STATUS UPDATE FOR:
REDUCTION OF TOXICS LOADINGS TO
THE NIAGARA RIVER FROM HAZARDOUS
WASTE SITES IN THE UNITED STATES
2010 Annual Report
Prepared by the United States Environmental Protection Agency-Region 2
in conjunction with the New York State Department of Environmental
Conservation-Region 9
FINAL
December 2010
-------
[This Page Intentionally Left Blank]
-------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Executive Summary
Introducti on 1
Status of Remediation Progress 8
Overvi ew 8
Project Highlights 10
Estimated Remediation Costs 14
Future Challenges and Opportunities for the NRTMP 14
Acronyms 21
Glossary 23
References 28
Priority Niagara River Hazardous Waste Site Summaries Appendix A
1) Occidental Chemical Corporation, Buffalo Avenue
2) Niagara County Refuse Disposal
3) DuPont Necco Park
4) CECOS International
5) Occidental Chemical Corporation, Hyde Park
6) 102nd Street
7) Bell Aerospace Textron
8) Durez Corporation, Packard Rd. Facility, Niagara Falls (formerly OCC-Durez Div)
9) Occidental Chemical Corporation, S-Area
10) Stauffer Chemical
11) Solvent Chemical
12) Vanadium Corporation of America (formerly SKW Alloys)
13) Olin Corporation
14) DuPont, Buffalo Avenue
15) Buffalo Color Corporation Site
16) Buffalo Color Corporation, Area D
17) Bethlehem Steel Corporation Site
18) River Road (INS Equipment)
19) Niagara Mohawk — Cherry Farm
20) Frontier Chemical, Pendleton
21) Frontier Chemical, Royal Avenue
22) Occidental Chemical Corporation, Durez Division, North Tonawanda
23) Gratwick Riverside Park
24) Mobil Oil
25) Iroquois Gas-Westwood Pharmaceutical
26) Booth Oil
Remediation of Additional Pollutant Source Summaries
Appendix B
-------
[This Page Intentionally Left Blank]
-------
Executive Summary
For over two decades, the Niagara River has been the focus of attention between four environmental
agencies in the United States and Canada ("the Four Parties"). On February 4, 1987, the Four Parties
signed a Declaration of Intent (DOI) to achieve significant reductions of toxic chemical pollutants in the
Niagara River. The DOI outlined the principles and activities to be followed and was combined with a
detailed annual work plan which forms the Niagara River Toxics Management Plan (NRTMP). The Four
Parties agreed upon a specific list of 18 ,priority toxics" targeted for reduction through the NRTMP. A
key sub-objective and milestone of the NRTMP DOI was to achieve a 50% reduction of ten specific
priority toxics believed to be from significant Niagara River sources by 1996. Overall, the NRTMP has
met its 50% reduction goal for the ten targeted priority toxics, and some by more than 75% through actions
addressing point and non-point sources of toxic contamination. In December 1996, the Four Parties
formally re-affirmed, by Letter of Support, their commitment to continue reductions of priority toxic
loadings to the Niagara River.
A 1988 study identified 33 hazardous waste site clusters identified as the principal sources of toxic
pollutant loadings to the Niagara River. The sites were prioritized into three categories: Category I (sites
with loadings greater than 50 lbs/day), Category II (sites with loadings between 1 and 50 lbs/day), and
Category III (sites with loadings less than 1 lb/day). The EPA and NYSDEC consolidated the 33 cluster
sites into a priority list of 26 sites consisting mostly of Category I and II, which were determined to be
responsible for -700 lbs/day of the 18 priority toxic chemical loadings to the Niagara River, and,
represented the most significant input of non-point source loadings (99.9%) from the U.S. side. The
complete remediation of these sites became the primary focus of the NRTMP to achieve the common goals
of the Four Parties agreement. To date, key actions addressing non-point sources include completing 21 of
the total 26 priority hazardous waste sites. The remaining five sites (Mobil Oil, Frontier Chemical - Royal
Ave., Vanadium Corporation OU#3, Bethlehem Steel Corporation, and Buffalo Color Corporation Areas
A,B,C, and E) have remedial actions pending or underway (detailed status discussed later in this report).
