a potentially responsible party) entered into an
Order on Consent to address groundwater contamination at the site by
designing and installing a groundwater collection system. Design was
completed in 2005. Construction is complete as of August 2006, however
trouble shooting is still proceeding. The geochemistry design flaws will be
corrected by late Fall 2007.
$ Honeywell performed a bulk chemical removal at the Site starting in
December 2005 and it is presently complete. The site though is not
considered RCRA clean.
$ Honeywell has also agreed to perform a Remedial Investigation/Feasibility
Study (RI/FS) for Areas A, B,C and E. as part of the June 30, 2006 Consent
Order. The fieldwork began in January 2007 with a draft report Remedial
Investigation Report submitted in September 2007. The draft FS will be
submitted by the end of October 2007.
$ The Buffalo Color Site has been transferred from NYSDEC's RCRA unit to the Division of
Environmental Remediation.
Bethlehem Steel Corporation (BSC) Site
$ BSC has completed the field work for the site investigation, and has
prepared Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Facility Investigation
(RFI) and human health risk assessment reports. These had been delayed
due to negotiations over the scope and the need to collect additional
data, but were finally submitted in December 2004.
$ BSC completed limited remedial technology studies for two areas that
appear to be the primary sources of groundwater contamination at the
facility (the Acid Tar Pits and Coke Oven Areas). The EPA and DEC found
the studies to be technically flawed and of limited value. BSC continues to
study various potential remedial technologies.
$ In 2004 DEC approved an interim corrective measures plan for the remediation of the Benzol
Plant Area (i.e., the Coke Oven Area). In November 2004, DEC issued a consent order to
administer this project. Recovery-well installation was completed in December 2004. The
-------
system, which began operating in April 2005, includes LNAPL recover and groundwater
collection and treatment.
$ In 2005, Tecumseh Redevelopment Inc., a subsidiary of ISG and Mittal Steel, submitted
brownfield applications to NYSDEC for two more parcels containing about 300 acres.
$ Since any future CMS or CMI activities will require a new order, permit or other agreement,
DEC is currently negotiating a corrective action order with ISG for this work.
Frontier Chemical. Roval Avenue
$ In January 2001 the site was referred for RI/FS action under the NY State Superfund program.
The Focused Remedial Investigation was begun in 2001. The RI/FS for the soils and upper
bedrock (OU#l) was completed in early 2004. The Record of Decision (ROD) for OU#l was
issued in March 2006. An RI/FS will be completed for OU#2, either by the PRPs under Order
or by the DEC using the State Superfund program.,
Mobil Oil
$ OU#l remedial activities which addressed the soil impacts from the 1976 release from Tank
#60 were completed in 2007.
$ ExxonMobil has entered the Brownfield Cleanup Program to complete
subsequent remediation activities under a BCP Agreement with NYSDEC
dated April 3, 2006. In spring 2006 a Conceptual Site Plan (CSP) was
approved by the State. The Site has been divided into nine geographic
areas for the purpose of assessing environmental conditions and reporting
the results of area-specific activities according to the nature of their
historical primary operations. Now that sitewide remedial investigation is
complete, the site was divided into five OUs based upon the anticipated
phasing of subsequent remedial actions considering environmental media
to be addressed, potential remedial approach and geographic areas. The
entire remedial project, which will address the four remaining OUs, is
anticipated to take 6 years:
OU#2: Soil, groundwater and any free product located to the north of Prenatt
St. and south of Elk St.
OU#3: Main Free Product Plume and contaminated soil and groundwater south
of Prenatt Street.
OU#4: Soil and groundwater within the Eastern Tank Yard Area (ETYA).
OU#5: Buffalo River sediment impacted by ExxonMobil historical operations
-------
Estimated Remediation Costs
Where available, estimated remediation costs incurred to date and expected in the future are provided
in each site description (Appendix). Federal, State, and PRP contributions were estimated, where
possible. Remediation costs were unavailable for Federal/State RCRA sites, because reporting cost
information is not a requirement of the RCRA corrective action program, and facilities have generally
been reluctant to provide it. The remediation costs that are provided are estimates that may change as
remediation progress is made at each site. The estimates will be updated as new information becomes
available.
Based on available estimates for 19 sites, following is the total amount incurred to date (costs for the
remaining 7 sites are unavailable):
Federal $ 39.815 million
State $ 7.425 million
PRPs $ 364.718 million
Total $ 411.958 million
Based on available estimates for 12 sites, the total additional costs expected in the future are as follows
(costs for the remaining 14 sites are unavailable):
F ederal $ 1.875 milli on
State $ 0.710 million
PRPs $ 259.564 million
Total $ 262.149 million
The estimated costs to date cannot be compared to the estimated costs expected in the future, because
different sites are included in the estimates. It is also difficult to compare the relative contributions of
federal, state, and PRP expenditures, because cost information for some sites was incomplete (e.g.,
some sites may have been able to provide federal or state costs but not PRP costs, and so on).
However, the cost information does provide a sense of the magnitude of U.S. expenditures for
hazardous waste site remediation in the Niagara River basin.
-------
ACRONYMS
APL
Aqueous phase liquids
BCC
Buffalo Chemical Corporation
BSC
Bethlehem Steel Corporation
CERCLA
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980
CMI
Corrective Measure Implementation
CMS
Corrective Measure Study
DDT
primarily l,l'-(2,2,2-trichloroethylidene)-bis/4 chlorobenzene
DEC
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
DNAPL
Dense non-aqueous phase liquids
DWTP
Drinking Water Treatment Plant
EC
Environment Canada
EPA
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
HSWA
Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments
ICM
Interim Corrective Measure
IIWA
Immediately Implementable Work Assignment
IRM
Interim Remedial Measure
MOE
Ontario Ministry of the Environment
NAPL
Non-aqueous phase liquids
NRTMP
Niagara River Toxics Management Plan
OCC
Occidental Chemical Corporation
OU
Operable Unit
PCBs
Polychlorinated biphenyls
PRP
Potentially Responsible Party
PSA
Preliminary Site Assessment
PVC
Polyvinyl chloride
RA
Remedial Action
RCRA
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
RFA
RCRA Facility Assessment
RFI
RCRA Facility Investigation
RFP
Request for Proposal
RI/FS
Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study
ROD
Record of Decision
RRT
Requisite Remedial Technology
SPDES New York State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
TCDD Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin
TCP Trichlorophenol
VOC Volatile organic compounds
-------
GLOSSARY
A
Ambient
A surrounding medium, such as water or air.
Used in contrast to a specific source.
Aquatic
Growing in, living in, or dependent upon water.
Atmospheric deposition
Pollution from the atmosphere associated with
dry deposition in the form of dust, wet
deposition in the form of rain and snow, or as a
result of vapor exchanges.
B
Barrier wall
A wall constructed underground in a hazardous
waste site or landfill to stop the flow of
contaminated groundwater.
Basin
The land that drains into a waterbody.
Bedrock groundwater
Water flowing through a rock layer
underground, under a top layer of mixed soil
and loose rock called the overburden.
Benzo(a)pyrene [B(a)P]
A PAH that is formed by the incomplete
combustion of fossil fuels, wood, and tobacco;
the incineration of garbage; and in steel
production.
Bioaccumulation
The process by which chemical substances
accumulate in the tissues of an organism that
drinks contaminated water or eats
contaminated food.
C
rainwater from seeping through soil and
causing the contaminants in the soil to flow
into the groundwater.
Capture Zone
Area in which groundwater is flowing towards
a pumping well; used as remediation technique
for hazardous waste sites, to Acapture@
contaminated groundwater and treat it.
Chlordane
A persistent toxic chemical that was used to
control ants, grasshoppers, and other insects on
certain crops.
Collection drain
System of pipes around a hazardous waste site
or landfill that collects surface or groundwater
and directs it toward a treatment plant.
Combined sewer overflow (CSO)
Water discharged into a waterbody from a
sewer system that carries both sanitary sewage
and stormwater runoff. During dry weather the
combined sewer system=s flow is normally
treated at a wastewater treatment plant, but
during rain events, the plant=s capacity may be
exceeded and the flow may be bypassed to
discharge, untreated, directly into a waterbody.
Consent decree
A legal document, approved by a judge, which
puts into effect a remedy (i.e., actions to
correct an environmental problem).
Cap
A cover over hazardous waste sites, usually
made of clean soils or clay, that prevents
-------
Contaminant
A substance that is not naturally present in the
environment or is present in amounts that can
adversely affect the environment.
D
DDT
Dichloro-diphynyl-trichloroethane. A
persistent toxic chemical that was used as a
pesticide, particularly for mosquito control.
DDT is banned in U.S. and Canada. DDE and
DDD are metabolites of DDT.
Dieldrin
A persistent toxic chemical that was used
mainly as a soil insecticide.
Dioxins/furans
Dioxin: A family of persistent toxic chemicals
known as dibenzo-p-dioxins. Dioxins can enter
the environment as the by-products of
industrial processes or as a result of
combustion processes in incinerators and motor
vehicles using leaded fuel. The compound
called A2,3,7,8-TCDD@ is the most toxic
member of the dioxin family.
Furans are a class of chemicals similar to
dioxins, which are created at high
temperatures, such as incineration of PCBs and
other organic wastes containing chlorine.
DNAPL (Dense Non-Aqueous Phase Liquid)
An oily, sludge-like mixture of chemicals that is
denser than water. DNAPL flows with gravity
or along geological formations, not always in
the same direction as groundwater.
Downstream
In the direction with the flow of a stream or
river; down river. For Niagara River,
downstream is towards Niagara-on-the-Lake
and Lake Ontario.
Dredging
Removal of sediment from the bottom of a
waterbody.
Hazardous waste site
Land disposal site for hazardous wastes.
E
Embayment
A bay. Apart of a waterbody (such as a river
or lake) that makes an indentation into the
adjacent land.
F
Force main
A pipe that carries contaminated groundwater
drawn out of hazardous waste sites by pumping
wells to a treatment plant.
Four Parties
The four agencies who implement the Niagara
River Toxics Management Plan: U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency,
Environment Canada, New York State
Department of Environmental Protection, and
Ontario Ministry of Environment and Energy.
G
Groundwater
The fresh or saline waters found beneath the
Earth=s surface that often supply wells and
springs. Contrast to A Surface water @.
H
Habitat
Place where a particular type of plant or animal
lives. An organism=s habitat must provide all
of the basic requirements for its life.
Hazardous waste
Any substance that is a by-product of society
and is classified under U.S. or Canadian law as
potentially harmful to human health or the
environment. Hazardous wastes are subject to
special handling, shipping, storage, and
disposal requirements under the law.
Heavy metals
-------
Metallic elements with high atomic weights
that tend to be toxic and bioaccumulate.
Examples are mercury, arsenic, lead, etc.
Hexachlorobenzene (HCB)
A persistent toxic chemical that was originally
manufactured as a fungicide for cereal crops.
It is also generated as a by-product in the
manufacture of pesticides and can be formed
during the combustion of substances containing
chlorine.
I
Infiltration
Passing through or filtering through, as in rain
water that filters through soil to join
groundwater.
Inorganic substance
A chemical compound that does not contain
carbon. Inorganic substances are often derived
from minerals.
Insecticide
A chemical used to kill or control the growth of
insects.
L
Landfill
Land disposal site for hazardous (or non-
hazardous) wastes.
Leachate
Liquid derived from rain or snow melt that
percolates through a hazardous waste site.
Load or Loading
The amount of a material entering a system
over a given time interval.
M
Organic substance
A chemical compound that contains carbon.
Overburden groundwater
Water flowing through a layer of mixed soil
and loose rock that lies over the rock layer
called bedrock.
Medium (plural: Media)
A surrounding substance in the environment:
water, air, or sediment.
Metabolite
A substance that is the product of biological
changes to a chemical.
Mirex
A persistent toxic substance that was used as
an insecticide and a fire retardant.
Multi-media
Involving multiple media, such as water and air,
or air and sediment, or all three.
N
National Priorities List (NPL)
An EPA list of the most serious uncontrolled or
abandoned U.S. hazardous waste sites
identified for long-term remedial action under
Superfund.
Non-point source
Diffuse pollution sources (i.e., without a single
point of origin or not introduced into a
waterbody from a specific outlet). Generally
carried off the land by stormwater. Common
sources can be associated with a variety of
land-uses (e.g., agriculture, forestry, and urban)
and activities (e.g., construction, mining, and
land disposal).Contrast to APoint source@.
O
Octachlorostyrene (OCS)
A persistent toxic chemical that was released as
a by-product when chlorine was manufactured
using certain processes that are no longer used.
P
PAHs
Polycyclic or polynuclear aromatic
hydrocarbons. A class of persistent toxic
compounds that are formed from the
-------
combustion of organic material, such as forest
fires or gasoline in cars.
PCBs
Polychlorinated biphenyls. A group of
persistent toxic chemicals used in electrical and
hydraulic equipment for insulating or
lubricating purposes.
Persistent toxic chemical
Any toxic chemical that is difficult to destroy
or that breaks down slowly in the environment
(i.e., with a half-life in water greater than eight
weeks).
Pesticide
A chemical used for preventing, destroying, or
repelling any pest.
Point source
Any discernible confined and discrete
conveyance, including, but not
limited to, any pipe, ditch, channel, tunnel,
conduit, well, container, landfill, leachate
collection system, vessel or other floating craft
from which pollutants are or may be discharged
from.
Pollution prevention
Any action that reduces or eliminates pollutants
before they enter the environment.
Potentially Responsible Party (PRP)
Any individual or company potentially
responsible for, or contributing to, the
contamination problems at U.S. hazardous
waste sites.
Pretreatment
Runoff
Water that flows over the land surface into a
waterbody.
S
Slurry wall
Barrier made of a thin, watery mixture of fine,
insoluble material (e.g., clay, cement, soil).
Solid Waste Management Units (SWMUs)
Processes used to reduce, eliminate, or alter
pollutants from industrial sources before they
are discharged into publicly-owned sewage
treatment systems.
Priority toxic chemicals
Under the NRTMP, 18 toxic chemicals that
exceeded water quality or fish tissue standards
in the Niagara River or Lake Ontario.
R
RCRA
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. A
U.S. program to remediate active hazardous
waste sites. Sites are remediated by potentially
responsible parties whenever this can be
arranged.
Record of Decision (ROD)
A public document that explains what actions
will be taken to remediate a U.S. hazardous
waste site.
Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study
(RI/FS)
The RI defines the areal and vertical extent of
the hazardous waste problem at a Superfund
site through numerous sampling wells, an
extended environmental sampling program and
a full geophysical survey. Based on the RI, the
FS develops and evaluates alternative solutions
to the problem.
Requisite Remedial Technology (RRT)
An RRT is the equivalent of an FS (see RI/FS
above) for a pre-CERCLA agreement.
Areas within a hazardous waste site where
hazardous materials are stored or managed.
SWMUs are generally storage areas, treatment
systems, disposal areas, spill areas, or
containment cells.
Superfund
A U.S. program to remediate inactive or
abandoned hazardous waste sites in an
emergency or for the long-term. Sites are
-------
remediated by potentially responsible parties
whenever this can be arranged.
Surface water
All water open to the atmosphere (e.g., rivers,
lakes, reservoirs, seas, etc.).Contrast to
AGroundwater@.
T
Toxaphene
A persistent toxic chemical that was used as an
insecticide.
Toxic substance
Any substance that adversely affects the health
or well-being of a living organism, e.g., causing
death, disease, birth defects, behavioral
abnormalities, cancer, genetic mutations,
physiological/reproductive malfunctions, or
physical deformities.
U
Upstream
In the direction against the flow of a stream or
river; upriver. For Niagara River, upstream is
towards Fort Erie and Lake Erie.
V
Volatile substance
A substance that evaporates readily.
W
Wetland
An area that is saturated with water or has a
water level at or near the surface. A wetland
has organic soils and plant/animal species that
are adapted to a wet environment.
-------
REFERENCES
CRA. 1998. Estimates of Pre-Remedial and Post-Remedial Action Chemical Loading via
Groundwater to the Niagara River. Conestoga-Rovers & Associates, January 1998. Ref. No. 9855(1).
Gradient Corp./Geotrans Inc. 1988. Potential Contaminant Loadings to the Niagara River from U.S.
Hazardous Waste Sites.
Niagara River Secretariat. 2005. Niagara River Toxics Management Plan: Progress Report and Work
Plan, September 2005.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency/New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
(EPA/DEC). 1989. Reduction of Toxics Loadings to the Niagara River from Hazardous Waste Sites
in the United States.
-------
APPENDIX
PRIORITY NIAGARA RIVER HAZARDOUS WASTE SITES:
Site Descriptions & Remediation Schedules
-------
-------
1
OCCIDENTAL CHEMICAL - BUFFALO AVENUE
Site #4lb - 49
Site Program: RCRA (State and Federal)
Summary Prepared by: EPA and DEC
Site Description
Occidental Chemical Corporation's (OCC) Buffalo Avenue Plant was a major manufacturing
facility in central Niagara Falls adjacent to the Robert Moses Parkway, along the Niagara River.
Starting with seven acres in 1911, the facility grew to approximately 130 acres, with hundreds of
buildings and thousands of employees by the early 1980s. Since that time, OCC has reduced its
workforce to fewer than 100 employees and is implementing a plan to demolish much of its
existing infrastructure. During its history, the facility manufactured over 250 different chemical
products, including halogenated benzenes, toluenes, phenols, and aliphatics. Chemical raw
materials, products and wastes have been buried or spilled at numerous locations on the plant site.
Estimates of the amount of waste disposed in the various production areas include: 4,200 tons in
D-Area, 1,500 tons in F-Area, 11,300 tons in N-Area, and unknown amounts in U-Area.
Five aquifers exist at this site: one overburden and four bedrock. A clay/till layer serves as an
aquitard (a barrier) between the overburden and the bedrock, except where man-made influences
such as utilities and building foundations have penetrated the layer. The four bedrock aquifers,
incorporating approximately eleven separate flow zones, occur within the Lockport Group (a
rock formation) with the three upper units accounting for nearly 100% of bedrock groundwater at
the site.
In the overburden, groundwater flow was historically toward the Niagara River from the
southeast portion of the site. However, an overburden barrier wall constructed in 1994 restricts
the direct discharge of this groundwater to the Niagara River. The barrier wall re-directs the
groundwater to the southwest. In the southwest portion of the site, most of the overburden
groundwater is captured by a collection system but a small amount probably discharges to the
New York Power Authority (NYPA) conduit drain system and then discharges from the NYPA
drain system to the Falls Street Tunnel. At other plant areas, the direction of overburden
groundwater flow is locally influenced by man-made structures, particularly the sanitary and
outfall sewers as well as existing groundwater collection systems.
In the bedrock aquifers, groundwater moves northwest, north, and northeast, is recharged by the
river, and is influenced by the NYPA conduits and the Falls Street Tunnel. Most bedrock
groundwater flow leaving the site will enter the NYPA conduit drainage system or the Falls Street
Tunnel. All of the dry weather flow through the Falls Street Tunnel now is treated by the Niagara
Falls Wastewater Treatment Plant before discharge to the River.
-------
2
Interim Corrective Measures
OCC completed certain interim corrective measures required under the Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act (RCRA):
$ Removal and capping of contaminated soils
$ Installation of a barrier wall
$ Collection of DNAPL from bedrock wells
$ Installation of fences
$ Removal of spills from secondary containment areas
$ Removal of fly ash accumulated on the ground.
DEC and EPA issued OCC a state Part 373 permit and an EPA Hazardous and Solid Waste
Amendments permit under RCRA in June 1988, permitting the storage/treatment and incineration of
hazardous wastes. By 2005 all permitted storage, treatment, and incineration facilities were closed and
the pending Part 373 Permit renewal will include only facilities and activities for corrective action.