Upstream/Downstream (U/D) water quality monitoring data for the period April 2004 through March 2005
shows annual average concentrations for 6 of the 18 priority toxics (mercury, arsenic, lead, total chlordane,
octachlorostyrene (OCS), and benzo(a)anthracene (a PAH) are now below the most stringent agency water
quality criteria at Fort Erie (FE) and Niagara-on-the-Lake (NOTL). It is important to note that principal
sources for 2 of the priority toxics (tetrachloroethylene and toxaphene), although not being measured as
part of the U/D program, have been eliminated by actions taken in other programs. Specifically,
tetrachloroethylene discharges from the Falls Street Tunnel sent to the Niagara Falls Wastewater Treatment
Plant and toxaphene use as a pesticide was discontinued in 1982 before EPA banned all general uses of the
compound in the United States and its territories in 1990.
Today, the commitment to reduce toxic loadings through the NRTMP continues. The Four Parties are in
the process of evaluating past achievements and future opportunities that exist to coordinate with other
related program initiatives occurring within the basin utilizing available expertise and resources. Further
evaluation is needed on the opportunities that exist to continue to reduce toxic contaminant levels from
U.S. sources within the Niagara River. To meet this challenge, the Niagara River Secretariat is currently
evaluating input received over the past year from the general public and involved public and private
stakeholders on the future of the NRTMP. The Secretariat plans to integrate the input received into an
Options White Paper with recommendations to be presented to the Four Parties Coordinating Committee
(4PCC). Based on feedback and direction on course of action received from the 4PCC, the Secretariat will
revise the NRTMP Scope and Work Plan based on consensus reached among the 4PCC members.
-------
[This Page Intentionally Left Blank]
-------
Introduction
Tin-: Four Parties
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environment Canada (EC)
NY S i a it Ditioi Environmental Conservation (DEC)
Ontario Ministry or Environment (MOE)
Since 1987, the Niagara River has
been the focus of attention for four
environmental agencies in the U.S.
and Canada, called "The Four
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 (DOI 1987). The Declaration of Intent and a work plan form the Niagara River Toxics
Management Plan (NRTMP).
IS NRTMP PRIORITY TOXIC C'HEMICM S
Benzfajanthracene*
\lliv\ PllOlo\lllVV;:
IJai/.n(;i)|">\ ivnc*
Octachlorostyrene
liai/.o( l->)lluoicinihaK-:::
PC lis*
liai/.o(k)lluomiiihaK-:::
DDIs
('hlordane
Dio\nr:
( hi \ saic
Tamchloroaln laic"
Dicklnn
Arsenic
1 Icvichloiolvn/.aK-*
I.Ci lil
Mercury*
Tn\;if>haK'
- Targeted lor 50% load reduction by 1996 Irom point & non-poinl
Niagara River watershed sources
using 1987 as a baseline.
Compounds in italics no longer exceed strictest agency criteria at
both IT! and NOTL.
Under the NRTMP, the Four Parties identified
18 persistent toxic chemicals as "priority
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. In November 2010, EC (R.B.
Hill and P. Klawunn) completed a
concentrations, loads, and trends report of
toxic contaminants covering a 20-year period
(1986/87 - 2004/05) based on data generated
on a total 72 Niagara River analytes (including
the 18 priority toxics) by the Upstream /
Downstream (U/D) Monitoring Program.