Site Investigation
Pursuant to the permits, OCC completed the on-site and off-site components of a RCRA Facility
Investigation (RFI). Due to the complexity of site conditions, the remedial program activities for the
facility were subdivided into several components:
$ bedrock groundwater
$ overburden groundwater
$ overburden soils
$ off-site groundwater contamination.
In accordance with an August 1993 DEC Part 373 permit modification, the remedial measures are
being implemented as stabilization measures, followed by the final remedy selection after the adequacy
of the stabilization measures are assessed. Stabilization measures for the individual components are
being addressed on a priority basis. OCC has prepared a comprehensive, site-wide CMS, addressing
all site components including the adequacy of the stabilization measures described below. This was
submitted in November 1998.
Stabilization Measures (Additional Interim Corrective Measures)
Bedrock Groundwater. All of the bedrock groundwater extraction wells and monitoring wells have
been installed. A new treatment plant designed to treat the contaminated bedrock groundwater has
been constructed. The pump-and-treat system is operational. From April 1996 through September
1996, as part of the testing and optimization of the remedial system, over 700 gallons per minute of
contaminated groundwater were pumped from the upper three bedrock aquifers and treated at the new
treatment plant. Three bedrock wells have collected, through December 2004, approximately 6,420
gallons of DNAPL from the site. The DNAPL had been incinerated in OCC's hazardous waste
incinerator which ceased operation in 2003. Since that incinerator was shut down, DNAPL has been
incinerated in RCRA-approved commercial facilities off-site. The pump-and-treat system was tested
-------
3
and optimized through March 1997. The pumping rates of each of the 19 bedrock groundwater
extraction wells were optimized to achieve a hydraulic barrier along the northern and western plant
boundaries to contain the contaminated groundwater.
Based on performance monitoring data, OCC determined that additional measures were necessary to
achieve the remedial design objectives. The treatment plant has been enhanced by adding additional
treatment measures (air stripping to address break-through of vinyl chloride), and expanding the
plant=s capacity from 800 gpm to 1200 gpm. OCC subsequently increased the extraction rate of the
bedrock groundwater recovery system to over 1000 gpm. On average more than 50 pounds per day
of organic chemicals are captured by the bedrock groundwater collection system.
Overburden Groundwater. Construction of a collection system to capture overburden groundwater
along the southern boundary of the site is complete. In the southwestern portion of the site, an 1,800
foot-long abandoned sewer line has been converted into a groundwater collection system. Conversion
of the line began in February 1996. A 1,400 foot-long section of the line began operation in June
1997. During the sewer line conversion, a 400 foot-long section of the line was found to be unsuited
for capturing the groundwater. As a result, OCC installed a new groundwater collection drain (trench)
adjacent to this 400 foot-long section of pipe, and extending an additional 400 feet to the west beyond
the original sewer line length. This increased the capture zone to a total of 2,200 feet. This system
began operation in December 1997. However, performance monitoring data indicated that these
measures were insufficient to produce the necessary groundwater capture, so the system was
augmented by installation of a tile drain. This was completed in December 1998. The new collection
system extends along the alignment of the converted sewer to the vicinity of the OCC S-Area site. On
average approximately 25 pounds per day of organic chemicals are captured by the overburden
groundwater collection system.
The overburden groundwater collection system is now fully operational. The collected groundwater is
being treated on-site at an existing wastewater treatment plant, which was upgraded to handle the
additional flow, and at the City of Niagara Falls Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP). OCC is
currently in negotiations to cease operation of its southern area wastewater treatment plant and send
the flow of the overburden groundwater collection system to the City of Niagara Falls WWTP under
permit..
At one time, groundwater infiltration into the on-site industrial waste sewer system was a significant
source of contamination to the river. However, OCC has had an ongoing program for replacing and
repairing pipes since the early 1980s. OCC completed the investigation of groundwater infiltration
into the Plant=s Outfall Sewer System in June 1996 and implemented measures to eliminate
infiltration points from Fall 1996 through Spring 1997.
OCC installed a barrier wall in 1994 along the Niagara River to prevent migration of overburden
groundwater contamination into the Niagara River.
Overburden Soils and Off-site Groundwater. As interim corrective measures, OCC identified and
removed 36 tons of liquid mercury from contaminated soils on-site in U-Area, and capped dioxin-
contaminated soils in X-Area.
-------
4
OCC submitted a draft CMS for the overburden soils in 1996. In a Fall 1997 comment letter on the
draft CMS, DEC advised OCC not to prepare a separate off-site CMS, but instead to submit a
comprehensive, site-wide, final CMS that addresses remedial measures for all site components
(bedrock, overburden and off-site). That CMS was submitted in November 1998.
Final Corrective Measures
Future off-site loadings from the Buffalo Avenue site will be effectively eliminated by the bedrock
groundwater stabilization program (completed), and the overburden groundwater stabilization
program (completed).
A draft permit that specifies the Final Corrective Measures for the facility was public noticed in
September 1999. The draft permit proposed to incorporate the Interim Corrective Measures currently
in place as part of the Final Corrective Measures for the site. After a public comment period, the final
permit became effective February 10, 2000._The permit is currently in the renewal process.
The Final Corrective Measures in the final permit include:
$ Extraction of bedrock groundwater on-site; and treatment in accordance with the applicable
SPDES permit at an on-site plant.
$ Monitoring bedrock groundwater extraction wells for NAPL; and collection of detected NAPL
with on-site or off-site treatment.
$ Extraction of overburden groundwater on-site; and treatment in accordance with the applicable
SPDES permit at an on-site plant.
$ Compliance with the limits specified in the applicable Significant Industrial User Wastewater
Discharge Permit for overburden groundwater infiltration into the City of Niagara Falls sanitary
sewers.
$ Compliance with the provisions of the applicable SPDES permit to restrict discharge of
overburden groundwater from the outfall sewer system.
$ Monitoring overburden groundwater extraction wells for NAPL; and collection of detected
NAPL with on-site or off-site treatment.
$ Monitoring the performance of the remedial systems on-site and off-site.
The schedule for implementation of a corrective action program at the plant, including Corrective
Measure Study (CMS) and Corrective Measure Implementation (CMI), is shown below.
Remediation Costs
Estimates of Federal, State and PRP past and future remediation costs related to this site are not
available.
-------
OCCIDENTAL CHEMICAL - BUFFALO AVENUE
Output
Responsible
Previous
Current
Party
Target Date
Schedule
RFI Work Plan Approval
DEC/EPA
Jun 1991
COMPLETED
RFI Completion
Permittee
Dec 1992
COMPLETED
CMS Work Plai
l Approval
DEC/EPA
Jun 1993
COMPLETED
CMS
Bedrock Groundwater
Permittee
Aug 1993
COMPLETED
Completion:
Overburden Groundwater
Permittee
Dec 1994
COMPLETED
Overburden Soil1
Permittee
Aug 1996
COMPLETED
Off-Site (Groundwater)1
Permittee
Feb 1997
N/A
Site-wide CMS1
Permittee
N/A
COMPLETED
Stabilization
Bedrock Groundwater
DEC/EPA
Dec 1994
COMPLETED
Selection:
Overburden Groundwater
DEC/EPA
Feb 1995
COMPLETED
Overburden Soil1
DEC/EPA
Oct 1997
N/A
Off-Site (Groundwater)1
DEC/EPA
Apr 1998
N/A
Stabilization
Bedrock Groundwater
DEC/EPA
Nov 1994
COMPLETED
Work Plan
Approval:
Overburden Groundwater
DEC/EPA
Jun 1995
COMPLETED
Overburden Soil1
DEC/EPA
Apr 1998
N/A
Off-Site (Groundwater)1
DEC/EPA
Jul 1998
N/A
Start-up:
Bedrock Groundwater
Permittee
Oct 1995
COMPLETED
Stabilization2
Overburden Groundwater
Permittee
Dec 1997
COMPLETED
Overburden Soil1
Permittee
Oct 1998
N/A
Off-Site (Groundwater)1
Permittee
Dec 1998
N/A
Start-up of CMI
Permittee
Dec 1997
COMPLETED
1 The overburden soil remedial measures were delayed so that contaminated soils generated during both bedrock
and overburden groundwater remediation could be addressed at once. Off-site remedial measures were delayed,
pending evaluation of the effectiveness of on-site remedial measures. None of these remedial measures impact
the potential for off-site loadings, which was eliminated in Dec. 1998, with full operation of the overburden
groundwater remedial system. OCC submitted a comprehensive, site-wide, final CMS in November 1998,
addressing all on-site and off-site components. The DEC issued a draft 373 permit that specifies final corrective
measures for the facility in September 1999. After a public comment period, the final permit became effective
February 10, 2000.
2 Implementation of the Bedrock and Overburden Stabilization Programs will effectively eliminate future off-
site loadings from the Main Plant Site.
-------
NIAGARA COUNTY REFUSE DISPOSAL
Site #81
Site Program: Federal Superfund
Summary Prepared by: EPA
Site Description
The Niagara County Refuse site occupies approximately 65 acres, about 1000 feet north of the
Niagara River in the Town of Wheatfield, New York.
During its operation period (1968-1976), the Niagara County Refuse Disposal District (NCRDD)
accepted household, yard, agricultural, institutional, commercial, and industrial waste; demolition and
construction debris; sewage treatment plant sludge; street sweepings; and used tires. More than 100
waste generators or transporters are thought to have used the site. Disposed materials included heat-
treatment salts, plating-tank sludge, tetrachloroethylene, PVC skins and emulsion, thiazole polymer
blends, polyvinyl alcohol, phenolic resins, and brine sludge containing mercury. At the time that it
was closed by the NCRDD in 1976, the site was covered with a 20 inch thick cap
consisting of a layer of low permeability clay beneath a layer of topsoil. Illegal
dumping of rubbish and hard fill, as well as the erosion of the clay cap, may have occurred at the site
from the time of closure of the landfill in 1976 until implementation of EPA response actions.
Three overburden zones and one bedrock zone are present under this site. The
bedrock zone and one of the overburden zones are the primary water-bearing
formations (aquifers). The groundwater in these two aquifers generally flows in
a south/southwesterly direction beneath the southern half of the site towards
the Niagara River, and in a north/northwesterly direction beneath the northern
half of the site towards an area of regulated wetlands.
Site Investigation
Niagara County Refuse is an EPA-lead site which was on the National Priorities List of Superfund sites
until it was de-listed in 2004. Pursuant to a March 1989 consent order, a group of fourteen Potentially
Responsible Parties (PRPs) performed a Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) for the site.
It was completed in September 1993, when EPA signed a Record of Decision (ROD) for the site.
The RI report indicated that the water-bearing zones beneath the site have generally not been impacted
by site contaminants. Volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds, pesticides, and metals were found
in leachate seeps emanating from the sides of the landfill, however, which, EPA then determined, posed
a threat to groundwater and nearby surface water.
Upon completion of the RI/FS, EPA issued a Proposed Plan for remediation of the site. After
consideration of public comment on the Proposed Plan, EPA executed a ROD on September 24, 1993,
selecting the following remedy:
$ a full NYCRR part 360 cap with a complete perimeter clay barrier wall
$ leachate collection and offsite treatment and disposal
-------
$ gas venting
$ an ecological assessment of the adjacent wetlands
$ removal of the field tile drains located to the west of the landfill
$ long-term operation and maintenance.
The Final Design Report for the remedial action was approved by EPA in September 1997. Bid
documents were prepared and the bid was awarded for remedial construction in June 1998.
Construction began in fall 1998.
Construction Progress
On-site construction at the site commenced in November 1998. The site was cleared and grubbed and
a security fence erected. Installation of the leachate collection system and its tie-in to the City of
North Tonawanda sanitary sewer by force main was completed over the winter months. Early spring
was devoted to grading the site and filling the central swales with clean fill. Placement of the first
layer of the cap, gas-vent stone, began in May 1999. Construction progressed with the placement of a
geotextile drainage layer, a geocomposite barrier layer, a soil barrier protection layer, and a topsoil
layer, respectively. Placement of each layer proceeded in a north-to-south direction over the entire
site. Remedial construction was completed in June 2000. A final inspection was conducted in
September 2000. The final Remedial Action Report was approved in December 2000 and operation
and maintenance activities commenced and are continuing. Groundwater monitoring supports that the
remedy is effective and operating as designed. EPA prepared a closeout report for the site in August
2003.
AFive-Year Review, completed by EPA in November 2003, concluded that the remedy is effective and
operating as designed and that there is no exposure of human or environmental receptors from site-
related contaminants due to permanent measures in place at the site. Subsequently, EPA removed the
site from the NPL in July 2004. The site is still monitored regularly by EPA under the operation and
maintenance program.
Schedule for Completion
An updated schedule for remediation of the site is shown in the following table.
Remediation Costs
Following are estimated amounts that have been spent to date in response to this site:
Federals 1,472,000
PRP $ 13,586,000
NIAGARA COUNTY REFUSE DISPOSAL
Output
Responsible
Previous
Current
Party
Target Date
Schedule
-------
RI/FS
14 PRPs
Mar 1993
COMPLETED
Record of Decision
EPA
Sept 1993
COMPLETED
Remedial Design Start
13 PRPs
Jul 1994
COMPLETED
Remedial Action Start
13 PRPs
Jan 1997
COMPLETED
Remedial Action Completion
13 PRPs
Dec 1999
COMPLETED
NPL Deletion
EPA
Jul 2004
COMPLETED
-------
DUPONT NECCO PARK
Site # 14
Site Program: Federal Superfund
Summary Prepared By: EPA
Site Description
The Necco Park Site, owned by DuPont, is an inactive industrial waste landfill on approximately 24
acres in Niagara Falls. It is surrounded on three sides by the BFI Sanitary Landfill and the CECOS
site, approximately 1.5 miles from the Niagara River.
DuPont acquired the Site in the 1930s and used it as a landfill to dispose of approximately 93,000 tons
of industrial wastes until its closure in 1977. The following chemicals are known, from disposal
records, to have been disposed at the Site: carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, hexachlorobenzene,
hexachlorobutadiene, hexachloroethane, methylene chloride, tetrachloroethylene and trichloroethylene.
Eight aquifer zones have been identified under the Site. In the overburden, groundwater flow is
minimal, but is influenced by two water table depressions along the southern property boundary, which
are caused by two recovery wells in the upper bedrock. Groundwater in the upper bedrock zones is
partially captured by the recovery well system. Otherwise, Site groundwater in the upper bedrock
water-bearing zones discharges down-gradient to the south. A portion of it is presumed to eventually
reach the Falls Street Tunnel (FST). Groundwater in the middle bedrock zones flows generally to the
west and is partially captured by a third recovery well. Groundwater in the middle and lower bedrock
zones flows west toward the New York Power Authority (NYPA) conduits.
Interim Remedial Measures
Necco Park is not on the National Priorities List. However, DuPont conducted groundwater
investigations pursuant to a RCRA3013 consent decree and a CERCL A Administrative Order on
Consent (AOC) with EPA.
The Site was capped in 1978. Since 1982, two recovery wells near the center of the property, when
operational, have recovered contaminated groundwater and established a partial hydraulic barrier in
the upper bedrock and overburden along the southern edge of the landfill. However, some upper
bedrock groundwater continued to flow south toward the Niagara River. In order to improve
containment and collection of contaminated groundwater, an up-gradient grout curtain was installed in
the bedrock in August 1989. A third recovery well, which penetrates the middle bedrock zones at the
southern boundary of Necco Park, went into limited operation in 1992. These on-site remedial actions
have resulted in an estimated load reduction from the site of approximately 27-55%, based on
information collected pursuant to the AOC. DuPont estimates that approximately 179 million gallons
of groundwater have been pumped since 1983. Since 1989, 7650 gallons of DNAPL have been
recovered, containing approximately 101,300 pounds of organic compounds.
A portion of the groundwater not recovered by the on-Site pumping wells is probably captured (1) by
the New York Power Authority conduit drain system (water in the drain system may drain to the Falls
Street Tunnel or flow north to the Forebay Canal) or (2) by the Falls Street Tunnel directly. All the
-------
dry-weather flow through the Falls Street Tunnel is treated by the Niagara Falls Wastewater Treatment
Plant before discharge to the River.
Final Remedial Action
The remedial investigation began May 1991 and the Investigation Report was approved in May 1994.
The feasibility study (FS) (entitled "Analysis of Alternatives Report") was approved by EPA and DEC
in July 1996.
On September 18, 1998, EPA issued a Record of Decision (ROD) for the site, which set forth the
following remedy:
1. Containment of the Source Area by:
$ Upgrading the existing cap to meet New York State Part 360, or equivalent standards;
$ Using hydraulic measures in the overburden to maintain an inward gradient within the Source
Area or installing a physical barrier (e.g., slurry wall, sheet pile) on the southern, and portions
of the eastern and western Necco Park property boundaries;
$ Using hydraulic measures in the bedrock to maintain an inward gradient within the Source Area
and prevent the movement of contaminated groundwater beyond the Source Area boundary.
2. Treatment of the extracted groundwater from the Source Area, either on-site or off-site, to achieve
the appropriate discharge requirements.
3. Collection, and off-site disposal, of DNAPL in the Source Area by:
$ Utilizing the existing monitoring wells network;
$ Utilizing any groundwater recovery wells placed in the Source Area;
$ The installation of additional dedicated DNAPL recovery well(s).
4. Operation and maintenance (O&M) of the existing systems and the systems constructed under this
remedy.
5. Comprehensive monitoring to verily hydraulic control, identify DNAPL occurrence, demonstrate
the effectiveness of the remedial measures, and assess the impact of such measures on far-field
groundwater quality.
6. Additional characterization of the Site to assess whether natural attenuation will be effective in
addressing far-field contamination.
7. Development and implementation of institutional controls to restrict Site access, the use of
groundwater at the Site, and control land use such that it is consistent with Site conditions.
All Remedial Actions Completed
The Proposed Plan was released to the public in July 1996, upon approval of the FS. A public meeting
to discuss the Proposed Plan was held in August 1996, shortly after its release. Because of extensive
-------
public comments received on the Proposed Plan, EPA revised the Proposed Plan in response to the
comments and provided a second public comment period. A Record of Decision (ROD) was issued in
September 1998. Design studies started in October 1998 and were completed in April 2004.
Construction of the hydraulic containment system was completed in April 2005 and is
currently undergoing a testing program to ensure that it is operating as designed. Construction of
the cap upgrade, the final element of the remedy, was completed in September
2006. Remedial action for the site was completed in September 2007. It is also important to
note that, as mentioned above under Interim Remedial Actions, remedial actions already implemented
on-Site have resulted in an estimated load reduction from the Site of approximately 27-55%.
Remediation Costs
Following are estimated amounts that have been spent to date on remediating this Site:
Federals 2,155,000 (Includes EPA= s indirect costs)
State $ 141,000 (Does not include travel costs)
PRP $ 42,500,000 (Unverified DuPont estimate)
It is estimated that the following amounts will be spent from now to the completion of remediation:
Federals 875,000
State $ 100,000
PRP $ 65,102,000 (includes O&M)
-------
DUPONT NECCO PARK
Output
Responsible
Previous Target
Current
Party
Date
Schedule
RI
PRP
May 1994
COMPLETED
FS
PRP
Sept 1994
COMPLETED
Record of Decision
EPA
Sept 1996
COMPLETED
Remedial Design Start
PRP
Feb 1997
COMPLETED
Final Remedia
Action Start
PRP
Nov 2001
COMPLETED
Remedial
Grout Curtain
PRP
C
COMPLETED
Action
Completion
3 Pumping Wells
PRP
C
COMPLETED
Final Action
PRP
Nov 2005
COMPLETED
-------
CECOS INTERNATIONAL
Site # 78
Site Program: RCRA (State and Federal)
Summary Prepared by: EPA and DEC
Site Description
CECOS International, Inc. operates a 385-acre commercial solid/industrial waste management facility
in the Town of Niagara and the City of Niagara Falls. The facility is situated in an industrial and
commercial area, bordering residential and recreational areas, and is about 1.5 miles north of the
Niagara River.
The site has been used for waste disposal for over 80 years. The facility managed hazardous wastes
from all Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) categories identified in Part 261 —
characteristic wastes, specific and non-specific industrial wastes and commercial chemical product
waste. Current hazardous waste management activities include a wastewater treatment system and
container storage.
The CECOS facility is underlain by an overburden and two bedrock aquifers. A less permeable layer
of native clays and glacial till serves as an aquitard (or barrier) between the overburden and the
bedrock aquifers.
All but a minor percentage of the CECOS site groundwater flows off site to the south and southeast
and is drawn into the Falls Street Tunnel and New York Power Authority (NYPA) conduit sink on its
way to the Niagara River. The potential loading to the Niagara River from the site overburden aquifer
compared to that from the bedrock aquifers is minor. By the time it reaches the tunnel/conduit system,
the groundwater from the overburden aquifer has found its way into the upper bedrock through
discontinuities and excavations in the native sediments. All of the dry weather flow through the Falls
Street Tunnel is treated by the Niagara Falls Waste Water Treatment Plant.
Site Investigation
The site encompasses approximately 50 Solid Waste Management Units, including landfills, waste piles
and surface impoundments. An EPA HSWA permit and state Part 373 permit were issued in
September 1988, requiring investigation/remediation of all waste management units.
Pursuant to the requirements of the RCRA permit, in September 1991, CECOS completed the
required investigations at the facility. Groundwater contaminants were mainly detected in the central
area of the site, in the three groundwater transmissive zones monitored by CECOS. The volatile
organic compounds (VOC) detected include acetone, 2-butanone, benzene, chloroform, toluene,
chlorobenzene, methylene chloride, and tetrachl or ethane.
-------
Interim Corrective Measures HCM)
An interim groundwater recovery system has been pumping contaminated groundwater from all three
zones since 1990. The recovery system was started with four recovery wells and currently consists of
20 recovery wells. The pumped groundwater is treated on-site and discharged to the City of Niagara
Falls wastewater treatment plant. From July 1991 through August 1998, over 60 million gallons of
groundwater have been treated, and over 2,500 pounds of organic compounds were removed.
In addition, several interim measures consisting of the removal of contaminated soils and wastes have
been completed at the following units: surface impoundments, phenolic resin area, and sewage sludge
area. Post-closure permit/HSWA modification for the closed hazardous waste landfills was issued in
September 1991.
A final remedy for the Scrap Yard Area was incorporated into the DEC/EPA permit modification of
September 1991. The remedy, implemented in 1992, consisted of:
$ Removal and off-site disposal of approximately 24,000 cubic yards of soil contaminated with
PCBs, organic compounds, and metals
$ Construction of a low permeability cover
$ Long-term inspection and maintenance of the cover, and monitoring of the groundwater.
All of the interim remedial actions that have come due at this site have been accomplished.
Corrective Measures Study
A RCRA Facility Investigation (RFI) and a Corrective Measures Study have been completed. The
final, site-wide corrective measures for the CECOS site were selected through the DEC Part 373
permit renewal process. The permit was renewed in February 1995. The final corrective measures
consist of:
$ Groundwater extraction and on-site treatment (prior to discharge to the City of Niagara Falls
Wastewater Treatment Plant);
$ Maintenance of existing caps and pavement over areas of residual contamination;
$ Restrictions on future land development; and
$ Restrictions on public access to the facility.
The interim groundwater pump-and-treat program has been successful in containing and remediating
the groundwater contamination at the facility. However, as part of the final remedy, this interim
remedial system will be enhanced to expand the groundwater capture zone and facilitate a more rapid
clean-up of the site.
CECOS submitted a Corrective Measure Implementation (CMI) design in August 1995 and prepared
an addendum to the design plan that included an aquifer pumping test program. A short-term pumping
test was conducted in October-November 1995 to evaluate the potential use of existing wells as both
pumping wells and monitoring wells for the CMI. An extended trial CMI pumping test was conducted
in February-May 1996 to test additional wells and to optimize pumping rates over a longer duration
(to determine the extent of long-term capture zones to control contaminant migration). Several
-------
existing recovery wells, an existing collection drain, and a new recovery well are being operated for
the CMI. CECOS submitted a new CMI design in November 1996. The CMI was started up in
December 1996. The remedial system continues to be operated.
Remediation Costs
Estimates of Federal, State and PRP past and future remediation costs related to this site are not
available.
CECOS INTERNATIONAL
Output
Responsible Party
Previous
Target Date
Current
Schedule
RFI Work Plan Approval
DEC/EPA
Sep 1989
COMPLETED
RFI Completion
Permittee
Sep 1991
COMPLETED
Stabilization Start-up
(Groundwater)
Permittee
COMPLETED
Start-up of CMI (Scrap Yard)
Permittee
COMPLETED
CMS Work Plan Approval
DEC/EPA
Apr 1992
COMPLETED
CMS Completion
Permittee
Apr 1993
COMPLETED
Remedy Selection (site-wide)
DEC/EPA
Dec 1994
COMPLETED
CMI Work Plan Approval
(site-wide)
DEC/EPA
Apr 1995
COMPLETED
Start-up of CMI (site-wide)
Permittee
Apr 1996
COMPLETED
-------
OCCIDENTAL CHEMICAL - HYDE PARK
Site #39
Site Program: Federal/State Co-lead: Superfund
Summary Prepared by: EPA
Site Description
Occidental Chemical Corporation's (OCC) Hyde Park site is a 15-acre landfill in northwest Niagara
Falls, less than one-half mile from the Niagara River.
From 1953 to 1975, the company (then Hooker Chemicals and Plastics) deposited approximately
80,000 tons of chemical wastes at the site. The hazardous materials disposed on site included 3,300
tons of 2,4,5-trichlorophenol (TCP) wastes, which are known to contain significant amounts of
2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD); approximately 0.7 - 1.6 tons of dioxin are believed to be
associated with the TCP. Chlorinated organic wastes, including hexachloropentadiene derivatives,
chlorendic acid, chlorinated toluenes, benzenes and phenols, predominate at the site. The former
drainage stream of the landfill, Bloody Run, which flows into the Niagara River, was historically
contaminated with organic chemicals, including dioxin. A clay cap and a shallow leachate collection
system were installed at the site in 1979.
There is an overburden and a bedrock aquifer present under this site. Groundwater flows both
downward and horizontally through the fractures and layers of the bedrock. The aquifers flow
generally northwest, toward the Niagara River Gorge. Contaminants have migrated from the site in
both aqueous and non-aqueous phases in the overburden and bedrock. Dioxin from the site has
previously been found in contaminated groundwater seeping to the River from the Gorge face, located
1,600 feet west-northwest of the site.
Remedial construction at the site was completed in June 2003. The remedial actions taken to date
have substantially reduced off-site migration. Since the installation of an overburden remediation
system in 1991, groundwater in the overburden is no longer migrating horizontally past the
remediation system around the site. Therefore, no loading of hazardous substances from the site to the
Niagara River via groundwater in the overburden is currently taking place. Containment of bedrock
groundwater has also been achieved across the NAPL plume boundary.
Until 2003, OCC was unable to demonstrate that the contaminated bedrock groundwater was being
contained. The original site conceptual model separated the bedrock aquifers into three groundwater
zones (upper, middle and lower). Subsequent to the development of a groundwater model, OCC
conducted field investigations from 2001 to 2003, including down-borehole geophysics and water-
level measurements in 113 piezometers. The analysis of the field data resulted in a revised
hydrolgeologic framework consisting of eleven discrete flow zones separated by aquitards. OCC has
documented its revised hydrogeologic framework in two documents: Site Characterization Report:
Revised Geologic and Hydrogeologic Characterization (2/02) and Site Characterization Report:
Hydrologic Characterization (2/03). Groundwater monitoring has been conducted in the eleven flow
zones since late 2002 and OCC is currently building a data base of water-level measurements.
OCC issued the Site Characterization Report: Remedial Characterization Report (6/03) which
concluded that the Bedrock NAPL Plume Containment System satisfies the performance objectives of
-------
the RRT and that the contaminated bedrock groundwater was being contained. OCC also performed
an analysis of the groundwater chemistry in the area. OCC concluded in the Major Ions Study (11/03)
that the relative age of the groundwater between the pumping wells near the site and the Niagara
Gorge is younger than the age of the groundwater underneath the landfill. This indicates that the
bedrock wells are effectively preventing the migration of groundwater from the site to the Gorge. In
addition, sampling results indicated that the seeps are primarily surface runoff, not groundwater. The
APL purge wells at the gorge face have dried up the groundwater near the Gorge. Sampling at the
gorge face seeps, conducted annually since 1997, has not detected dioxin, which was found in previous
gorge face surveys.
Requisite Remedial Technology Agreement
The site is a joint EPA/DEC-lead Superfund site on the National Priorities List and is governed by a
pre-CERCLA settlement agreement. EPA sued to require OCC to remediate the site in 1979. In
January 1981, EPA, DEC, and OCC filed a Stipulation and Judgment Approving Settlement
Agreement. Since 1982, OCC has been implementing the settlement agreement. Agreement on a
Requisite Remedial Technology (RRT) was approved by the court in 1986. The RRT included:
$ Source Control (prototype landfill extraction wells);
$ Containment and collection of contaminants in the overburden (overburden barrier collection
system) and the Lockport bedrock (purge and recirculation wells);
$ An Intermediate and Deep Formations Study (monitoring wells);
$ A Community Monitoring Program (monitoring wells) for early detection of plumes;
$ An Industrial Protection Program for neighboring industries;
$ Treatment and monitoring of collected leachates:
$ Aqueous-phase liquids to be treated on-site;
$ Non-aqueous phase liquids to be destroyed by incineration;
$ Site Capping;
$ Gorge Face Seep Remediation to isolate seeps from the public;
$ A TCDD bioaccumulation study in Lake Ontario; and
$ Bloody Run Creek excavation and monitoring; and
$ Long-term monitoring.
OCCIDENTAL CHEMICAL - HYDE PARK Site #39
Action
Start
Complete
Intermediate Formation Wells
10/88
12/89
Leachate Storage Facility
—
05/89
Leachate Treatment Facility
—
04/91
Upgrade APL Treatment System
01/98
03/98
-------
Lagoon Closure
07/90
01/92
Phase I Source Control Extraction Wells Installed
04/90
06/90
Phase II Source Control Extraction Wells Installed
04/94
07/94
Overburden Barrier Collection System
—
11/90
APL/NAPL Plume Redefinition
04/90
07/90
Recirculation Wells
01/91
03/91
Cluster Monitoring Wells
06/90
09/90
Landfill Cap
08/94
12/94
Phase I Prototype Purge Wells Installed
04/90
07/90
Phase II Prototype Purge Wells
03/93
12/93
Phase III Purge Wells
05/96
05/97
3 Bedrock Purge Wells and Force Mains Installed
03/98
12/98
3 Additional Bedrock Purge Wells and Force Mains
03/99
12/99
Groundwater model
4/00
2/01
Conceptual Evaluation of NAPL Plume Containment
12/00
3/01
Upgrade of Leachate Treatment Facility to 400 gpm
4/01
6/01
4 Additional wells installed in NW corner of site
6/01
12/01
Site Characterization (Geophysics, Hydraulic Evaluation)
6/01
12/01
Retrofitting of Site Monitoring Wells
5/02
11/02
Re-evaluation of NAPL Plume Containment
12/02
6/03
The status of activities included in the above schedule follows.
Community Monitoring Wells provide early detection of chemical migration. They are sampled and
analyzed quarterly to ensure the safety of the community. The well data confirm that the hydraulic
gradient near the community is downward, thereby ensuring that chemical migration toward the
community is not an issue.
Under the Industrial Protection Program, sumps in neighboring industries have been sealed, as have
some manholes.
Fences were used to prevent access to the Gorge Face seeps; seep water has been diverted into
culverts and pipes to prevent humans from being exposed to the potentially contaminated water; and
contaminated sediments were scraped away. Monitoring of the fenced seeps has been conducted
annually since 1989. Results continue to indicate no need for additional control or remediation of the
-------
seep areas. Annual inspections are performed at all recorded seep locations, and the fences around the
seeps are not required anymore.
The on-site Leachate Storage and Handling Facility was completed in April 1990. 155,000 gallons of
NAPL which had been stored on-site in the lagoons and four railroad tank cars were pumped into the
leachate storage facility and the lagoons were closed in January 1992.
The Treatment Facility was brought on-line in April 1991. The contaminants collected through the
remedial systems are treated on-site. Aqueous-phase liquids pass through an inclined plane settler,
filters, and sacrificial carbon pre-treatment to remove dioxins and PCBs. This is followed by activated
carbon treatment. All vapors in the closed system are treated. In March 1998, the APL treatment
system was upgraded to handle a higher flow of 100-150 gallons per minute. In the spring of 2001,
OCC completed upgrading the capacity of the treatment system to 400 gallons per minute in June
2001 so it can adequately handle excess water in wet weather.
NAPL is trucked to Laidlaw Environmental Services in Deer Park, Texas, for incineration. To date,
approximately 400,000 gallons of NAPL have been destroyed.
Prior to the trucking, NAPL was destroyed at OCC=s Niagara Plant Incinerator. The plant= s permit
was modified by EPA and DEC in November 1990 to allow destruction of NAPL from Hyde Park (and
other Occidental sites). This was the first commercially-owned incinerator in the U.S. specifically
permitted to destroy dioxin wastes.
The Overburden Barrier Collection System (OBCS), a drain system around the entire landfill, was
installed in 1990. Occidental continuously operates its pumps, preventing the migration of
contaminants through the overburden.
Installation of two 36-inch diameter Source Control extraction wells within the landfill itself was
completed in June 1990. Phased pump tests were conducted and evaluated throughout 1991 and
1992. Based on the results of these pump tests, four additional source control wells of smaller
diameter were installed in the landfill in 1994. With the completion of the new cap on the landfill and
completion of the OBCS, the need for source control wells has diminished. Of the original six source
control wells, only three remain in service. These are manually operated on a weekly basis due to very
low recovery rates. Collected liquids are taken to the Leachate Storage Facility.
The Lake Ontario TCDD bioaccumulation study was completed in May 1990. Fish and sediment
samples from Lake Ontario were analyzed for TCDD, and a laboratory study of the uptake of TCDD
by lake trout was conducted.
In 1990, the extent of the aqueous-phase liquid/non-aqueous phase liquid plumes in the overburden
and bedrock were redefined. This information was considered in the implementation of the remedy for
the site.
Excavation of Bloody Run Creek began in October 1992 and was completed in March 1993.
Occidental removed 29,200 cubic yards of contaminated sediment and lined the creek bed with rocks.
Samples taken at the bottom and sides of the excavation confirmed the effectiveness of this remedy.
-------
The sewer under University Drive adjacent to Niagara University was sealed and a new sewer was
installed in 1993. A sewer was relocated at TAMS Ceramics, a neighboring industrial plant in 1989,
and the College Heights sewer was remediated in 1990.
The perimeter cap of the landfill was completed in 1991. A low permeability cap was placed over the
entire landfill in 1994.
The objective of the bedrock NAPL plume containment system is to create a "zone of capture" around
purge wells down gradient of the landfill so that contaminated ground water can be collected in these
purge wells and pumped to the Leachate Treatment Facility. The bedrock purge well system was
installed in a phased approach:
$ Phase I of the system was installed in the NAPL plume area and pump tests were performed on
individual and multiple wells. Based on these tests, additional purge wells (Phase II) were
installed in late 1993.
$ Pump tests were performed on the Phase II wells in early 1994 to determine if there was an
adequate zone of capture surrounding these wells. Phase II wells did not meet the
performance criteria and more wells were needed.
$ OCC installed Phase III wells in 1997, along with the associated monitoring wells. The force
mains to connect these wells to the Hyde Park Leachate Treatment Plant were completed in
May 1997.
$ Phase III monitoring indicated that the bedrock NAPL collection system in this area still did
not meet performance criteria. Three pumping wells were installed and connected by force
mains to the on-site treatment facility in 1998. Three additional wells were installed and
connected to force mains in 1999; one additional well and five monitoring wells were installed
in 2000.
$ Four additional wells were installed in 2002 and a NAPL recovery well was converted to an
extraction well.
$ Hydrogeologic studies conducted in 2000-2003 resulted in a revised
conceptual model for the site which includes eleven discrete flow zones in
the bedrock. OCC modified the existing monitoring well system and these
wells are now screened to monitor the individual flow zones to better
delineate the groundwater capture.
$ OCC issued the Site Characterization Report: Remedial Characterization Report (6/03) which
concluded that the Bedrock NAPL Plume Containment System satisfies the performance
objectives of the RRT and that the contaminated bedrock groundwater was being contained.
OCC also issued the Major Ions Study (11/03) which concluded that the relative age of the
groundwater between the pumping wells near the site and the Niagara Gorge is younger than
the age of the groundwater underneath the landfill. This indicates that the bedrock wells are
effectively preventing the migration of groundwater from the site to the Gorge.
$ Remedial construction at the site was completed in June 2003. EPA issued a Preliminary
Close-out Report (6/03) documenting the construction completion. EPA issued a Remedial
Action Report in September 2004 that documented all the remedial actions taken at the site.
Remediation Costs
Following are estimated amounts that have been spent to date on remediating this site:
-------
Federals 12,100,000
PRP $ 78,000,000
It is estimated that $ 2,000,000/year will be spent on the Operation and Maintenance of the site for
approximately the next 30 years.
OCCIDENTAL CHEMICAL - HYDE PARK
Output
Responsible
Party
Target Date
Current Schedule
Remedial Action Completed for
Bloody Run Creek
PRP
Jan 1993
COMPLETED
March 2003
Remedial Systems Construction
Completed (See above table for
detailed list of remedial actions)
PRP
March 1996
COMPLETED
June 2003
Remedial Action Completion*
PRP
March 1997
COMPLETED
June 2003
Remedial systems are considered Aoperational@ when they are operating as designed and
are meeting their performance criteria. Once the remedial systems are declared operational, the
Remedial Action is completed. Then, the Operation and Maintenance period follows.
-------
102nd STREET
Sites # 40, 56, 85, and 94
Site Program: Federal Superfund
Summary Prepared By: EPA
Site Description
The 102nd Street site is located at the eastern edge of the City of Niagara Falls, on the banks of the
Niagara River. The site encompasses 22.1 acres, owned by two Potentially Responsible Parties
(PRPs): 15.6 acres are owned by Occidental Chemical Corporation (formerly Hooker Chemical and
Plastics Corporation) and 6.5 acres are owned by Olin Chemical Corporation.
This landfill was used from 1943 to 1971 for the disposal of an estimated 159,000 tons of wastes,
including organic and inorganic phosphates (1,300 tons), hexachlorocyclohexanes (>1,500 tons),
chemical and demolition wastes, and fly ash.
There are overburden and bedrock aquifers present under this site. A clay and till layer acts as an
aquitard (or barrier) between the overburden and the bedrock. Although water flows in several
directions in each aquifer, the average flow direction and ultimate discharge point is south to the
Niagara River.