The report observed the following long-term loading trends: most of the 72 analytes have a
downward trend and are not exceeding the strictest agency criteria; certain PAH class compounds
show upward trends most recently; most of the compounds that still exceed the strictest agency
criteria show downward trends; and NOTL appears to have a greater number of compounds with
a downward trend. Based on the most recent data available (U/D Program, 2004/05), 6 of the 18
priority toxics (mercury, arsenic, lead, chlordane, octachlorostyrene, and benzo(a)anthracene) are
below the strictest agency criteria at both FE and NOTL. The downward trends of most
compounds at NOTL imply that sources are not primarily from the Niagara River watershed and
that existing management actions under the NRTMP are, in fact, working. The data does show
that further study and evaluation is needed to identify, characterize, and eliminate certain sources
of PAH class compounds, specifically benzo(a)pyrene and benzo(b/k)fluoranthene. A targeted
study and evaluation to determine if the principal sources of these compounds are generated
upstream of the Niagara River or Great Lakes basin-wide may be warranted.
1
-------
59 \ L i mt'w t
—. !_.** i * -41a._
.. iVAsgarafifgr
-\\] pCfv
W/ i-U,'bB
F 'QiV'flf I
Hoyal Ave. H
Boath Ol Sr.a
24
94
207
\2-i
108
APPHOJUMATL SCALL
107
241
MC3TE; RrsI Pi-Piocr only s sl.iyi Jo> sra
with rr.#:ple sna "luirtiD's.
1?C
1B2
253
110
Figure 1: LOCATION OF SIGNIFICANT NIAGARA RIVER HAZARDOUS WASTE SITES
3
-------
Figure 1: LEGEND
USGS SITE SITE NAME
NUMBERS
41b-49 Occidental Chemical Corp. (OCC), Buffalo Ave. Avenue
81 Niagara County Refuse Disposal
14 DuPont Necco Park
78a,b CECOS International/Niagara Recycling
39 OCC, Hyde Park
40,56,85,941 102nd Street
5 Bell Aerospace Textron
66 Durez Corporation, Packard Road Facility (formally OCC, Durez Division)
41a OCC, S-Area
255 Stauffer Plant (PASNY)
251 Solvent Chemical
1 Vanadium Corp. (formerly SKW Alloys)
58,59,248 Olin, Buffalo Avenue
15-19,250 DuPont, Buffalo Avenue Plant
254 Buffalo Harbor Containment
120-122 Buffalo Color Corporation, including Area D
118 Bethlehem Steel Corporation
136 River Road (INS Equipment)
67 Frontier Chemical, Pendleton
24-37 OCC, Durez, North Tonawanda
253 Small Boat Harbor Containment
68 Gratwick Riverside Park
141 Mobil Oil
162 Alltift Realty
242 Charles Gibson
22 Great Lakes Carbon
182 Niagara Mohawk Cherry Farm
241 Times Beach Containment
108 Tonawanda Coke
107 Allied Chemical
207 Tonawanda Landfill
Occidental 102nd Street site (#40), Olin 102nd Street site (#56), Griffon Park (#85), and Niagara
River Belden site (#94)
3
-------
125-127 Dunlop Tire and Rubber
123 Columbus-McKinnon
38 Love Canal
9-15-141 Iroquois GasAVestwood Pharmaceutical
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 all
known hazardous waste sites on the U.S. side of the Niagara River (Gradient Corp/Geotrans Inc
1988). The study compiled a list of 70 sites into 33 "cluster sites" largely based on the manner in
which data has historically been collected. The study further placed them into three categories
based on their potential loadings (in lbs/day) to the Niagara River. Figure 1 shows the locations
of these 33 site clusters, as well as several other additional hazardous waste sites.
The study showed that a total estimated 694 lbs/day (315 kg/day) of toxic chemicals have the
potential of migrating from these 33 cluster 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).
Table 1 presents the 33 cluster sites divided into the three categories, based on Gradient/Geotrans
1988 estimates of their potential toxic loads to the Niagara River. The 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 HI: Sites with loadings less than 1 lb/day
Sites from Category I and II collectively represented 99.9% of the total estimated loadings.
In November 1989, EPA and NYSDEC issued a report which prioritized the 33 cluster sites into
a list of 26 hazardous waste sites, consisting mostly of Category I and II, which were determined
to be responsible for the -700 lbs/day of the 18 priority toxic chemical loadings to the Niagara
River (EPA/NYSDEC 1989). Since 1989, EPA and NYSDEC have reevaluated the universe of
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 priority hazardous waste sites.
4
-------
EPA estimates actual input loading reductions from completed hazardous waste site remedial
actions ("RAs") have been from -700 lbs/day to less than 50 lbs/day; representing an
approximate 94% reduction from the 1988 baselines for PCBs, DDT, mirex, octachlorostyrene,
chlordane, hexachlorobenzene, benz (a) anthracene, lead and others to the Niagara River. This
estimate is based primarily on assuming 100% reduction at sites where the final RA is
completed. It does not include the load reductions at other sites where interim remedial controls
are in place, 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. Since
estimates could not be made for these sites with on-going remediation, actual reductions to date
may be greater than the estimated 94%. Table 2 identifies the sites where final RAs are complete
and the sites where remediation is not yet completed, but which have interim operational
remedial systems that are expected to have reduced contaminant loads to the Niagara River.
Upon completion of 2 additional RAs, EPA's best estimates are that the estimated toxic chemical
inputs from all sites collectively should be reduced by almost 98% from the 1989 inputs
(EPA/NYSDEC 1989).
Other estimates have been made of the potential loadings of the NRTMP priority chemical
concentrations in groundwater and groundwater flow to the Niagara River from priority waste
sites. These estimates are based on information that was not available when the
Gradient/Geotrans estimates were developed. 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
(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 likely 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 under the NRTMP, 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 NYSDEC 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%.
5
-------
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:
Durez Division, Packard Road Facility (formally OCC)
For this report, estimates of site loading reductions do not include those obtained through
treatment of the Falls Street Tunnel dry weather flow.
Other program actions outside the NRTMP have eliminated principal sources of priority toxic
compounds, such as toxaphene, primarily used in pesticides in the Great Lakes Region during the
1970s. Toxaphene, although not being measured as part of the U/D Program, was discontinued
for use as a pesticide in 1982 before EPA banned all general uses of the compound in the United
States and its territories in 1990. Although toxaphene is considered a very persistent chemical
when released to soil lasting for up to 14 years, it is reasonable to conclude that harmful releases
from sources to the Niagara River is unlikely due to detoxification by evaporation in the
environment over time and its discontinued use for nearly 30 years.
DuPont, Buffalo Avenue
OCC, Buffalo Avenue
Frontier Chemical, Royal Avenue
Solvent Chemical
CECOS International
DuPont Necco Park
6
-------
TABLE 1
Gradient/Geotrans Prioritization of Waste Sites According to
Potential Toxic Loadings to Niagara River in 1988
Category I: greater than 50 lb/day
Occidental Chemical Corporation (OCC), Buffalo Ave.
Niagara County Refuse Disposal
DuPontNecco Park combined with CECOS International
Occidental Chemical Corporation, Hyde Park
Category II: between 1-50 lb/day
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 III: less than 1 lb/day
Alltift Realty
Charles Gibson
Great Lakes Carbon
Niagara Mohawk, Cherry Farm
Times Beach Containment
Tonawanda Coke
Allied Chemical
Dunlop Tire and Rubber
Columbus-McKinnon
Love Canal
Tonawanda Landfill
7
-------
Status of Remediation Progress
Overview
As of the release of this 2010 NRTMP report, final RAs have been completed at 21 of the 26 sites
which includes all "Category 1" sites (those with estimated contaminant loads of >50 lbs/day of
priority toxic chemicals to the river). It is expected that the post-remedial Operation, Maintenance
and Monitoring (OM&M) technology installed at certain sites could be operated, maintained and
monitored for continued effectiveness for up to 30 years or longer at other sites.