Site Investigation
This National Priorities List site has been the subject of state and federal litigation, and is a joint
EPA/DEC-lead Superfund site. EPA and the State of New York sued Occidental Chemical
Corporation and the Olin Corporation in December 1979.
Interim remedial efforts taken at this site include bulkheading along the shoreline to minimize erosion
into the river and the installation of a clay cap in the 1970s.
A Remedial Investigation (RI) was performed to determine the nature and extent of contamination in
the soils and ground water. The RI, Feasibility Study (FS) and the Record of Decision (ROD) were
completed in 1990.
The EPA issued an Administrative Order in September 1991, requiring the companies to perform the
remedial design and remedial action. An "Intent-to-Comply" letter was signed by the PRPs in October
1991, at which time the Remedial Design started.
Remedial Design
The remedial design of this site was delayed when the natural resource trustees (federal and state)
expressed concerns about 5 acres of the embayment that was proposed in the design to be enclosed
within a slurry wall and covered by the final landfill cap. Design modifications were explored to
reduce the embayment loss to approximately 2 to 3 acres by constructing the slurry wall closer to the
shoreline. The 1990 ROD, however, required that hot spots of contaminated sediments that would be
outside the slurry wall be excavated and incinerated. The proposed design change would have left
-------
known hot spots of contaminated sediment outside the slurry wall, substantially changing the scope
and cost of the remedy from that initially contemplated. A Record of Decision Amendment, signed by
EPA in June 1995, eliminated the contingency requiring the incineration of any hot spots of sediments
that would be left outside the slurry wall. The amended ROD required these sediments to be
excavated and placed behind the wall within the encapsulated landfill.
Remedial Activities
Construction of remedial activities began in March 1996. A cofferdam was built around the
embayment. After a fish survey was completed, game fish were removed from the embayment.
Contaminated sediments were removed from the embayment. Perimeter soils were excavated and
placed on-site. The redesign discussed above enabled over 2 acres of embayment water resources to
be saved. A slurry wall was built around the site to prevent contaminants from leaking into the River.
The final landfill cap was completed in 1998, to prevent rainwater from infiltrating the waste and
carrying contamination off-site.
An additional change in the remedial design was made to take advantage of excess capacity at the
Love Canal Treatment Plant. Instead of on-site leachate treatment, a force main was constructed to
pump leachate from the 102nd Street Site to the Love Canal Treatment Plant. This change did not
delay the completion and optimization of the final remedial action.
The leachate pumping system was completed in December 1998, at which time the potential for
contaminants to run to the River from this site was eliminated. Landscaping and optimization of the
pump-and-treat system was completed in March 1999. The long-term operation and maintenance of
the site is ongoing.
Monitoring
Initial monitoring results obtained at the site indicate that the remedy is performing as designed.
Remediation Costs
Following are estimated amounts that have been spent to date on remediating this site:
Federals 9,900,000 (Indirect costs not included.)
State $ (State costs are included with EPA costs)
PRP $ 26,000,000
Costs for Operation and Maintenance expected to be incurred in the future are approximately
$100,000 per year, and will be paid by the PRPs.
National Priorities List fNPL^ Deletion
The site was deleted from the NPL on August 5, 2004. However, as described in '300.425(e)(3) of the
National Contingency Plan (NCP), any site deleted from the NPL remains eligible for Fund-financed
remedial actions if conditions as the site warrant such actions.
-------
102ND STREET
Output
Responsible Party
Current Schedule
Final RI/FS Report
PRPs (Olin and
Occidental)
COMPLETED
Record of Decision
EPA/DEC
COMPLETED
Record of Decision Amendment
EPA/DEC
COMPLETED
Remedial Design Start
PRPs
COMPLETED
Remedial Action Start
PRPs
COMPLETED
Remedial Action Completion
PRPs
COMPLETED*
The potential for contaminants to flow to Niagara River from this site was eliminated in
December 1998, when the leachate pumping system was completed. Landscaping and
optimization of the pump-and-treat system was completed in March 1999.
-------
BELL AEROSPACE TEXTRON
Site # 5
Site Program: RCRA (State and Federal)
Summary Prepared by: EPA and DEC
Site Description
The Bell Aerospace Textron plant is located approximately 2.5 miles north of the Niagara River,
adjacent to the Niagara Falls International Airport.
Between 1950 and 1980, the company used an unlined 60' X 100' surface impoundment to collect
wash water from rocket engine test firings, storm run-off, and solvent drippings from cleaning,
degreasing, and anodizing operations. Hazardous waste and constituents of concern include
trichloroethylene and dichloroethylene. The wastes were discharged to a sanitary sewer after pH
adjustment.
Beneath the site lies one overburden and two bedrock aquifers. Groundwater flow through the
overburden aquifer is primarily to the south-southeast. There is a potential vertical flow between the
overburden and the upper bedrock aquifer, and at least some of the groundwater from the overburden
discharges to Bergholtz Creek. The upper bedrock aquifer flows primarily in a southeasterly direction
and in the lower bedrock aquifer groundwater flow is generally to the south. The down-gradient
extent of groundwater contamination in each of the three aquifers has been well defined, and, as of this
update, no contaminated groundwater appears to be discharging directly to the Niagara River.
Remedial Actions
Bell Aerospace Textron is a RCRA site with a closed surface impoundment. The company excavated
1225 tons of contaminated soil and capped the area in 1987.
All of the remedial actions that were required here have been accomplished on schedule.
Since the initial 1989 hazardous waste site report, a RCRA Facility Investigation (RFI) has determined
the extent of contaminant migration and a Corrective Measures Study (CMS) has addressed on- and
off-site groundwater contamination. ANYS State Part 373 post-closure permit was issued to Bell
Aerospace in September 1992, which expired in September 2003. The permit was renewed on May
15, 2007 and expires on May 15, 2012. The permit requires final Corrective Measures
Implementation (CMI), consisting of groundwater pump-and-treat programs for on- and off-site
contamination. In addition, since October 2001 the facility has operated (on a voluntary basis)
monitoring wells through the cap of the Neutralization Pond as part of an ongoing investigation of the
natural degradation of groundwater contamination at the facility.
The overall remedial program is designed to intercept the bedrock groundwater that is migrating off-
site toward the Niagara River. It consists of the installation of 11 groundwater extraction wells.
The off-site remedial system was started up in April 1993. It is achieving its designed objective. The
capture zone associated with the system covers the area of groundwater contamination, and the areal
-------
extent of the contamination is diminishing. Five extraction wells have been installed to contain the off-
site groundwater. However, as the off-site plume has become smaller, four extraction wells were
determined to be optimal for pumping. The extracted groundwater contamination is discharged into
the publicly owned treatment works (POTW) of the Town of Wheatfield. The off-site system is
designed to recover two pounds of volatile compounds daily. The performance of the off-site remedial
system is considered acceptable.
The on-site remedial system began the start-up operating period in April 1995. Several technical
problems prevented the on-site system from attaining all of its design objectives. The remedial system
was redesigned to address these problems, and the following two modifications were made:
$ the installation of a 900 foot-long pipeline to divert the cooling water discharge from a rocket
testing facility operating at the site to the storm drainage system; and,
$ the installation of a slurry wall barrier along the main sewer line on Walmore Road to prevent
the water migration from the sewer line to the on-site system.
However, even after these modifications, the on-site system was still not attaining satisfactory
hydraulic containment. To address this, an additional extraction well was installed along the southern
boundary of the site. This well was installed in July 1998, and is currently in operation. The operation
of this well has increased the groundwater capture zone along the southern edge of the facility, but the
capture zone was not consistently continuous from two of the five extraction wells. A higher capacity
pump has been in operation on the new well since August 20, 1999, thus increasing the groundwater
pumping rate.
With the above modifications, the on-site system has been achieving its design goals for the past 12
years. The on-site system has been effective in creating a groundwater capture zone over the DNAPL
plume, therefore, all contaminated groundwater is being intercepted and treated on-site, so that no
loading is migrating from the site. Six extraction wells are currently operating in the on-site system.
The operation of the higher capacity pump has generally maintained a continuous capture zone.
Monitoring data of 2005-2006 indicates that a complete capture zone has been obtained along the
southern boundary. No significant groundwater anomalies (lower water elevations and decrease in
pumping rates) were reported during this period which resulted in an increased of the efficiency and
effectiveness of the onsite system. The on-site system is designed to recover four pounds of volatile
compounds daily. These groundwater anomalies (lower water elevations and decrease in pumping
rates) have resulted in a reduced efficiency and effectiveness of the onsite system.
It is suspected that these anomalous groundwater elevations and reduced pumping rates were due to
the presence of scale (gross material) accumulated inside the wells and the pumps. As a result, all
onsite and offsite extractions wells have been cleaned and repaired. In addition, pumping rates of the
on-site system extraction/DNAPL wells were adjusted in order to maximize the system=s efficiency
and effectiveness. The on-site system is designed to recover four pounds of volatile compounds daily.
Recent maintenance and upgrades in 2007 to the treatment system has increased the operational
efficiency.
-------
Remediation Costs
Following are estimated amounts that have been spent through March 2005 on remediating this site:
Federals (Oversight costs not available)
State $ (Oversight costs not available)
PRP $ 1,898,891 (Capital/Operation/Maintenance)
It is estimated that the following amounts will be spent from April 2005 over the next ten years for
operation and maintenance.
Federals (Not available)
State $ (Not available)
PRP $ 400,000
BELL AEROSPACE TEXTRON
Output
Responsible Party
Previous
Target Date
Current
Schedule
RFI Work Plan Approval
DEC/EPA
May 1990
COMPLETED
RFI Work Plan Approval for
Phase II
DEC/EPA
None
COMPLETED
RFI Completion
Permittee
Jul 1991
COMPLETED
CMS Work Plan Approval
DEC/EPA
Dec 1991
COMPLETED
CMS Completion
Permittee
May 1992
COMPLETED
Remedy Selection
DEC/EPA
Oct 1992
COMPLETED
CMI Work Plan Approval
(off-site)
DEC/EPA
Apr 1993
COMPLETED
CMI Work Plan Approval
(on-site)
DEC/EPA
Sep 1993
COMPLETED
Start-up of CMI (off-site)
Permittee
Apr 1996
COMPLETED
Start-up of CMI (on-site)
Permittee
Nov 1994
COMPLETED
-------
DUREZ CORPORATION, PACKARD ROAD FACILITY, NIAGARA FALLS
(Formerly Occidental Chemical ~ Durez Division, Niagara Falls)
Site # 66
Site Program: RCRA (State and Federal)
Summary Prepared by: EPA and DEC
Site Description
Occidental Chemical Corporation (OCC) operates a phenol-formaldehyde resin manufacturing plant at
5000 Packard Road, Niagara Falls, known until June 1986 as the Varcum Chemical Division of
Reichhold Chemicals, Inc. and until October 1989 as BTL Specialty Resins. The 5-acre site is
approximately 3 miles north of the Niagara River.
The hazardous wastes generated at this site are ignitable and/or toxic solvent washings from reactor
vessels, spilled raw materials and small amounts of laboratory samples. These wastes are accumulated,
stored, treated, and incinerated on site.
Under this site lie one overburden aquifer and four bedrock aquifers. Bedrock groundwater flow is
along both horizontal and vertical fractures. In general, the groundwater flow direction before
remedial activities took place at the site was south to southwest, with the upper most bedrock aquifer
flowing southeast.
Interim Remedial Measures
Three recovery wells began pumping in February 1989 to capture and remediate the groundwater
under the site. These recovery wells affected groundwater flow in the overburden and the upper
bedrock aquifers. Most of the contaminated groundwater from the uppermost bedrock aquifer and
from the aquifer below it is captured by the recovery wells.
In May 1990, DEC issued OCC a state Part 373 Permit for the storage, treatment, and incineration of
hazardous waste on-site. An EPA Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments (HSWA) permit was
issued in March 1991. Both permits required corrective action. As required by the permits:
$ Four carbon-steel tanks were installed to replace a 30,000 gallon hazardous waste storage
tank;
$ The incinerator was modified with a larger burner, an expanded combustion chamber, a new
double-layered refractory, a new control system, automatic alarm, and waste feed cut-off
systems, and new instrumentation and piping. Prior to operation, a trial burn was conducted;
$ Approximately 3,000 tons of phenolic-contaminated soil were removed from the tank farm
area in 1990. Additional areas with contaminated soils were capped.
The permit was renewed on May 22, 2007 (expires May 22, 2012) and, in addition to the treatment,
storage and corrective action requirements, included incinerator upgrades to ensure continued
compliance with the performance standards in 6 NYCRR Part 373-2.15 and in the US Environmental
Protection Agency = s (EPA) MACT Rule for Hazardous Waste Combustors in 40 CFR 63.1203.
-------
Site Investigation and Additional Interim Remedial Measures
The RCRA Facility Investigation (RFI) Work plan was approved in May 1990, and the RFI was
completed in November 1992. The main area of chemical presence is beneath the tank farm area on
the east side of the facility. The predominant overburden and bedrock groundwater contaminants are
total recoverable phenolics, ethylbenzene, total xylenes, 1,2-dichlorobenzene, and 1,4-
dichlorobenzene. The vertical extent of groundwater contamination is limited to the overburden and
the first three bedrock aquifer zones. With the exception of the tank farm area, chemical
concentrations in the soils were less than action levels for soil ingestion. The soils are not a significant
source of groundwater contamination; nevertheless, all open spaces on the site have been paved over.
As an interim corrective measure, beginning in February 1989, OCC has pumped bedrock ground
water contaminated with phenols and other organics (primarily non-chlorinated solvents) to its
biological treatment facility, prior to discharge to the Niagara Falls Wastewater Treatment Plant. EPA
and DEC required OCC to submit interim reports to assess whether groundwater was being
remediated adequately, and to assess the need for modifications, such as increasing pumping rates or
installing additional wells. The groundwater pumping rate was doubled in 1990 with the addition of
new treatment capacity at OCC's treatment facility which was constructed that year. Also, as an
interim corrective measure to address the overburden groundwater contamination at the tank farm
area, an overburden drain tile collection system began operating in 1993. The purged water is
pretreated in the on-site wastewater treatment facility, prior to discharge to the Niagara Falls
Wastewater Treatment Plant.
From April 1994 through August 1998, 22,624,389 gallons of bedrock groundwater were pumped and
treated. Since the start-up of the drain tile system in January 1993 through August 1998, 189,620
gallons of overburden groundwater have been removed and treated. Approximately 25,442 pounds of
contaminants have been removed.
Remedial Actions
The Corrective Measures study report has been approved. EPA and DEC have determined that the
existing groundwater recovery systems which have been operating as interim corrective measures are
capable of serving as the final groundwater remedy for the facility. The DEC Part 373 permit was
modified in September 1995 to specify the final corrective measures. In addition to operation of the
groundwater recovery systems, the final corrective measures include maintaining existing caps and
pavement over areas of contaminated soil, restricting site access, and restricting future site
development. Pursuant to the DEC Part 373 permit, OCC prepares monthly reports on the operating
status of the groundwater recovery systems and is required to prepare comprehensive annual reports
on performance monitoring of the recovery systems. The performance monitoring includes hydraulic
monitoring, to establish the extent of plume capture, and chemical monitoring, to evaluate changes in
groundwater quality.
The remedial actions that have come due at this site have been accomplished ahead of schedule, and
Corrective Measure Implementation is underway.
Remediation Costs
-------
Estimates of Federal, State and PRP past and future remediation costs related to this site are not
available.
OCC - DUREZ, NIAGARA FALLS
Output
Responsible
Previous
Current
Party
Target Date
Schedule
RFI Work plan Approval
DEC/EPA
Jul 1990
COMPLETED
RFI Completion
Permittee
Sep 1992
COMPLETED
Stabilization Start-up
Permittee
COMPLETED
CMS Work plan Approval
DEC/EPA
Jun 1993
COMPLETED
CMS Completion
Permittee
Dec 1993
COMPLETED
Remedy Selection*
EPA/DEC
Dec 1994
COMPLETED
CMI Work plan Approval
EPA/DEC
Feb 1995
COMPLETED
Start-up of CMI
Permittee
Dec 1996
COMPLETED
* EPA and DEC have determined that the existing interim corrective
measures groundwater pump-and-treat program is capable of serving as the
final groundwater remedy for the site. The DEC Part 373 permit was modified
in September 1995 to formally select the final remedy.
-------
OCCIDENTAL CHEMICAL S-AREA
Site # 41A
Site Program: Federal/State Co-lead: Superfund
Summary Prepared by: EPA
Site Description
The S-Area site is an eight-acre landfill on Occidental Chemical Corporation's (OCC) Buffalo Avenue
Plant in Niagara Falls. The site is located approximately 200 yards north of the Niagara River and
immediately to the west of the former location of the old City of Niagara Falls drinking water
treatment plant.
The site was used primarily from 1947 to 1961 for the disposal of approximately 63,000 tons of
organic and inorganic chemicals. Chemicals deposited at the site included chlorobenzenes, organic
phosphates, acid chlorides, phenol tars, thionyl chloride, chlorendic acid, trichlorophenol, benzoyl
chloride, liquid and chlorotoluene-based disulfides, metal chlorides, thiodan, and miscellaneous
chlorinated hydrocarbons.
One overburden and four bedrock aquifers exist under this site. While the bedrock aquifers flow
generally north-northwest onto the main OCC - Buffalo Avenue Site, only the overburden aquifer
flows south to the Niagara River.
Requisite Remedial Technology Agreement
This National Priorities List site is a joint EPA/DEC-lead responsibility, governed by a judicial
settlement agreement, effective June 1985. The agreement provided for a source control remedy,
monitoring programs, and a remedial plan for the Niagara Falls Drinking Water Treatment Plant
(DWTP). The DWTP main bedrock intake tunnel was shut down due to the presence of non-aqueous
phase liquid (NAPL) contamination. In the interim, the City's backup, emergency intake pipe was used
to draw water from the Niagara River. The S-Area site was surveyed by OCC from December 1986 to
April 1988 to determine the extent of chemical migration from the landfill. This survey was the basis
for a Requisite Remedial Technology (RRT) report to EPA in November 1988.
As a result of the RRT Report and subsequent RRT negotiations among EPA/DEC, OCC and the City
of Niagara Falls, an amendment (RRT stipulation) to the 1985 settlement agreement was submitted to
the court in September 1990 and approved in April 1991. The RRT stipulation included construction
of a new DWTP for the City of Niagara Falls at a new location, to be funded by the City and OCC.
-------
Remedial Actions
EPA selected a containment remedy to prevent further chemical migration from
the landfill toward the DWTP and into and under the Niagara River. A new $70
million drinking water treatment plant, which was completed in 1997, addresses
the threat to the drinking water supply from S-Area. The site remediation
includes a barrier wall and remedial systems which provide physical and
hydraulic containment of the chemical waste buried in the landfill. These
systems are operated to create an inward and upward hydraulic gradient within
the S-Area property. Their operations have reduced the loadings of toxic
chemicals to the Niagara River. Recently, the existing subsurface contamination
drainage system within the barrier wall has been completed. This enhancement
has improved the ability of the Drainage Collection System which assures that
site contamination will not migrate outside of the existing containment system.
Most of the collection and containment remedial systems were installed at the landfill from 1990 to
1995. Initial testing and operational start-up began on November 1, 1995. The remedial systems are
designed to eliminate the contaminant loadings from the site to the Niagara River by containment and
collection of contaminated ground water and NAPL. Contaminated ground water and NAPL are
currently being collected. Contaminated groundwater is treated on-site. NAPL is incinerated at
RCRA-approved facilities off site. Assessment of the remedial systems performance began in early
199, and is being done on a semi-annual basis.
One of the components of the landfill remedy (drain collection system) did not function as designed
during its initial operation. An investigation in late 1997 revealed that the system was improperly
installed. OCC=s efforts to enhance the performance of the drain collection system in 1998 were
unsuccessful and the EPA/DEC directed OCC to replace the system in 1999. The new drain collection
system was completed in early 2000 and is operating as designed.
The work on the new drain collection system delayed the construction of the final landfill cap. The
construction of the final landfill cap began in August 2000 and was completed in April 2002. The new
DWTP was completed and fully operational by March 1997. The remedial activities for the old DWTP
and property, including the decommission and demolition of the plant, had to wait until the new
DWTP was built and on-line. The demolition of the old DWTP was performed in 1997 and early
1998. The eastern barrier wall, which adjoins the other three sides of the S-Area barrier wall, was
completed in May 1998. The overburden drain collection system for the former DWTP was
completed in 1999. Construction of the DWTP cap was completed in 1999.
Securement of the raw water intake structures from the old DWTP was scheduled for completion in
2000. The grouting of the 5,000-foot long DWTP bedrock intake tunnel commenced in August 2000.
However, due to problems encountered in the field, the remediation of this tunnel was not properly
completed. A confirmatory boring sampling program was conducted in the summer of 2001, whereby
a major void was discovered in the tunnel grouting along a portion of the tunnel under Buckhorn
Island and the Niagara River. It has been agreed by all regulatory parties and OCC that this ungrouted
section of tunnel poses no discernable environmental threat and will be used to monitor the
groundwater beneath the Niagara River at this location. A monitoring well was installed to sample the
-------
water in the tunnel in August 2002. This well is being sampled as part of the overburden sampling
program.
Sample analysis has shown low-level VOC contamination was observed to be present in the void
water. It was agreed by EPA and the State to allow OCC to inject sodium permanganate into this void
and observe the results to determine if the contamination is an artifact of the tunnel grouting activities
or is migrating through the bedrock. The response of the contaminants to these oxidant injections is
presently being evaluated by the State and EPA.
The full remedial program for this site consists of:
$ A slurry barrier wall in the overburden to contain the NAPL plume;
$ Installation of a drain system and collection wells (i.e., pumping wells) in the overburden,
within the barrier wall, to: 1) collect contaminated ground water and NAPL, and 2) create an
inward hydraulic gradient across the barrier walls and an upward hydraulic gradient from the
underlying bedrock to the overburden within the barrier wall;
$ Installation of wells in the bedrock to contain NAPL by creating an inward hydraulic gradient
across the bedrock NAPL plume boundary, and to collect NAPL from the bedrock, to the
maximum extent practicable;
$ Capping of the site to reduce infiltration;
$ Overburden and bedrock monitoring to determine the effectiveness of remedial systems;
$ Incineration of non-aqueous-phase liquids; and
$ Treatment of contaminated groundwater by carbon adsorption and discharge to a permitted
outfall.
The remedial systems will continue to operate for at least 30 years.
The following progress has been made:
$ The northern, western, and southern portions of the barrier wall were built in late 1994/early
1995.
$ The drain collection system, collection wells, and the force mains for the drain and collection
wells were completed in 1995 for the landfill. Additional wells were installed in 1997 to
improve the performance of the system in collecting NAPL. The drain collection system for
the former DWTP property was completed in 1999.
$ Operation of the landfill drain collection system and collection wells began in 1996. As noted
above, the drain collection system did not function as designed due to damage of the collection
pipe and non-functioning stone backfill. The system was replaced in 1999-2000.
$ A leachate storage facility and carbon adsorption treatment facility have been constructed on
site and currently receive contaminated groundwater and NAPL from the overburden and
bedrock collection wells.
$ A perimeter landfill cap was installed between March and August 1996 to reduce infiltration. It
included a 2-foot clay layer and flexible membrane liner near the Robert Moses Parkway, and
asphalt paving west and north of the landfill.
$ The construction of the final landfill cap commenced in August 2000, and was completed in
August 2002.
-------
$ The new DWTP was completed in March 1997, and now supplies the City of Niagara Falls
with its drinking water.
$ The demolition of the old DWTP was completed in early 1998.
$ The eastern barrier wall at the DWTP property was completed in May 1998.
$ The DWTP drain collection system was completed in 1999.
$ The construction of the DWTP cap was completed in 1999.
$ The securement of the DWTP intake structure commenced in August 2000 and was completed
in August 2002.
The remedial construction activities are completed as described in the September 2002 Preliminary
Closeout Report. Adjustments to the remedial systems continue to optimize the performance of this
action.
Remediation Costs
Following are estimated amounts that have been spent to date on remediating this site:
Federals 10,500,000
State $ (State costs were covered under EPA costs through grants)
PRP $ 45,000,000
It is estimated that the following amounts will be spent from now to the completion of remediation:
Federals 1,000,000 (oversight)
State $ (Not available)
PRP $ 5,000,000 (Capital costs)
$ 2 to 3,000,000 per year for 30 years (Operation & Maintenance)
-------
OCC S-AREA
Output
Responsible
Party
Previous Target
Date
Current Schedule
RRT Survey work (RI) Completion
PRP
—
COMPLETED
RRT Study (FS) approved
PRP
—
COMPLETED
Record of Decision (RRT Stipulation)
EPA/DEC
Mar 1990
COMPLETED
Remedial Design (RD) Start
PRP
—
COMPLETED
Remedial Start
Actions (RA)
Construction of new
DWTP
PRP
PRP
Jun 1991
Apr 1997
COMPLETED
COMPLETED
Demolish old DWTP
PRP
Sep 1997
COMPLETED
DWTP cap & drain
collection system
PRP
1998
COMPLETED
Securement of raw
water intake
structures from the
old DWTP
PRP
1999
COMPLETED1
Perimeter landfill cap
& drain collection
system
PRP
N/A
COMPLETED
Final landfill cap
PRP
1999
COMPLETED2
Construct Eastern
barrier wall
PRP
Jul 1998
COMPLETED
RA Completion
PRP
2000
COMPLETED3
1 1 The securement of the DWTP intake structures, including the grouting of the 5,000-foot long
bedrock intake tunnel, commenced in summer 2000 and was completed in August 2002.
2 2 The construction of the final S-area Landfill cap commenced in August 2000 and was
completed in March 2002.
3 3 Construction activities for the site are completed. Evaluation and performance of the remedial
action are presently being performed.
-------
STAUFFER CHEMICAL
Site #255
Site Program: New York State DEC Division of Environmental Remediation
Summary Prepared by: DEC
Site Description
The Stauffer Chemical Plant site occupies about 23 acres, located about 1/4 mile east of the Niagara
River in the Town of Lewiston.
Used for manufacturing from 1900 to 1976, the site was occupied by Stauffer Chemical from 1930
to 1976. Carbon tetrachloride and various metallic chlorides were produced on site, and methylene
chloride and tetrachloroethylene were repackaged from bulk shipments. Plant operations
terminated in 1976, and the site was razed in 1980. Disposal occurred on the plant site, as well as
in two small landfills on the PASNY property to the east.
There are four significant, and one less significant, bedrock aquifers under the site. The flow
direction for all water-bearing layers is southwest, towards the Power Authority of New York
Forebay and the Niagara River.
Site Investigation
The Stauffer Chemical Plant site is a DEC-lead site. Pursuant to a Consent Order, Stauffer
Chemical completed a Remedial Investigation/Feasibility (RI/FS) study of the site. The Record of
Decision (ROD) was signed July 1992, and consent order for the remedial design/remedial action
was executed in July 1993. The main components of the remedial plan included bedrock
groundwater pumping and treatment, and soil vapor extraction, both on and off site. The plan also
included re-grading of the site.
Delays in the original schedule were due to the need for additional remedial investigative studies to
adequately define the nature and extent of contamination.
Remedial Activities
Remedial construction began in June 1995 and was completed in December 1995. Extensive design
work was necessary for proper de-watering, including pump tests, soil vacuum extraction pilot test
and so on. Construction of the remedy has been completed.
Remedial actions completed include the following:
$ Installation of a bedrock pump-and-treat system that will operate for the next 30 years.
$ Installation of a soil vapor extraction and dewatering system that draws contaminants out of
the soil.
-------
Operational difficulties were encountered with the groundwater treatment system. This was
corrected in 1997. The groundwater treatment system has been modified. Groundwater now flows
through granular activated carbon prior to discharge to the NYPAForebay.
Remediation Costs
Following are estimated amounts that have been spent to date on remediating this site:
It is estimated that the following amounts will be spent from now on Operation and Maintenance of
the remedial system:
State
PRP
$ 180,000
$ 5,100,000
State
PRP
$ 10,000
$ 1,300,000
-------
STAUFFER CHEMICAL
Output
Responsible
Party
Previous Target
Date
Current Schedule
RI/FS
PRP
Sep 1990
COMPLETED
Record of Decision
DEC
Jan 1991
COMPLETED
Remedial Design
PRP
Apr 1993
COMPLETED
Remedial Action Completion
PRP
Dec 1995
COMPLETED
-------
SOLVENT CHEMICAL
Site #251
Site Program: New York State DEC Division of Environmental Remediation
Summary Prepared by: DEC
Site Description
The Solvent Chemical site occupies approximately 6 acres in the City of Niagara Falls. The site is
located about 1/4 mile north of the Niagara River.
The Solvent Chemical plant site has been used for manufacturing operations at various times from
1941 to 1978 by DuPont, Hooker Chemical and Solvent Chemical. DuPont and Hooker produced
impregnite; Solvent Chemical manufactured chlorinated hydrocarbons, zinc chloride and zinc
ammonium chloride. Chemicals disposed on site include zinc, benzene and chlorinated benzenes.
Five water-bearing layers have been significantly impacted by site contaminants: the saturated
overburden layer and four bedrock zones. The groundwater in the overburden flows to the north.
The bedrock aquifers generally flow to the northeast. Groundwater in the site area is influenced by
the Falls Street Tunnel (due north of the site), and the New York Power Authority (NYPA) conduits
(about 1,500 feet east of the site), which drain bedrock groundwater in the area. The majority of
the site ground water flows into the Falls Street Tunnel, either directly or via the NYPA conduits.
All of the dry weather flow through the Falls Street Tunnel now is treated by the Niagara Falls
Wastewater Treatment Plant before discharge to the River.
Site Investigation
The Solvent Chemical site is a DEC/Department of Law-lead site. An initial Remedial Investigation
[RI] (funded by the Potentially Responsible Party [PRP]) was completed in June 1991. Despite
lengthy negotiations, the PRPs did not agree to undertake the Feasibility Study [FS], The site was
referred to State Superfund for completion of the RI/FS, while the Attorney General's office
litigated the matter. Field work for supplemental investigations needed to support the FS was
completed in November 1994. The RI/FS report was approved in August 1996. The proposed
Remedial Action Plan was submitted for public comment in September 1996. The resulting Record
of Decision (ROD) was signed in December 1996. The Remedial Action Plan includes the
following components:
Existing buildings on site to be demolished.
Storm sewer from the site to Gill Creek is to be removed.
Site is to be capped.
Contaminated groundwater is to be hydraulically controlled through pump-and-treat
systems (including an off-site hot spot to the west).
Pre-treatment system for contaminated groundwater.
DEC and site PRPs completed legal agreements that require ROD implementation. The settlement
was approved by the U.S. District Court in October 1997. Construction was started in early 1998,
but was delayed by lack of access agreements with adjacent property owners. Building demolition
-------
was completed in 1998. Installation of the extraction system in the off-site hot spot has been
completed. Removal of the off-site storm sewer was completed in 2000.
Construction of the groundwater extraction and treatment systems were completed in 2001. The
remedial system became fully operational in December 2002. Bedrock groundwater pumping rates
were evaluated in 2003. The Performance Monitoring program was approved in 2004 and system
O&M is ongoing.
Remediation Costs
Following are estimated amounts that have been spent to date on remediating this site:
State $ 1,170,000
PRP $ 2,950,000
It is estimated that the following amounts will be spent from now to the completion of remediation:
State $ 01
PRP $ 11,250,000
SOLVENT CHEMICAL
Solvent Chemical
Responsible Party
Previous Target
Current
Date
Schedule
RI
PRPs
Dec 1990
COMPLETED
RI/FS
DEC
Sep 1994
COMPLETED
Record of Decision
DEC
Dec 1994
COMPLETED
Remedial Design Start
PRPs
Dec 1995
COMPLETED
Remedial Action Start
PRPs
Dec 1996
COMPLETED
Remedial Action Completion
PRPs
May 2001
COMPLETED
1 1 PRP will reimburse future state costs.
-------
VANADIUM CORPORATION OF AMERICA
(Formerly SKW Alloys)
Site # 1
Site Program: New York State DEC Division of Environmental Remediation
Summary Prepared by: DEC
Site Description
The Vanadium site is located approximately 1 2 miles east of the Niagara River in the Town of
Niagara.
The Vanadium Corporation of America owned and operated a facility at the site from 1920 to 1964
when approximately 594,000 tons of slag and other refuse were disposed at the site. In 1964, the
site was purchased by the Pittsburgh Metallurgical Company, which subsequently changed its name
to Airco Properties, Inc. Airco disposed wastes similar to the wastes disposed by Vanadium. In
1979, SKW Alloys, Inc. bought 37 acres of the 62 acre parcel owned by Airco, while Airco retained
ownership of the eastern 25 acres. The Vanadium site consists of both properties as well as
property owned by the Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation and the New York Power Authority
(NYPA) to the east and north which also contains waste piles deposited by Vanadium. Chromium is
a major contaminant of concern at the site, as well as a caustic waste which is affecting the pH of
the ground and surface water.
The site contains 11 to 24 feet of overburden, consisting of clay, stratified drift and till, underlain by
Lockport Dolomite. Groundwater flow in the area is influenced by the NYPA conduits causing a
groundwater flow divide which bisects the site. Groundwater under the SKW site and most of the
Airco site flows to the southwest. Groundwater under the Niagara Mohawk site, the NYPA site,
and the remainder of the Airco site flows east into the conduit drain system.
Site Investigation and Interim Remedial Measures
The Vanadium site is a DEC-lead site. APhase I investigation was completed in December 1989. A
Preliminary Site Assessment (Phase II investigation) is complete. Wells were sampled in November
1992 and a report with results and recommendations for site reclassification was completed in
September 1993.
As a result of the Preliminary Site Assessment, the site was reclassified to a class 2 (significant
threat to the public health or the environment, action required) on April 3, 1995. In 1997, DEC
completed a study (IIWA) to further define the nature and extent of contamination at the Niagara
Mohawk and NYPA properties. For remediation purposes, the site has been divided into three
operable units: OU#l (SKW), OU#2 (Airco), and OU#3 (Niagara Mohawk and NYPA).
Under Consent Order, SKW completed an Interim Remedial Measure to cover portions of their
parcel and control site storm water runoff. This remedial measure was completed in November
1998. DEC and Airco negotiated an Interim Remedial Measure (IRM) to cap the landfill on their
portion of the site. Closure of the Airco portion of the site (OU#2) was completed by December
2000.
-------
Schedule for Completion
A schedule for completion is presented below. The site PRPs have not agreed to act as a group.
This has contributed to delays in the schedule due to the need to negotiate individually with the
PRPs. Niagara Mohawk and the New York Power Authority have completed the
Remedial Investigation for their portion of the site (OU#3). A Record of
Decision compiling the results of operable units OU#l, OU#2, and OU#3 was
signed in March 2006.
The remedies require no further actions for operable units OU#l and OU#2, and the following
remedy for OU#3:
$ A remedial design program to provide the details necessary to implement the remedial
program;
$ Partial excavation of soil/slag and sediment, and on-site consolidation
and capping of these materials;
$ Collection of confirmatory soil samples from excavations;
$ Development of a site management plan to address residual contamination and any use
restrictions;
$ Imposition of an environmental easement to restrict groundwater use and ensure compliance
with an approved site management plan;
$ Certification of, and the use of institutional and engineering controls; and
$ Long term monitoring program would be instituted. A periodic report would be
prepared that would include results of groundwater and surface water
monitoring, inspections and maintenance activities.
It is expected that the remedial design will be completed in 2007 with remedial construction
commencing in early in 2008.
Remediation Costs
Following are estimated amounts for the Interim Remedial Measures:
OU#l:
State $ 30,000
PRP $ 750,000
OU #2:
State: $ 75,000
PRP $ 5,500,000
It is estimated that the following amounts will be spent from now to the completion of remediation:
OU#3
-------
State
PRP
$ (Not available)
$ 12,000,000
VANADIUM CORPORATION OF AMERICA
Output
Responsible Party
Previous
Target Date
Current
Schedule
Phase I Investigation
DEC
Dec 1989
COMPLETED
Phase II Investigation
DEC
Dec 1991
COMPLETED
IIWA Investigation
DEC
Aug 1997
COMPLETED
Interim Remedial Measure-
OU#l
SKW Alloys,
Inc.
Dec 98
COMPLETED
Interim Remedial Measure-
OU#2
Airco
Dec 2000
COMPLETED
RI/FS (OU#3)
DEC
Mar 2001
COMPLETED
Record of Decision (site
wide)
DEC
July 2001
COMPLETED
Remedial Design
PRP or DEC
July 2002
Dec 2007
Remedial Action
PRP or DEC
July 2003
Oct 2008
-------
OLIN CORPORATION
Site #58, 59
Site Program: RCRA (State and Federal)
Summary Prepared by: EPA and DEC
Site Description
The Olin Corporation site, 25 acres located on Buffalo Avenue in Niagara Falls, is actually two
plants on separate but contiguous sites, partially separated by the property of the E.I. DuPont
Company. Gill Creek flows through the eastern part of the facility. The site is about 1/4 mile North
of the Niagara River.
Olin Corporation has used this site for inorganic chemical production since 1897. Several organic
chemicals, including benzene, chlorobenzene, trichlorobenzene, and trichlorophenol were used or
manufactured between 1950 and 1956. Wastes handled at this facility include: ignitable, corrosive,
reactive, and EPA toxic characteristic wastes and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
(RCRA)-listed wastes (brine purification muds and wastewater treatment sludge from mercury-cell
chlorine production). Brine sludge, containing mercury and possibly polychlorinated bi-phenyl, was
used as fill material in various locations throughout the site.
The site consists of soil and gravel at 0-3.5 feet, sandy clay at 3.5-5 feet. The bedrock surface lies
at 5.5-8 feet. Proximity to the Niagara River and Gill Creek indicates a major potential for
contaminant migration. Ground water on the site exists in shallow unconsolidated deposits and in a
bedrock aquifer composed of 3 monitored zones. Shallow groundwater infiltrates to Gill Creek,
which discharges to the Niagara River.
In 1984, EPA issued Olin Corporation a RCRA permit to operate the hazardous waste storage and
treatment facilities on this site, but since it was issued before the Hazardous and Solid Waste
Amendments to RCRA were enacted, it did not incorporate corrective actions. EPA issued an order
in September 1989, requiring investigation of releases throughout the site, and particularly from the
brine mud storage area, where releases have occurred. Permitted units were closed in 1990,
according to a DEC-approved closure plan.
Interim Remedial Measures
Under a joint venture with DuPont, Olin conducted the off-site remediation of Gill Creek from
Buffalo Avenue to the Niagara River, which was completed in December 1992. Contaminated
sediment was removed, and the creek has been restored.