The remaining five sites (Mobil Oil, Frontier Chemical - Royal Ave., Vanadium Corporation OU#3,
Bethlehem Steel Corporation, and Buffalo Color Corporation Areas A,B,C, and E) have RAs pending
or underway. Three of the five sites (Mobil Oil, Vanadium Corporation, and Bethlehem Steel
Corporation) are operating interim remedial systems while progressing with completion of their final
RAs. Start of construction of pending final RAs for Vanadium Corporation OU#3 and Buffalo Color
Corporation Areas A,B,C, and E) is anticipated during 2011. NYSDEC is awaiting results of a
Corrective Measures Study (CMS) required by a Consent Order with Tecumseh Redevelopment
(current owner of the Bethlehem Steel Corporation site) to complete the remaining projects needed at
the site with construction schedules. Frontier Chemical - Royal Ave. is in the process of evaluating
the necessary work for their final RAs based on results of previous site studies. NYSDEC will either
enter into a Consent Order with Frontier Chemical - Royal Ave. to implement remedies in a 2006
ROD or refer to the State Superfund program for remedial design. Mobil Oil has completed remedial
action at one site with site investigations/assessments underway at 4 remaining sites.
TABLE 2
Summary Status of the 26 Priority Waste Sites
Investigation and Design Status:
Potentially Responsible Party (PRP) Search
No sites in this phase.
Site Investigation Underway
3 BETHLEHEM STEEL SITE
MOBIL OIL OU#2, #3, #4, #5
Remedial Design (RD) Pending or Underway
Frontier Chemical - Royal Avenue
Buffalo Color Corporation Areas A, B, C and E
8
-------
Remedial Action Status:
Interim Remedy in Place. Final Pending or Under Construction:
1 VANADIUM CORPORATION: OU#3
Frontier Chemical - Royal Avenue
3 BETHLEHEM STEEL
Buffalo Color Corporation Areas A, B, C and E
MOBIL OIL: OU#l and OU#2
Remediation Completed (OM&M Ongoing)
Stauffer Chemical
Frontier Chemical, Pendleton
Bell Aerospace Textron
CECOS International
Dupont Necco Park
Durez Corporation, Packard Road Facility
OCC, Durez, North Tonawanda
DuPont Plant Site 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.
Bolded sites have updated project highlights reported below in more detail.
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
OU#l and OU#2. A "No Further Action" Record of Decision was issued for OUs #1 and #2 in March 2006.
2 The RI/FS for soils and the upper bedrock (OU1) were completed in 2004 with a ROD issued in March 2006. PRP
group to implement remedy under Order or will be referred to State Superfund for design of remedial action.
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.
9
-------
Project Highlights
For each individual waste site, status summary tables are provided in Appendix A. Also, detailed site
information for all 26 sites can be found in NYSDEC"s Environmental Site Remediation Database
website located at... http://www.dec.nv.gov/cfmx/extapps/derexternai/index.cfm?pageid=3. Updated
highlights of completed hazardous waste sites with continuing work and progress made at the five
remaining sites with RAs underway, particularly since the November 2009 NRTMP progress report,
are summarized below.
Occidental Chemical - Durez
• Initial remediation of the site was completed in 1995. Based on post remedial monitoring
additional contaminated sediment from the bottom of the Pettit Creek cove area was removed
in May 2000. The most recent report from caged mussel bio-monitoring (-2006), indicates
elevated concentrations of dioxins and furans remain in sediment.
• In 2007, the NYSDEC requested that Occidental undertake an investigation to identify the
source(s) that are contributing to the contaminant loading in the Pettit Creek cove and the
Niagara River. In 2009 and 2010, reports were submitted detailing investigations of the Pettit
Creek Flume and the cove. A draft work plan was also submitted for a Fish and Wildlife
Impact Analysis of the cove. The DEC provided comments in Sept. 2010. Site Management
is ongoing at the Plant Site and Inlet Cove. This consists of GW collection, treatment and
GWQ monitoring at the Plant Site and GWQ monitoring and NAPL removal at the Inlet. Soil
cover grasses have been allowed to grow at the Plant site until after August 15 for habitat
objectives. Mowed buffer strips are in place where necessary for security and residential
considerations.