An EPA/DEC-approved DNAPL interim corrective measure (ICM) was implemented by Olin
during May and June 1994. The program was intended to identify and characterize any DNAPL
presence in five Olin monitoring wells and to remove any DNAPL encountered. DNAPL was only
detected in one well and a total volume of less than two gallons was removed.
Former Olin production wells are currently being used to pump and treat groundwater from the site
through an agreement with the adjacent DuPont facility. The Olin wells serve as part of DuPont's
-------
bedrock groundwater remediation program and exert a large radius of influence over the Olin site,
which effectively reduces the total toxic load migrating from the Olin site. The radius of influence
of the Olin wells extends approximately halfway (east-west) across 01in=s Plant 2 in the B zone,
and approximately to Gill Creek in the lower aquifer zones and CD zones). The remedy approved
in the CMS is designed to capture all groundwater contamination not captured by the Olin
production wells. The wells extract groundwater at a rate of approximately 600 gallons per minute
continuously.
Site Investigation and Remedy Selection
Olin has conducted soil and hydrological studies, and submitted several supplemental RFI reports to
the EPA/DEC. Olin has completed the final phase of the RFI, and the final RFI report was
approved by EPA and DEC in February 1995. Mercury was detected in the soils in concentrations
up to 1,210 parts per million. Volatile and semi-volatile organic constituents and pesticides were
also identified in the soils. Sampling of twenty-four overburden and bedrock wells identified
volatile and semi-volatile constituents, pesticides, and mercury at levels exceeding federal and state
groundwater standards.
Work plans for both Phase I of the CMS (soil & overburden groundwater) and for Phase II of the
CMS (bedrock groundwater) were previously approved by EPA/DEC. In March 1995 Olin
submitted a full CMS Report (incorporating both Phases I and II), which was approved by
EPA/DEC in September 1995. In July 1996, the proposed remedy for this site was public noticed.
Following public review, a remedy was selected and the CMI Work plan approved. The remedy
includes the following components:
$ Drilling and installing 5 groundwater recovery wells at 01in=s plant 2 site. The recovered
groundwater will be pumped to a new on-site treatment plant before being discharged into
the City of Niagara Falls sewer system.
$ Paving all unpaved surfaces in order to minimize the volume of contaminated groundwater
recharge.
DEC issued a Consent Order to implement the selected remedy. The remedial system was
constructed and began operation in October 1997.
Operation & Maintenance is now underway. The remedial system is close to meeting its
performance objectives. There are two small areas along Gill Creek wither A-Zone (overburden)
groundwater capture has not been fully achieved. Additional A-Zone interceptor wells were
installed in 2002 and 2003 to enhance the capture. Recent performance reports indicate that system
performance has improved, but more actions may be necessary.
An updated schedule for implementation of a corrective action program, including Corrective
Measure Implementation (CMI), follows. The scheduled project milestones relate to complete on-
and off-site investigation and remediation.
Remediation Costs
Estimates of Federal, State and PRP past and future remediation costs related to this site are not
available.
-------
OLIN CORPORATION
Output
Responsible
Party
Previous Target
Date
Current Schedule
RFI Work Plan Approval
Phase I
Phase II
RFI
Completion
Stabilization Start-up
(Groundwater)
CMS Work
Plan
Approval
Phase I
Phase II
CMS Completion
(including approval)
Remedy Selection
CMI Work Plan Approval
Start-up of CMI
Initiati on/ Stabilizati on
DEC/EPA
Permittee
Permittee
Permittee
DEC/EPA
Permittee
DEC/EPA
DEC/EPA
Permittee
Apr 1990
Dec 1994
Sep 1993
Mar 1995
Mar 1996
Mar 1996
Dec 1996
COMPLETED
COMPLETED
COMPLETED
COMPLETED
COMPLETED
COMPLETED
COMPLETED
COMPLETED
COMPLETED
COMPLETED
Note: Phase I - Overburden soil and groundwater
Phase II - Bedrock groundwater
-------
DUPONT - BUFFALO AVENUE
Site# 15-19
Site Program: New York State DEC Division of Environmental Remediation
Summary Prepared by: DEC
Site Description
The DuPont Buffalo Avenue Plant site occupies over 50 acres in the City of Niagara Falls. The
plant is separated from the Niagara River by the Robert Moses Parkway.
Manufacturing operations have been conducted at the site since 1898. Chemicals disposed on the
site included: carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, dichloroethylene, methylene chloride,
trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene, vinyl chloride, PCBs, barium and other organic and inorganic
compounds.
One overburden and five bedrock aquifers exist under this site, each consisting of two or three
zones with different flow directions. Groundwater flowing south discharges into the Niagara River
and Gill Creek. Groundwater flowing north discharges into the unlined Falls Street Tunnel, and
groundwater flowing east, into the New York Power Authority (NYPA) conduit drain system.
Remedial Actions
As of January 1992, all remedial systems at this site were completed and operating. More than 60
studies of subsurface contamination were completed by DuPont on the plant site, and a Consent
Order was negotiated for the implementation of a groundwater remediation program. In January
1992, an on-site groundwater pump-and-treat system went into operation. A portion of the flow
from the western half of the DuPont site is under the influence of the Olin production wells. This
water is remediated by the Olin Treatment Plant before discharge to the river.
Evaluation of O&M monitoring revealed that groundwater capture in the Southwest Plant Area was
not effective. Subsequent to additional investigation and evaluation of groundwater capture
alternatives for this area, DuPont installed two 300-foot long blast-fractures rock trenches with
additional extraction and monitoring wells.
Additionally, DuPont is a Potentially Responsible Party for the remediation of Gill Creek, which
was completed in December 1992. A total of 8,020 cubic yards of contaminated sediment was
removed, and the creek has been restored. Five-years of post-remediation monitoring of Gill Creek
sediments was completed in 1998. Monitoring reports do not indicate PCB re-contamination in the
sediment of the Gill Creek remediation area.
-------
Remediation Costs
Following are estimated amounts that have been spent to date on remediating this site:
State $ 50,000
PRP $45,000,000 (includes Gill Creek remediation)
It is estimated that $ 1,600,000 will be spent annually by the PRP on the Operation and
Maintenance of this site.
DUPONT BUFFALO AVENUE
Output
Responsible Party
Status
Record of Decision
DEC
COMPLETED
Remedial Design
PRP
COMPLETED
Remedial Action
PRP
COMPLETED
-------
BUFFALO COLOR CORPORATION SITE
Site # 120, 122
Site Program: RCRA (State and Federal)
Summary Prepared by: EPA and DEC
Site Description
Buffalo Color Corporation, located on 61 acres adjacent to the Buffalo River
within the city of Buffalo, was a major manufacturer of indigo dye. This plant,
which was originally built in 1879 by the Schoelkopf Aniline and Dye
Company, merged with two other companies to form the National Aniline and
Dye Company in 1916, one of five companies forming Allied Chemical
Corporation in 1920. Buffalo Color Corporation purchased and began
operating the dye plant in 1977. In 2003, the facility ceased producing
indigo, and switched to packaging indigo produced by other manufacturers.
Dyestuffs and/or organic chemicals had been continuously produced at the
facility for more than 110 years. The dye manufacturing operations
generated approximately 450,000 gallons per day of process waste water.
The waste water was a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
hazardous waste due to its corrosivity (pH >12.5). RCRA hazardous
constituents in this waste stream include: aniline, N-methylaniline, N,N-
dimethylaniline, N,N-diethylaniline, cyanide, methanol, nickel, and chromium.
Prior to 1971, these wastes were discharged directly to the Buffalo River. In
1971, Allied Chemical diverted the waste streams to three surface
impoundments for neutralization prior to release to the Buffalo Sewer
Authority, and beginning in March 1989, Buffalo Color installed a new
neutralization tank to treat wastewater before discharge to sewers.
The stratigraphy at the site from the upper to lowermost units is: 2-11 feet of
fill, 6-13 feet of silt and fine sand (upper aquifer), 25-37 feet of silty clay, 5-7
feet of sand and gravel (lower aquifer), and bedrock of Onondaga Limestone.
Groundwater flow in the upper aquifer is towards the Buffalo River.
Groundwater near the surface impoundments is contaminated with aniline,
dimethylaniline, N-ethylaniline, and cyanide, all of which most likely derive
from the surface impoundments.
Site Investigation
A RCRA Facility Assessment (RFA) Preliminary Review and Visual Site
Inspection were completed during 1986 and 1988, respectively. Eight (8)
Solid Waste Management units (SWMUs) have been identified at the site.
Overburden ground water monitoring wells at the impoundments show
concentrations of chlorobenzene, dichlorobenzenes, toluene, anilines and
-------
phenol above DEC-promulgated ground water standards. An RFA soil
sampling program for a container storage area was completed in January
1991. EPA and DEC identified a need to investigate potential releases from
both the extensive sewer system and from two inactive buildings at the site.
A DEC Part 373 post-closure permit was public noticed in 1992 to address
releases. The facility objected to several conditions of the draft permit and
requested an administrative hearing. All outstanding issues were resolved
and the Part 373 permit became effective on February 10, 1995.
The RFI Work was completed by December 1998. The RFI includes a
subsurface (soil and groundwater) investigation program for all areas of the
plant except for Area D, which is being remediated under the New York State
Inactive Hazardous waste program (see Area D summary for details). Field
work for Phase I of the RFI began in April 1996 and consisted of 18 monitoring
wells around the perimeter of the site to evaluate groundwater quantity and
potential migration of hazardous constituents off site. Phase II of the RFI,
completed in September 1996, involved the advancement of 24 soil probes
within the site to collect near and sub-surface soil samples.
Hazardous contaminants were detected at the perimeter monitoring wells
during the Phase I and II investigations for the RFI. In November 1996, BCC
proposed supplemental investigations (involving 10 additional wells) to
determine the off-site extent of contamination. DEC approved the proposal in
December 1996. In January 1997, BCC proposed the collection of 6 additional
surficial samples to provide further support of a corrective measures study.
DEC approved the proposal in March 1997. BCC submitted the RFI report in
November 1997. In response to DEC comments on the RFI, BCC submitted a
second supplemental investigation plan involving 8 new wells, 5 piezometers,
and 10 soil samples. This proposal was approved in July 1998 and
implemented during the summer of 1998. A revised RFI report was submitted
in December 1998 and approved in April 1999. A Corrective Measures Work
Plan was submitted in May 1999 and approved in July 1999. In July 2000, the
Corrective Measures Study Report was approved. However the approval does
not constitute approval of the Risk Assessment provided in the report. The
Risk Assessment is based in part, on USEPA Industrial/Commercial Risk-Based
Levels, that are not completely accepted by the NYS Department of Health. In
addition, there were cases in which the method detection limits for soils were
not sufficiently low to evaluate comparison with the risk levels.
During July 1999, a pump test was performed to aid in the design of
Corrective Measures for Plant Area A, to prevent the discharge of
contaminated groundwater into the Buffalo River. The pump test indicated
that conventional pumping wells should be effective in controlling the
migration of contaminated groundwater in Plant Area A, and that migration
-------
control should be achievable with a total system pumping rate on the order of
25-30 gpm. Such a system has been proposed as part of the final corrective
measures, within the CMS report.
The supplemental investigations delayed completion of the RFI. Buffalo Color
filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection during October 2002. An
agreement to share the costs of implementing the remedial measures was
made between BCC and Honeywell Corporation, a PRP. This agreement was
approved by a Bankruptcy Court. Presently Buffalo Color is in Chapter 7
bankruptcy.
DEC=s Division of Environmental Remediation has entered into an agreement with Honeywell in
2005 to address groundwater contamination at the site by designing and installing a groundwater
collection system in Area A pursuant to the Corrective Measures Report. This collection system
was termed an Interim Remedial Measure (IRM). The engineering design was completed and
construction began in Spring 2006. Construction is complete as of August 2006,
however trouble shooting is still proceeding to resolve geochemistry design
flaws. Design flaws should be resolved by late Fall 2007.
Honeywell performed a bulk chemical removal at the Site starting in
December 2005 and it is presently complete. The site though is not
considered RCRA clean. Honeywell has also agreed to perform a Remedial
Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) as part of the June 30, 2006 Consent
Order. The fieldwork began in January 2007 with a draft report Remedial
Investigation Report submitted in September 2007. The draft FS will be
submitted by the end of October 2007. The remedial action is not yet
scheduled.
Remediation Costs
Estimates of Federal, State and PRP past and future remediation costs related to this site are not
available.
BUFFALO COLOR CORPORATION
Output
Responsible
Previous
Current
Party
Target
Schedule
Date
RFA Work Plan Approval
EPA/DEC
Mar 1990
COMPLETED
RFA Completion
Permittee
May 1990
COMPLETED
RFI Work Plan Approval
EPA/DEC
Mar 1995
COMPLETED
RFI Completion
Permittee
July 1997
COMPLETED
Stabilization Start-up
Permittee
Jan 1998
N/A*
CMS Work Plan Approval
EPA/DEC
Jan 1998
COMPLETED
CMS Completion
Permittee
Jul 1998
COMPLETED
-------
Remedy Selection
ICM Work Plan Approval
Start-up of ICM
EPA/DEC
EPA/DEC
Permittee
Aug 2003
May 2004
Jul 2004
COMPLETED
COMPLETED
November
2007
Draft Remedial
Investigation Report
Permittee
Septembe
r 2007
COMPLETED
Draft Feasibility Study
Permittee
Septembe
r 2007
October 2007
* Results of a 1999 pump test indicated that conventional pumping wells should be
effective in controlling the migration of contaminated groundwater in Plant Area A,
and that migration control should be achievable with a total system pumping rate on
the order of 25-30 gpm. Such a system has been proposed as part of the final
corrective measures, within the CMS report.
BUFFALO COLOR -- AREA D
Site# 120-122
Site Program: New York State DEC Division of Environmental Remediation
Summary Prepared by: DEC
Site Description
Area D of the Buffalo Color Plant site occupies about 19 acres adjacent to the Buffalo River in the
City of Buffalo. The site is about 4 miles upstream of the confluence of the Buffalo and Niagara
Rivers.
Area "D" is an inactive hazardous waste site. It was used from 1905 to 1974 as a chemical
manufacturing, handling and disposal site. From 1905 to 1920, acids, chemicals and dye
intermediates were produced by Contact Process Company and by National Aniline Chemical
Company, which merged into Allied Chemical and Dye Corporation in 1920. Allied Chemical and
Dye Corporation manufactured petroleum-based detergents, dye intermediates, picric acid, and
other chemicals at Area "D" from 1920 to 1974. During that time, a number of structures, railroad
tracks and tank parks were built at the site. All chemical manufacturing operations ceased in 1974,
and chemical waste handling ceased in 1976 at Area "D". In 1977, the property was sold to Buffalo
Color Corporation and remained idle. All structures on the site were demolished to grade by
Buffalo Color Corporation in 1984.
The site overburden consists of fill, alluvium, glaciolacustrine deposits and glacial till, and is
underlain by the Onondaga Limestone. The shallow overburden water-bearing zone on the site is in
direct hydraulic connection with the Buffalo River. The major pathways of contaminant migration
from the site to the Buffalo River was shallow ground water and erosion of the shoreline.
Site Investigation and Remedy Selection
The Buffalo Color Area D site is a DEC-lead site. Pursuant to a Consent Order, the PRPs (Buffalo
-------
Color and Allied Chemical) conducted a Remedial Investigation (RI), which was first submitted in
April 1989 and approved in September 1990. The RI indicated elevated levels of Polynuclear
Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), chlorinated benzenes and heavy metals in the site fill layer. The
site groundwater was found to be contaminated by volatile organics, chlorinated benzenes, iron and
other heavy metals and non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL).
A Feasibility Study (FS) was submitted in December 1990, with final revisions submitted and
approved in July 1991. The FS evaluated 13 alternatives for the remediation of the site and
identified a preferred alternative; all were discussed at a public meeting in October 1991. A Record
of Decision (ROD) was signed in November 1991, setting forth a selected remedial plan.
An Order on Consent was signed by Allied Signal and DEC in June 1993 for the remediation of the
site. Construction of the selected remedy began in June 1996. The Remedial Action was completed
in September 1998.
The following are the elements of the remedy completed in September 1998:
A slurry wall was constructed around the entire site;
River sediments adjacent to the site were dredged and deposited on-site. The shoreline was
armored with rip rap;
A high-density polyethylene liner was placed over the entire site and properly capped;
Groundwater is being pumped and treated at an on-site treatment facility.
Remediation Costs
Following are estimated amounts that have been spent to date on remediating this site:
State $ 200,000
PRP $ 14,000,000
BUFFALO COLOR - AREA D
Output
Responsible Party
Current
Schedule
RI/FS
PRPs
COMPLETED
Record of Decision
DEC
COMPLETED
Remedial Design
PRPs
COMPLETED
Begin Remedial Construction
PRPs
COMPLETED
Remedial Action Completion
PRPs
COMPLETED
-------
BETHLEHEM STEEL CORPORATION SITE
Site# 118
Site Program: RCRA (State and Federal)
Summary Prepared by: EPA
Site Description
The Bethlehem Steel Corporation (BSC) facility encompasses approximately 2.5 square miles,
located on Hamburg Turnpike, Lackawanna. Buffalo Harbor marks the northern boundary of the
site, and Lake Erie marks its western boundary.
BSC is a former major manufacturing plant that produced structural steel, coke, coke byproducts
and specialty steel products. Processing occurred primarily on the eastern section of the site. The
western section of the site was created by landfilling 440 acres of Lake Erie with slag from
processing. Since 1983 the facility has significantly reduced manufacturing operations. Most of the
former production areas have been closed and demolished. Until the fall of 2001, the galvanizing
and coke production processes were the only areas in operation. The coke ovens were closed in the
fall of 2001 and coke production ceased. Over_104 Solid Waste Management Units have been
identified at the site. Six surface water bodies on site have also been identified as having received
hazardous waste or hazardous constituents from BSC.
Within the Buffalo-Lackawanna area, all surface and ground waters ultimately drain into Lake Erie.
Preliminary information concerning site-wide hydrogeology indicates that contaminated
groundwater flows east to west into Lake Erie. Groundwater also appears to enter both Smokes
Creek and the Ship (or Lackawanna) Canal. In the area immediately surrounding the two regulated
surface impoundments, groundwater flows west towards Lake Erie. Also, transecting the site are
trenches, which drain from the process area into Smoke and Blasdell Creeks. The Ship Canal drains
northward into Buffalo Harbor.
Site Investigation
EPAissued a consent order in August 1990 requiring an on-site RCRAFacility Investigation (RFI).
The RFI investigation is being conducted in a multi-phase approach. Initial phases of the
investigation (Phase I and Phase IIA) were conducted between 1990 and 1993.
BSC submitted the Phase II-B RFI Report in November 1994. These investigations have identified
benzene, naphthalene, phenolic compounds, and metals in groundwater samples collected from
monitoring wells at the facility. Due to the complexity of site conditions that have been
encountered at the facility in previous investigations, EPA and DEC required BSC to conduct a
Phase III RFI investigation to fill in data gaps. Field work for this investigation was completed in
September 1995. Negotiations over the scope of the human health risk assessment, which is
required as part of the RFI report, have delayed the report. In July 1996, EPA approved the
Ecological Risk Assessment Work Plan, and BSC completed a draft of this assessment, which is also
a component of the RFI. A review of the draft Ecological Risk Assessment revealed that additional
data collection was necessary to complete the assessment. As such, BSC submitted an Ecological
Sampling Work Plan and a Supplemental Solid Waste Management Unit Work Plan in May 2000 to
address collection of the additional data.
-------
BSC has completed the field work for the site investigation, and has prepared
a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Facility Investigation (RFI), that
includes ecological risk assessment and human health risk assessment
reports. These had been delayed due to negotiations over the scope and the
need to collect additional data, but were finally submitted in December 2004.