Dupont Plant Site. Buffalo Avenue
• The lower reach of Gill Creek (OU#2), which was heavily contaminated with DuPont and
Olin plant site chemicals, was partially remediated in 1982. The remaining creek remediation
was completed in 1992 under a Consent Order. Pilot testing was conducted in 2002 and
construction of the full scale SW Plant Ground Water Recovery System (GWRS) remedy
which included two blast fractured bedrock trenches (BFBT) began in 2004. The GWRS
construction was completed in September 2005 and is in operation.
• In 2007, the GWRS went through an overhaul and replacement. The original piping and
equipment installed in 1992 have reached their useful life and are being replaced. The original
steam stripper was found to be severely corroded and ineffective in treating the contaminated
groundwater. The system was replaced with a shallow tray air stripper and catox unit to treat
the air effluent. The catox unit was replaced in 2008 due to chemical fouling of the
components. The Catox was replaced with a Re-Tox unit. Long term O&M activities are in
place to monitor groundwater remedial system performance and the Gill Creek remediation.
Through September 2009, the recovery system and the Olin deep well have removed
approximately 153,200 pounds of organic compounds from the groundwater. The BFBT along
the south side of the west plant area has increased the groundwater and contaminant removal
rate.
10
-------
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 the last remaining operable unit, OU #3, to address remaining
surficial waste and slag - waste consolidation and capping, site management plan,
environmental easement, and periodic certification with long term monitoring was approved
with comments in July 2010. Final RA design report submitted November 2010. RA Order
under negotiation. The remedial action to implement the remedy for OU#3 is anticipated to
begin during the Spring of 2011.
Buffalo Color Corporation Areas A. B. C. and E
• 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. The construction was completed in 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. The site has been
transferred from NYSDEC"s RCRA unit to the Division of Environmental Remediation.
• Honeywell has completed their 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 RI/FS was completed in 2008. As a
result of the RI/FS, a Brownfield Cleanup Plan application was submitted and was approved
by the NYSDEC in April 2009. The Remedial Work Plan was approved in May 2009.
Demolition of the plant buildings began in late 2009 and RA design work is expected to be
complete by the end of 2010. Remedial action to remove contaminated soils is expected to
begin in 2011. This is a planned future re-use site for commercial and industrial businesses.
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 NYSDEC found the studies to be technically flawed and of limited value. BSC continues
to study various potential remedial technologies.
11
-------
• 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, NYSDEC 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,
NYSDEC is currently negotiating a corrective action order with ISG for this work. Numerous
areas of the site that are not regulated under the RCRA program have been proposed for clean-
up under NYS Brownfield program.
In one of these areas, eight windmills were constructed at the site under the Brownfield
Cleanup Program in 2007. A Corrective Measures Study (CMS) Order with Tecumseh
Redevelopment (current owner) was signed in June 2009. The study is anticipated to be
complete by the end of 2010.
Frontier Chemical - Royal 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 for OU#l was signed
in March 2006. The remedy calls for: removal of above grade structures and debris,
Excavation of soils containing VOCs >100ppm, soil or asphalt cover system, groundwater
control/treatment, a Site Management Plan, an Environmental Easement, Long-term
Operation, Monitoring, and Maintenance, and periodic certification of the controls.
• In August 2008, an Order on Consent was executed with the PRP group to complete additional
contaminated soils delineation for OU#l and an RI/FS for OU#2. A work plan for those
activities was approved by the DEC and attached to the Consent Order. The field work began
in September 2008 and was completed in the spring of 2009. A draft report for that work was
submitted in October 2009. The Department rejected the draft report, with comments, in a
letter dated 12-31-09. A revised report was submitted in October 2010 and approved by the
Department. The terms of the initial Consent Order have been fulfilled and the Order has
automatically terminated.
• Numerous meetings have been held with the PRP group since the rejection of the report. The
soil cleanup objective is the primary issue, and the PRP group has not indicated any
willingness to undertake a remedy that includes an SCO less than lOOOppm total VOCs
+MCT. The PRP group has until the end of 2010 to inform the NYSDEC that they are willing
to undertake the remedy contained in the 2006 ROD under Consent Order. Otherwise the site
will be referred to State Superfund for the Remedial Design.