EPA approved the RFI report in May 2006. The DEC is currently negotiating a corrective action
order with Tecumseh Redevelopment, Inc. (a subsidiary of Mittal Steel responsible for corrective
action at the site), with the initial focus being completion of a corrective measures study for the site.
Following approval of the RFI report, a site-wide CMS Work Plan, with a
schedule, will be required of BSC.
In 1993 EPA and DEC identified two areas (Acid Tar Pits and Coke Oven Areas)
where the Agencies advised BSC to consider implementing stabilization or
interim corrective measures to control and reduce the further spread and off-
site migration of contaminated groundwater from the facility. In 2004 DEC
approved an interim corrective measures plan for the remediation of the
Benzol Plant Area (i.e., the Coke Oven Area). In November 2004, DEC issued
a consent order to administer this project. Recovery-well installation was
completed in December 2004. The system, which started operation in April
2005, includes LNAPL recover and groundwater collection and treatment. This
remedial system is under a 2004 DEC order with Tecumseh Redevelopment,
Inc. (a subsidiary of ISG), the owner and operator of the portion of the site
where the system was installed.
BSC also submitted an application for two Corrective Action Management Units (CAMUs) to DEC
and EPA. The Agencies have determined that BSC=s application is considered Asubstantially
complete.@ BSC subsequently submitted a 30% design for one CAMU. This may allow CAMUs
to be utilized as part of a future remedy at the facility.
While RFI activities were being completed, EPA removed approximately 102 acres of the facility
from the RFI Order to facilitate brownfields type redevelopment. This acreage is not believed to be
significantly contaminated and may be suitable for redevelopment. During 2001 BSC and DEC
attempted to negotiate a voluntary cleanup style agreement for this parcel. BSC abandoned this
effort, and shortly thereafter filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in October of 2001. This has caused
delays in the implementation of various site activities. In 2003, the Integrated Steel Group (ISG)
acquired the BSC Lackawanna site. Tecumseh Redevelopment Inc., a subsidiary of ISG, signed a
brownfield cleanup agreement with the DEC for the 102 acre parcel, and is currently conducting
additional assessment of that parcel. Tecumseh has also submitted brownfield applications for two
additional parcels (containing about 300 acres) that are under DEC review.
A current schedule for implementation of a corrective action program at the facility, including CMI,
follows. Due to delays caused by several problems outlined above, the proposed schedule was
extended. All subsequent target dates were extended accordingly. Completion of the outputs is
dependent on 1) the nature and extent of contamination found on- and off-site (and thus the
complexity of remedial measures required); and 2) the timeliness in which the planning and
implementation of work plans and reports are submitted by the facility and approved by EPA and
-------
DEC. The scheduled project milestones relate to complete on- and off-site investigation and
remediation.
Remediation Costs
Estimates of Federal, State and PRP past and future remediation costs related to this site are not
available.
BETHLEHEM STEEL CORPORATION
Output
Responsible Party
Previous Target
Current
Date
Schedule
RFI Work Plan Approval
EPA
Jan 1990
COMPLETED
RFI Completion
Permittee
June 2003
COMPLETED
RFI Report Approved1
EPA
Dec 2003
COMPLETED
CMS/CMI
Issue Interim Corrective
DEC
None Listed
COMPLETED2
Measures Order
Issue CMS/CMI Order
DEC
Nov 2005
Dec 20073
CMS Work Plan Approval3
DEC
Mar 2006
Dec 2007
CMS Completion3
Permittee
Aug 2006
Oct 2008
Remedy Selection3
DEC
Jan 2007
Feb 2009
CMI Work Plan Approval3
DEC
Apr 2007
Feb 2009
Start-up of CMI3
Permittee
Nov 2007
Oct 2009
1 RFI to include human health and ecological risk assessments.
2 Interim Corrective Measures Order (Coke Oven/Benzol Yard Area).
3 These outputs will require a new order, permit or other agreement. Target dates
dependent upon facility owner/operator agreement to complete these stages of site corrective action
program.
-------
RIVER ROAD (INS EQUIPMENT)
Site # 136
Site Program: New York State DEC Division of Environmental Remediation
Summary Prepared by: DEC
Site Description
The River Road site occupies approximately 23 acres in the Town of Tonawanda. The site is
adjacent to the Niagara River.
The River Road site was utilized for waste disposal from the early 1920s through the late 1970s.
Disposed on site were steel and coke industry wastes, consisting of foundry sand, coke sludges,
oils, solvents and slags.
The overburden at this site consists of 15 to 20 feet of fill over glaciolacustrine deposits and till.
The overburden is underlain by Onondaga Limestone. The two overburden aquifers on site flow
west towards the Niagara River.
Site Investigation
The River Road site is a DEC-lead site. Negotiations with the six Potentially Responsible Parties
(PRPs) for an RI/FS were not successful, causing a delay in targeted remedial action dates. The
PRPs did not agree to conduct an RI/FS; therefore, the State undertook the task under State
Superfund. The RI/FS was completed in January 1994 and the record of decision (ROD) was
signed in March 1994. The River Road site was combined with the adjacent Niagara Mohawk-
Cherry Farm site for joint remediation (see following site description). Some PRPs agreed to
remediate the site and signed an order of consent in September 1994. The remedial design was
completed in February 1996, that consisted of:
Capping the site with clean soil;
Pulling back, grading, and stabilizing the shore line;
Removing some river sediments; and
Installing groundwater collection trench and recovery wells.
Remedial Actions have been completed, including sediment removal. Sediment removal began in
July 1998 and was completed November 1998. Final capping of the sediment disposal area was
completed July 1999. The Construction Certification Report and Operation, Maintenance and
Monitoring Plan were approved in January 2000.
Diver inspection of the dredged areas shows good revegetation and recolonization by fish.
Shallow groundwater is collected, treated at an on-site treatment facility, and discharged to the local
POTW.
Monitoring of the deep groundwater aquifer suggests very little migration of contaminants from the
site to groundwater and, ultimately, the Niagara River. A deep aquifer up-welling study undertaken
-------
by the PRPs found that deep aquifer groundwater was not significantly impacted by the Cherry
Farm/River Road wastes. The deep aquifer system has been shut down for approximately the past
two years while the study was under way. The final report of the study was accepted by the
Department in November 2004, including approval to Apermanently@ discontinue operation of the
deep aquifer groundwater collection system. Nine of the eleven wells that make up this system will
be permanently abandoned. The remaining two wells will be retained in an inactive (but operable)
status to provide future groundwater extraction capabilities if site conditions should change.
Remediation Costs
Following are estimated amounts that have been spent to date on remediating this site:
State $ 546,000
PRP $ 15,000,000*
RIVER ROAD (INS EQUIPMENT)
Output
Responsible Party
Current
Schedule
RI/FS
DEC
COMPLETED
Record of Decision
DEC
COMPLETED
Remedial Design
PRPs
COMPLETED
Remedial Action
Completion
PRPs
COMPLETED
* Remediation of the Cherry Farm site was completed jointly with the River Road site. Costs
reported are combined for the two sites.
-------
NIAGARA MOHAWK - CHERRY FARM
Site Program: New York State DEC Division of Environmental Remediation
Summary Prepared by: DEC
Site Description
The Cherry Farm Site is an inactive landfill located between River Road and the Niagara River in
the Town of Tonawanda, New York. The site encompasses approximately 56 acres, 80% of which
is covered by various fill materials. The fill material consists primarily of foundry sand, slag, and
cinders. The surface of the fill is between 10 to 20 feet above the original surrounding land surface.
The present topography of the filled area is essentially flat.
The fill area is surrounded by intermittent surface water. A wetland designated as BW-6 by DEC is
present on the eastern portion of the Site. This wetland drains into the drainage ditches which flow
along the southern and northern boundaries of the property and ultimately discharge to the Niagara
River, which forms the western side of the Site.
Site Investigation/Remedial Design
A Record of Decision (ROD) for the site was signed by DEC in February 1991. The selected
remedy included covering the site with an impermeable cap, along with ground water containment,
collection, treatment, and disposal. After additional field investigations and discussions with the
PRPs, the ROD was amended on October 7, 1993. The differences between the remedies include 1)
the cover design will include a permeable soil cover; 2) collected ground water will not be
discharged into the Niagara River, but will be pretreated and discharged to a local water treatment
plant; and 3) fencing will not be installed around the site as part of the remedy. The revised remedy
will allow for development of the site as a park after remedial construction is completed. In
addition, the remedial action includes fish and wildlife habitat enhancements through the
construction of shoreline wetland embayments along the Niagara River.
A consent order between DEC and the PRPs to complete the design and construction of the remedy
was signed in September 1994. The Niagara Mohawk-Cherry Farm site was combined with the
adjacent River Road site for joint remediation. Please see Site # 136 of this report (River Road) for
details on the remedial action. The remedial work is complete.
-------
Remediation Costs
Following are estimated amounts that have been spent to date on remediating this site:
State $ *
PRP $ *
NIAGARA MOHAWK - CHERRY FARM
Output
Responsible
Party
Current Schedule
RI/FS
PRPs
COMPLETED
Record of Decision
DEC
COMPLETED
Remedial Design
PRPs
COMPLETED
Remedial Action
PRPs
COMPLETED
Remediation of the Cherry Farm site was completed jointly with the River Road
site. Costs are reported in Site # 136 (River Road) of this report.
-------
FRONTIER CHEMICAL, PENDLETON
Site # 67
Site Program: New York State DEC Division of Environmental Remediation
Summary Prepared by: DEC
Site Description
The Frontier Chemical site in the Town of Pendleton occupies about 21 acres adjacent to Bull
Creek, approximately 4 1/4 miles inland from the Niagara River.
Approximately 7.5 acres of the site were used for treatment and disposal of hazardous wastes.
From about 1958 to 1974, Frontier Chemical used the site for processing, storage and burial of
industrial and hazardous wastes. Unknown volumes of solvents, oils, acids, dyes, paint wastes,
heavy metal sludges, and other wastes were handled on the site. An on-site lake was used for
disposal of metal salt sludges from the neutralization of plating wastes and pickling liquors.
The site consists of various amounts of fill underlain by glaciolacustrine silty clay to a depth 20 to
30 feet. The silty clay is underlain by glacial till and then bedrock, which is believed to be Lockport
Dolomite. Shallow groundwater on the site flows radially from the site, very slowly, with some
discharge to the on-site lake.
Site Investigation
DEC completed a remedial investigation/feasibility study (RI/FS) of the site using State Hazardous
Waste Remediation Program funds. The Record of Decision (ROD) was finalized in March 1992.
The remedial design completed in May 1995 calls for the following: dredging and stabilization of
contaminated lake sediments; consolidation of lake sediments and contaminated soils on the
process/fill area; collection, treatment, and disposal of contaminated groundwater; capping of the
site; physical controls for run-on, run-off and flow from the lake; long term monitoring. A Consent
Order requiring a group of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs) to implement the selected remedy
was executed.
Remedial Actions
Remedial construction began in June 1995. Quarry Lake was de-watered and contaminated
sediments were removed, stabilized, and consolidated into the onsite landfill. Construction of the
landfill cap and leachate collection system is complete. The final completion report certification and
Operation & Maintenance (O&M) manual were finalized in March 1997.
Long-term O&M includes pump-and-treat of the leachate from the site. The O&M is scheduled to
continue for a period of 30 years from 1997. Thorough review of the project will be done every
five years during this period to verify that remediation goals are being achieved.
Remediation Costs
Following are estimated amounts that have been spent to date on remediating this site:
-------
State
PRP
$ 1,430,000 (of which $1,326,000 has been repaid by PRPs)
$ 14,120,000
It is estimated that the following amounts will be spent for the O&M from now through
completion:
State $ 50,000
PRP $ 1,680,000
FRONTIER CHEMICAL, PENDLETON
Output
Responsible Party
Current
Schedule
RI/FS
DEC
COMPLETED
Record of Decision
DEC
COMPLETED
Remedial Design
PRPs
COMPLETED
Remedial Action
PRPs
COMPLETED
-------
FRONTIER CHEMICAL, ROYAL AVENUE
Site Program: Superfund
Summary Prepared by: EPA and DEC
Site Description
Frontier Chemical Waste Process, Inc. occupies approximately 9 acres, bordered by Royal Avenue
on the south and 47th Street on the east, in Niagara Falls, New York. The Niagara River lies within
1 mile south of this site.
The facility treated chemical wastes from 1974 to December 1992 when the facility closed. The
Solid Waste Management Units (SWMUs) at the facility include:
A treatment and pretreatment system for aqueous waste;
Synthetic fuel-blending system for waste solvents/oils;
A solvent recovery system;
Bulk and drummed material handling, storage, and transfer facilities; and
A hydrolysis process, tanks, old surface impoundments, an old waste pile, and site
trucks.
When operating, the active waste management units treated or stored approximately 25,140 tons of
chemical wastes each year. The waste, which came from businesses located in the eastern United
States and southeastern Canada, can be classified as RCRA-listed wastes, as well as RCRA-
characteristic wastes.
There are two fractured bedrock aquifers present under this site. Groundwater from both aquifers
flows generally in a southeasterly direction. Although the flow is toward the Niagara River, it is
intersected by the Falls Street Tunnel, south of the site, where the groundwater infiltrates into the
tunnel. All of the dry-weather flow from the Tunnel is diverted to the City of Niagara Falls
wastewater treatment plant and treated before discharge to the River.
The EPA and DEC added Frontier Chemical, Royal Avenue to the list of sites that contribute a
significant amount of contaminants to the Niagara River after extensive groundwater investigation
revealed the following chemicals at the site: monochlorotoluene, methylene chloride, chloroform,
dichlorobenzene, tetrachloroethylene and other organic contaminants. Dense Non-Aqueous Phase
Liquid (DNAPL) is present at the southern edge of the facility.
In 1999, most of the site buildings were demolished with the rubble remaining on site.
Interim Remedial Actions
This facility was formerly regulated under RCRA and 6 NYCRR Part 373. The company that
operated the facility went bankrupt in 1992. As a result, New York State issued an Order in
December 1992, requiring the owner to begin cleanup of the site by removing all stored waste from
the facility. When the company failed to meet the required deadline for waste removal, the State
requested that EPA secure the site and begin a Superfund Response Action to remove the wastes.
-------
Two phases were implemented at the site. Initially, an EPA contractor provided maintenance to the
drums and tanks at the facility. Phase I dealt with enforcement actions leading to the removal of
over 4,000 drums and 6,700 pounds of laboratory chemicals from the site. Phase II dealt with
enforcement actions for the removal of all wastes from the 45 tanks on site.
Phase I began in October 1993, after approximately 5 months of negotiations with 430 potentially
responsible parties (PRPs). The PRPs hired a cleanup contractor to remove all laboratory chemicals
and drums from the site and to send them to multiple disposal facilities. This field work was
completed in May 1994, and all wastes were subsequently destroyed at off-site disposal facilities.
Phase II began in July 1994, after approximately 3 months of negotiations with over 400 PRPs. A
consultant hired by the PRPs sampled the tanks and prepared a removal action plan that was
approved by EPA. Removal of the tank wastes was completed in March 1995. New York State
DEC considers the removal actions performed by PRPs under agreement with EPA to be interim
remedial actions.
Schedule for Completion
On April 6, 1994 the State of New York issued an Order which formally revoked the operating
Permit for the facility and revoked all authority to operate a hazardous waste management facility at
the Royal Avenue site. In March 1995, the site was listed on the NYS Registry of Hazardous Waste
sites as Class 2 (significant threat to the public health or the environment, action required).
In March 1994, while the interim remedial actions were being implemented, the Superfund Program
assigned the site to be evaluated for possible inclusion in the National Priorities List (NPL), which
identifies sites requiring remedial action under Superfund. After review of this evaluation, EPA
decided not to list this site on the NPL. The DEC initiated PRP search efforts in 1998. In mid-
1998, DEC contractors completed a review of facility records to identify PRPs. DEC subsequently
reviewed its internal records to finalize the list of PRPs. Notice letters were issued to PRPs in
December 1999.
In January 2001 the site was referred for RI/FS action under the NY State Superfund program. The
Focused Remedial Investigation was begun in 2001. The RI/FS for the soils and upper bedrock
(OU#l) was completed in 2004. The Record of Decision for OU#l was issued in March 2006. It
requires the excavation and off-site treatment/disposal of contaminated soil source areas, with
overburden and upper bedrock groundwater treatment/control.
Remediation Costs
Following are estimated amounts that have been spent to date on
remediating this site (EPA Emergency Removal Action):
Federal
State
PRP
$ 3,690,000
$ 3,600,000
$ 400,000
It is estimated that the following amounts will be spent from now to the
completion of remediation:
-------
Federal $ 0
State $ (Not available)
PRP $ (Not available)
FRONTIER CHEMICAL, ROYAL AVENUE
Output
Responsible Party
Target Date
RFI Work plan Approval
(groundwater investigation)
DEC
COMPLETED
RFI Completion
(groundwater investigation)
Permittee
COMPLETED
Remedial Investigation
DEC
COMPLETED
Feasibility Study
DEC
COMPLETED
Record of Decision
DEC
COMPLETED
Remedial Design
Remedial Action
Dependent on RD/RA Order
negotiations with PRP group.
-------
OCCIDENTAL CHEMICAL - DUREZ DIVISION, NORTH TONAWANDA
Site #24-37
Site Program: New York State DEC Division of Environmental Remediation
Summary Prepared by: DEC
Site Description
The Occidental Chemical Corporation (OCC) Durez site occupies about 40 acres in the city of
North Tonawanda. The site is located about 1 1/4 miles east of the Niagara River.
The Durez plant has been in operation since 1926, producing various plastic formulations.
Chemicals deposited on site include: chlorinated benzenes, phenol, chlorinated phenols,
chlorotoluene, and other organic compounds. During 1995, the plant ceased manufacturing
operations and the site facilities were demolished. Operation of remedial systems at the site
continue.
Two aquifers, one overburden and one bedrock, are present under this site. The overburden aquifer
unit is the primary aquifer of concern. The bedrock aquifer, for the most part, is isolated from
overlying chemical contamination by a confining clay layer. Prior to remediation, groundwater in
the overburden flowed in several directions and was complicated by storm drains and sewers to the
north, northwest, and southwest of the site. The regional overburden and bedrock groundwater
flow is to the southwest, toward the Niagara River.
Remedial Actions
Remedial actions have been conducted under several consent orders and
have addressed the following three areas:
Plant site: An 8450-feet long groundwater interceptor trench has been
constructed around the entire plant perimeter to collect contaminated
groundwater for treatment at an on-site carbon treatment system.
Off site: Off-site contaminants from some 22,000 feet of City of North
Tonawanda and OCC Durez plant sewers were removed.
Pettit Creek Cove: Remediation of the Pettit Creek Cove was completed
in 1995 under consent order. This remediation included excavation and
removal of contaminated soils and sediments from the cove and the
Little Niagara River, removal and treatment of dense non-aqueous
phase liquid (DNAPL), and restoration of the cove as a wetland. A total
of 23,500 cubic yards of soil and sediment were removed and
transferred to licensed disposal facilities.
All remedial construction activities have been completed. Operation of plant
groundwater systems will continue, probably for decades, until no longer
needed. Approximately 25,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediments from
sewers and from Pettit Cove were removed during the Remedial Action.
-------
Biomonitoring sampling by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment in 1997, and recent water
quality sampling by the DEC, detected the possible release of OCC Durez contaminants of concern
into the post-remedial Pettit Creek Cove. The extent of the sampling was limited to a very small
area at the mouth of the Pettit Creek Flume storm sewer. As a result, OCC agreed to undertake a
supplemental investigation of the Pettit Creek Cove to ascertain the cove=s current condition and
to demonstrate the effectiveness of the completed remedial programs. Sampling of cove sediment,
completed October 1999, found that low levels of Durez contaminants were present in recently
deposited sediment emanating from the Pettit Flume storm sewer. OCC believes the contamination
to be residual from the sewer cleaning project of 1994. In response, OCC completed maintenance
dredging of 400 cubic yards of the recently deposited sediment in May 2000.
Remediation Costs
Following are estimated amounts that have been spent for this remediation project:
State $ 510,000
PRP $ 39,000,000
OCC - DUREZ, NORTH TONAWANDA
Output
Responsible
Current
Party
Schedule
Remedial Construction:
Plant Site
PRP
COMPLETED
Sewer Clean-up
PRP
COMPLETED
Pettit Creek Cove:
RI/FS
PRP
COMPLETED
Record of Decision
DEC
COMPLETED
Remedial Design
PRP
COMPLETED
Remedial Action
PRP
COMPLETED
-------
GRATWICK RIVERSIDE PARK
Site # 68
Site Program: New York State DEC Division of Environmental Remediation
Summary Prepared by: DEC
Site Description
The Gratwick Riverside Park site occupies about 53 acres in the City of North Tonawanda and
borders the Niagara River.
Prior to 1960, the site was used for the disposal of metallurgical slag. During the period 1960 to
1968, the site was operated as a landfill accepting municipal and industrial wastes. It is known that
phenolic wastes from Occidental Chemical - Durez were disposed at the Gratwick Park site.
The Gratwick Park site contains about 13 feet of fill underlain by a discontinuous glaciolacustrine
unit above glacial till. The till layer acts as an aquitard (or barrier) to downward groundwater flow
from the overburden/fill aquifer to the next significant aquifer, in the Camillus Shale bedrock. Each
aquifer flows generally to the southwest, towards the Niagara River.
Site Investigation
Gratwick Riverside Park is a DEC-lead site. After completion of a Remedial Investigation/
Feasibility Study (RI/FS) of the site under State Superfund, a Record of Decision (ROD) selecting a
remedy was issued in February 1991. In May 1996, after lengthy and difficult negotiations, the
PRPs agreed to design and implement the selected remedy. In February 1997, the City of North
Tonawanda (one of the PRPs) entered into a Title 3 contract for state funding of its share
(approximately 34%) of project design and construction costs.
Remedial Design (RD) started in early 1996. The design includes:
Shoreline protection
Hydraulic barrier (slurry wall) between site and river
Cap over the site to allow it to be used as a park
Collection of contaminated groundwater
During design, samples of river sediment along the shoreline indicated the presence of relatively low
levels of site-related contamination. It was also determined that steps should be taken to improve
the habitat value of the shoreline area. To address these issues and the shoreline protection
component of the remedy, the design was modified to include covering portions of the river bottom
with soil that could support selected vegetation to be planted, and to include features to provide
erosion resistance. These changes are incorporated in an amendment to the ROD issued in January
1999.
Construction of the remediation measures began in June 1999, and was substantially completed in
November 2001.
The components of the remediation of this site include the following:
-------
$ a permeable soil cap, which includes a six inch fertile layer for planting of appropriate
vegetation,
$ a subsurface hydraulic barrier wall along the entire shoreline of the site, approximately 5600
feet long, to separate the contaminated leachate on the site from the river waters,
$ rip rap stabilization and protection of the shoreline,
$ remediation of three existing storm sewer lines,
$ removal of an area of soils contaminated by viscous material approximately fifty feet square,
and
$ a groundwater/leachate collection system.
Over the 2001-2002 winter season, erosion of portions of the river shoreline protection was noted.
Repair of this erosion was completed in 2004. Final Construction Certifications and OM&M plan
approvals were completed in 2005.
Remediation Costs
Following are estimated amounts that have been spent to date on remediating this site:
State $ 2,550,000
PRP $ 5,000,000
It is estimated that the following amounts will be spent from now to the completion of remediation:
State $ 450,000
PRP $ 430,000
Operation and Maintenance costs are estimated at $1,140,000 for ten years.
-------
GRATWICK RIVERSIDE PARK
Output
Responsible Party
Current Schedule
RI/FS
DEC
COMPLETED
Record of Decision
DEC
COMPLETED
Remedial Design Completion
PRPs
COMPLETED
Remedial Action Completion
PRPs
COMPLETED
-------
MOBIL OIL
Site # 141
Site Program: New York State DEC Division of Environmental Remediation
Summary Prepared by: EPA/DEC
Site Description
The Mobil Oil site associated with Niagara River Toxics Management Plan (NRTMP) priority toxic
chemicals is a 3-acre area in the southeast portion of an approximately 62-acre Mobil facility in the
City of Buffalo. The site is located adjacent to the Buffalo River, about 5 miles upstream of the
confluence of the Buffalo and Niagara Rivers.
The entire facility was used by Mobil for oil refining from 1951 to 1981. The 3-acre area of
concern was used by the City of Buffalo for disposal of municipal wastes before being sold to Mobil
in 1951. Mobil used it until 1976 for the disposal of unknown quantities of tetraethyl lead sludge,
lubricating sludges, spent catalysts, and other wastes.
The site consists of varying amounts of fill underlain by a sand and gravel unit. Below the sand and
gravel unit is a clay layer, followed by glacial till and then the Onondaga Limestone. Groundwater
flow across the site is generally to the south toward the Buffalo River.
Site Investigation
From 1982 to 1983, various investigations of the 3-acre site were conducted by the U.S. Geological
Survey and by DEC. In 1985, Mobil and DEC signed a Consent Order to perform a Phase II
investigation. The Phase II investigation, completed in 1987, included soil sampling, groundwater
monitoring, and surface water and sediment sampling from the Buffalo River. The highest
concentrations of lead and volatile organic compounds were found in the soil and river sediment.
The highest concentrations of semi-volatile base/neutral compounds were found in the soil and
groundwater. Liquid petroleum was found in a monitoring well.
In 1988, based on the site investigations, the 3-acre Mobil site was re-classified as Class 3 (does not
present a significant threat to the public health or the environment, action may be deferred).
Tetraethyl lead has extremely low solubility in water and is not expected to significantly migrate off
site through groundwater. However, tetraethyl lead is highly soluble in petroleum products, so that
any spill of fuel oils in the area could mobilize it and carry it to the Buffalo River.
Site Remediation
Around 1971 Mobil Oil began operation of a well point system (WPS) installed along the Buffalo
River. The WPS consists of a series of interconnected wells designed to recover groundwater and
petroleum product and prevent petroleum seepage to the Buffalo River. The WPS extends
approximately 1600 feet along the south-facing side of the site, from the 3-acre disposal area
toward Babcock Street. In February 1989, Mobil notified DEC of liquid phase petroleum
encountered during the installation of geotechnical borings. This report prompted additional site
investigation, and remedial measures were instituted to recover petroleum product. In 1993, six
-------
dual-pump recovery wells were activated. Each of the recovery wells is equipped with both
groundwater and product recovery pumps. Five of the six recovery wells are presently being
operated in conjunction with the WPS. The recovery wells are located outside the 3-acre disposal
area, within the south-central portion of the Mobil facility.
In 1994, the entire 62-acre Mobil facility, including the 3-acre area of concern, was selected for
inclusion in the DEC Multimedia Pollution Prevention (M2P2) program based in part on the
facility=s involvement with multiple divisions within DEC (Division of Air Resources, Division of
Hazardous Substance Regulation, Division of Environmental Remediation, Division of Regulatory
Affairs, Division of Solid Waste, Division of Water). The goal of the M2P2 program is to provide an
integrated approach to the environmental management of the facility. The M2P2 facility team
conducted a multi-media inspection to better coordinate the various facility remediation activities.
A Consent Order was signed on May 20, 1997 to undertake further investigation and remediation.
The results of the additional site facility investigation were submitted to the DEC and EPA on
November 25, 1998. Three areas of the site (the Elk Street Lot, the Former Lube Building Area &
the Buffalo Terminal Disposal Area) were identified as requiring further investigation to determine
the extent of contamination. The results of the further site facility investigation were submitted to
the DEC and EPA on 12/15/99. The results of additional investigations of the Babcock Street
Properties and the Eastern Tank Yard (Buffalo Terminal Disposal Area) were submitted on 6/11/01
and 7/5/01, respectively. The results of completion of the investigation of the remaining areas of the
site were submitted in March 2002. In November 2002, the remaining three chambers of the former
Main Inground Oil/Water separator were permanently closed by dewatering, cleaning and
backfilling of the chambers.
In 2003 ExxonMobil Oil Corp. performed pilot tests using different technologies to address the
separate phase product plume in the Terminal Disposal area of the Eastern Tank Yard area.
The active petroleum products storage and distribution facility portion of the
site is now owned and operated by Buckeye Terminals, LLC (Buckeye).
ExxonMobil completed the requirements of the 1997 Consent Order and has
progressed beyond those requirements to complete investigation of
remaining areas of the Site. The results of the remedial investigation indicate
that remedial action will be warranted. ExxonMobil has entered the
Brownfield Cleanup Program to complete subsequent remediation activities
under a BCP Agreement with DEC dated April 3, 2006. In spring 2006 a
Conceptual Site Plan (CSP) was approved by the State. The CSP was prepared
to fulfill the following main objectives:
$ Provide background information regarding the Site;
$ Summarize the previously completed investigations and interim remedial
measures
(IRMs) which have been documented in reports submitted to DEC;
$ Provide an overview of the qualitative exposure assessment for the Site;
$ Provide an overview description of remedial action goals and objectives for
the Site;
$ Provide an overview of operable units to be defined at the Site; and
$ Provide an overview of anticipated project activities and a project schedule.
-------
The Site has been divided into nine geographic areas for the purpose of
assessing environmental conditions and reporting the results of area-specific
activities. These areas were designated according to the historical primary
operations that occurred in that portion of the Site. Now that site-wide
remedial investigation is complete, the site was divided into OUs based upon
the anticipated phasing of subsequent remedial actions considering
environmental media to be addressed, potential remedial approach and
geographic areas. A brief description of each operable unit, media to be
addressed and operable unit specific RAOs is provided below. The entire
remedial project is anticipated to take 6 years.
OU#l: This operable unit addressed the soil impacts in the ESPA that were
determined to be attributable to the former Tank 60 release from 1976. This
OU was completed in 2007.
OU#2: This operable unit will address soil, groundwater and any areas of free
product located to the north of Prenatt Street and south of Elk Street.
OU#3: This operable unit will address the main Free Product Plume and
contaminated soil and groundwater south of Prenatt Street.
OU#4: This operable unit will address soil and groundwater within the ETYA.
OU#5: This operable unit will address the Buffalo River sediment impacted
by ExxonMobil historical operations, including, at a minimum, evaluation of
the need for remedial action based upon the results of the qualitative
exposure assessment.
Remediation Costs
Estimates of Federal, State and PRP past and future remediation costs related to this site are not
available.
-------
MOBIL OIL
Output
Responsible Party
Previous Target
Date
Current
Schedule
Phase I Investigation
DEC
Sept 1983
COMPLETED
Phase II Investigation
PRP
Dec 1986
COMPLETED
Re-classification to Class 3*
DEC
Dec 1988
COMPLETED
Site Investigation
PRP
Nov 2000
COMPLETED
OU #1 Remedial Action
PRP
Dec 2006
COMPLETED
OU#2 Remedial Action
PRP
-
Dec 2007
OU#3 Remedial Design
PRP
-
Dec 2009
OU#3 Remedial Action
PRP
-
Dec 2010
OU#4 Remedial Design
PRP
-
Dec 2010
OU#4 Remedial Action
PRP
-
Dec 2011
OU#5 Remedial Action
PRP
-
Dec 2011
Class 3 means that the site does not present a significant threat
to the public health or the environment and that action may be
deferred.
-------
IROQUOIS GAS - WESTWOOD PHARMACEUTICAL
Site Code 9-15-141
Site Program: New York State DEC Division of Environmental Remediation
Summary Prepared by: DEC
Site Description
The Iroquois Gas - Westwood Pharmaceutical Hazardous Waste Site is 8.8 acres in size. The site is
bounded on the: east by Dart Street, north by the City of Buffalo vehicle impoundment facility, west
by Scajaquada Creek, and south by residential properties. The site is predominately covered by
asphalt or buildings, and is fenced, which precludes direct exposure to the public. The potential for
site contaminants to be transported via ground water to Scajaquada Creek exists.
Iroquois Gas Company, predecessor to National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation (NFG) used the
site from the turn of the century to about 1955 to produce manufactured gas. After 1955, NFG
stored natural gas and oil at the site, with such storage believed to have continued into the 1960's.
In 1972 Westwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc. purchased the site and constructed a 100,000 square foot
warehouse on the southwest portion of the site.
In the fall of 1985, during building construction, buried tar separator pits and an oil storage tank
foundation were encountered, along with fill and soils containing tar-like and oily residues. As a
result, construction plans were modified to permit excavation, evaluation and proper disposal of the
potentially contaminated soils, materials and liquids. In 1985, Westwood also began an investigation
of the site. The investigation indicated the presence of both soil and ground water contamination.
Site Investigation
In 1989 DEC requested that Westwood undertake a Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study
(RI/FS) to assess the nature and extent of contamination at the site. Ultimately, Westwood agreed
to undertake the RI/FS, with DEC oversight, under a Partial Consent Decree issued by the Federal
Court. The purpose of the RI was to define the nature and extent of any contamination resulting
from previous activities at the site. Field work for the RI started in April 1992 and was completed in
June 1993.
The results of the RI are as follows:
$ The soil at the site is primarily contaminated with PAHs (Polynuclear Aromatic
Hydrocarbons), BTEX (Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, Xylene), lead and cyanide;
$ Ground water in the upper aquifer (fill, with maximum depth of up to 32 feet) is
contaminated with PAHs and BTEX;
$ Substrate below the fill consists of a silty clay layer to a depth of 60 feet, followed by a layer
of sand and gravel, and then bedrock. No significant contamination has been found in the
sand and gravel layer; the direction of ground water flow is towards Scajaquada Creek.
-------
Based on RI data, the ground water discharge to the creek is estimated to be 7350 gallons per day;
the direction of flow of NAPL (liquid, non-water soluble chemicals) is also towards the creek. The
estimated amount of NAPL entering the creek is 440 lb/year; the chemicals of concern (BTEX and
PAHs) in the NAPL and ground water are estimated to be migrating to the creek at a rate of 261
lb/year; the creek sediments are primarily contaminated with the same contaminants which are
present in soil, ground water and NAPL.
In March 1994, the Department signed a Record of Decision which outlined a Remedial Action Plan
calling for:
Construction of a clay cap to isolate the source area contaminants;
In situ (in place) bio-treatment of soil and groundwater, if feasible;
Installation of a vertical sheet piling barrier wall and extraction wells for ground water
control and removal of contaminated ground water;
Treatment of extracted ground water and NAPL before proper disposal;
Long term Operation & Maintenance.
The Remedial Action Plan also addresses contamination in Scajaquada Creek and includes:
excavation of contaminated sediments originating from the site, restoration of the creek channel to
background conditions, and removal of free tar wastes located in two deep pockets below the creek
bed.
Note that DEC found bio-treatment to be infeasible. DEC will review this decision at five-year
intervals to determine if any new technologies are feasible.
Remedial Actions
For remediation purposes, the site was divided into two operable units: OU#l (Main Plant) and
OU#2 (Scajaquada Creek). Westwood is responsible for the Main Plant site and National Fuel Gas
for the Scajaquada Creek site.
Remedial construction began in November 1996, with installation of the sheet pile barrier wall
between the two operable units. All remedial work on the Main Plant site was completed in 1997
and remediation of Scajaquada Creek sediments was completed in March 1999.
Remediation Costs
Following are estimated amounts that have been spent to date on remediating this site:
State $ 150,000
PRP $ 6,500,000
It is estimated that the following amounts will be spent from now to the completion of remediation,
including operation and maintenance:
-------
State
PRP
$ 100,000
$ 500,000
IROQUOIS GAS - WESTWOOD PHARMACEUTICAL
PLANT SITE:
Output
Responsible Party
Current Schedule
Record of Decision
DEC
COMPLETED
Remedial Design
PRP
COMPLETED
Remedial Action
PRP
COMPLETED
CREEK SITE:
Output
Responsible Party
Current Schedule
Record of Decision
DEC
COMPLETED
Remedial Design
PRP
COMPLETED
Remedial Action
PRP
COMPLETED
-------
BOOTH OIL
Site Program: New York State DEC Division of Environmental
Remediation
Summary Prepared by: DEC
Site Description
The Booth Oil site is located at 76 Robinson Street in the City of North
Tonawanda. The site occupies approximately 2.7 acres on three parcels of
land each separated by railroad tracks operated by CSX. The site is located
about 500 feet from the Little Niagara River.
Waste oils were refined at the site for more than 50 years, until the phased
plant closure in the early 1980's. During processing, frequent spills occurred
and oil was periodically discharged to the Little Niagara River via surface
water run-off through the Robinson Street storm sewer.
Site Investigation
The Rl identifies oil saturated soils on site containing PCB, VOCs, Semi-VOCs,
and PAHs. An investigation of the River indicated that oil/PCB waste from the
Booth Oil site is limited to a small area in the vicinity of the outfall.
Two Records of Decision were issued: the first in March 1992 (Operable Unit
OU#l, on-site) and the second in March 1993 (Operable Unit OU#2, Little
Niagara River). The remedy consisted of the excavation of contaminated
on-site soils, sewer sediments and a limited area of sediment in the Little
River. Contaminated ground water will also be extracted and treated.
The RI/FS was performed under State Superfund. However, many Potentially
Responsible Parties (PRPs) exist, including the site owners and numerous
generators who shipped waste to the site.
A PRP proposal for an alternate remedy was accepted in June 1998. In 2002,
the DEC amended the earlier RODs. The amended remedy is similar to the
previously selected remedies, however, contaminated soil and sediment will
be excavated and disposed of off-site, rather treating these materials on-site.
The components of the amended remedy include:
$ Contaminated soil excavated down to the clay layer underlying the site;
$ Storm sewer sediment removed from the Robinson Street storm sewer
and its catch basins;
$ Contaminated sediments in the Little River excavated and disposed of
with the contaminated site soils;
-------
$ Water produced during de-watering of excavations treated on site prior
to discharge;
$ All contaminated soils and sediments removed during remediation
disposed of in a permitted disposal facility;
$ Excavations backfilled and graded with clean fill;
$ Deed restrictions and long-term monitoring program to address any
residual contamination.
Construction to implement the remedy selected in the August 2002 ROD began in July 2003 and
was completed in December 2003. The construction completion report and O&M Plan
were approved in November 2004.
Remediation Costs
Following amounts have been spent on remediating this site:
State $ 1,318,900
PRP $ Not available_
BOOTH OIL
Output
Responsible Party
Previous
Target Date
Current Schedule
OU#l
RI/FS
DEC
Feb 1992
COMPLETED
ROD
DEC
Mar 1992
COMPLETED
Remedial Design
PRP
Mar 2003
COMPLETED
Remedial Action
PRP
June 2004
COMPLETED
OU#2
RI/FS
DEC
Feb 1993
COMPLETED
ROD
DEC
Mar 1993
COMPLETED
Remedial
Design
PRP
Mar 2003
COMPLETED
Remedial Action
PRP
June 2004
COMPLETED
-------
------- |