12
-------
Mobil Oil
The site is located along the Buffalo River upstream of Fort Erie at the head waters of the
Niagara River and was used for the disposal of wastes such as demolition debris, tank
sediments, sewer sediments, soils containing asphalt and general refuse. Prior to Mobil's
ownership, the property was used by the City of Buffalo for the disposal of municipal wastes.
The site is part of a 77 acre petroleum storage and distribution terminal which was historically
an oil refinery.
Remediation of OU-1 (former residential property) was completed in 2007. Remediation of
OU-2 is underway with pipeline removal on plant property completed in 2007. Two interim
remedial systems have been in place since 1971 to contain and recover spilled oil in the soils
and groundwater continue to operate to prevent migration of residual oil to the river.
Former refinery, lube plant and terminal activities have also impacted this site. Contaminants
which are known or suspected to affect soil, groundwater, surface water, sediment or soil gas
are petroleum, other VOC's, SVOC's and or metals. Exxon/Mobil 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 remaining OUs to be completed are:
OU#2: Soil, groundwater and any free product located to the north of Prenatt St. and south of
Elk St.; removal of approximately 22 miles of below ground process piping. NYSDEC
reports a revised Remedial Investigation and Alternatives Analysis Report (RI/AAR) for OU-2
submitted in early 2010 and is under review.
OU#3: Main Free Product Plume and contaminated soil and groundwater south of Prenatt
Street; active petroleum storage presently occurs on-site. A draft RI/AAR for OU-3 was
submitted in the summer of 2009. Currently, ExxonMobil is addressing NYSDEC comments
regarding the initial RI/AAR.
OU#4: Soil and groundwater within the Eastern Tank Yard Area (ETYA). The RI/AAR was
submitted in the summer of 2009. The report is currently under review.
OU#5: Buffalo River sediment impacted by Exxon/Mobil historical operations. OU-5
includes the river sediment along the north shore of the river adjacent to the main site. Limited
information is currently available and additional investigation will be necessary. This operable
unit will be addressed in the near future.
13
-------
Estimated Remediation Costs
Estimates of the cost of remediation are available for most of the 26 priority hazardous waste sites.
Where available, individual project costs for each site are provided for quick reference in summary
tables located in Appendix A of this report. As indicated below, the total costs incurred to date are
estimated to be at least $442,869,000. Total future additional remedial and O&M costs are estimated
to reach at least $262,150,000.
Based on available estimates for 21 sites, following is the total amount incurred to date (costs for the
remaining 5 sites are unavailable):
Federal $ 39.832 million
State $ 7.425 million
PRPs $ 395.772 million
Total $ 443.029 million
Based on available estimates for 12 sites, the total additional remedial and O&M costs expected in the
future are as follows (costs for the remaining 14 sites are unavailable):
Federal $ 1.875 million
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.
Future Challenges and Opportunities for the NRTMP
A number of related initiatives are underway that present opportunities for possible merging or
coordination with other activities and resources. These current initiatives include coordination of the
NRTMP with the Niagara and Buffalo River Area of Concern (AOC) Remedial Action Plan (RAP)
process; future monitoring, data collection and analysis; and remediation of additional pollutant
sources.
Area of Concern (AOC) RAP and Delistings - The AOC delisting initiative is a top priority for the
Four Parties over the next several years. The Beneficial Use Impairments (BUIs) listed by both the
binational Niagara River AOC and Buffalo River AOC are believed to be based on impacts of toxics
chemicals which have been closely linked to the hazardous waste site inputs to the rivers.
14
-------
Formal coordination of the NRTMP and AOC RAP mechanism would achieve greater resource
efficiency and public understandings.
Niagara River Area of Concern Remedial Action Plan: The Niagara River AOC, located in Erie
and Niagara counties, extends from Smokes Creek near the southern end of the Buffalo Harbor and
north to the mouth of the Niagara River at Lake Ontario. In 1994, the NYSDEC, through an
appointed Remedial Advisory Committee (RAC), completed and published a Remedial Action Plan
(RAP). To date, the RAC has identified 5 BUIs to be addressed and 2 BUIs needing further
assessment (see Table 3). Past municipal and industrial discharges and hazardous waste disposal sites
have been a source of contaminants to the Niagara River which have been linked to several BUIs in
the AOC. Of the 26 priority waste sites discussed in this report, 21 sites are located directly in the
Niagara River watershed basin. Of these 21 sites, nineteen sites have completed remedial
construction and two sites (Frontier Chemical Royal Ave. and Vanadium Corporation) have remedial
actions currently underway. It is understood by the Four Parties that the NRTMP initiative
contributes greatly towards the restoration of wildlife and aquatic habitats, re-designation of
beneficial uses from impaired to un-impaired, and the ultimate de-listing of the Niagara River AOC.
Therefore, it is noted by the joint agencies as an example of bi-national cooperation on the Niagara
River and as an important contribution to the RAP process in the AOC. It is expected that RAP
implementation will progress at an aggressive pace over the next several years while the NRTMP
works towards removing all remaining toxic pollutant inputs to the river.
Buffalo River Area of Concern Remedial Action Plan: The Buffalo River AOC is located in the
City of Buffalo in Western New York State. The river flows from the east and discharges into Lake
Erie near the head waters of the Niagara River. In 1989, a RAP was prepared by the NYSDEC for the
Buffalo River AOC. The NYSDEC acted as RAP coordinator from 1989 - 2005 until the U.S. EPA
Great lakes National Program Office selected the Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper (BNR) as RAP
implementation lead coordinators. To date, the BNR has identified 6 BUIs to be addressed and 3
BUIs needing further assessment (see Table 4). Of the 26 priority waste sites discussed in this report,
one site (Bethlehem Steel Corporation Site) has direct local impacts to Buffalo Harbor to the north
and on the western boundary of Lake Erie and four sites (Buffalo Color Corporation Site, Buffalo
Color - Area D, Mobil Oil, and Iroquois Gas-Westwood Pharmaceutical) have direct local impacts to
the Buffalo River. These five sites are part of the NRTMP 26 priority sites since they in turn have
impacts to the head waters of the Niagara River (see Figure 1). Two of the sites (Buffalo Color-Area
D and Iroquois Gas-Westwood Pharmaceuticals) have completed remedial construction and the other
three sites (Mobil Oil, Buffalo Color Corporation Site, and Bethlehem Steel) have remedial actions
currently underway. Bethlehem Steel and Mobil Oil operate interim remedial systems while final
remedial actions are completed. These NRTMP waste sites are listed as part of the Buffalo River
RAP to be addressed towards restoring beneficial uses. Restoration and re-designation of the BUIs in
Lake Erie, Buffalo and Niagara Rivers will ultimately result in delisting of the Buffalo River AOC as
well as the Niagara River AOC.
15
-------
TABLE 3
TABLE 4
Niagara River AOC Beneficial Use Impairments
Of the 14 beneficial uses, five are impaired for the
Niagara River:
1. Restrictions on fish and wildlife
consumption
2. Fish tumors or other deformities
3. Degradation of Benthos
4. Restriction on dredging activities
5. Loss of fish and wildlife habitat
In addition, the designation of two beneficial uses need
further assessment to determine their status:
1. Degradation of fish and wildlife
populations
2. Bird or animal deformities or
reproductive problems
Buffalo River AOC Beneficial Use Impairments
Of the 14 beneficial uses, six are impaired for the
Buffalo River:
1.
Restrictions on fish and wildlife
consumption
2.
Fish tumors or other deformities
3.
Degradation of aesthetics
4.
Degradation of Benthos
5.
Restriction on dredging activities
6.
Loss of fish and wildlife habitat
In addition, the designation of three beneficial uses need
further assessment to determine their status:
1.
Tainting of fish and wildlife flavor
2.
Degradation of fish and wildlife
populations
3.
Bird or animal deformities or
reproductive problems
Future Monitoring, Data Collection and Analysis - In addition to the effectiveness of pollutant
removal at the waste sites themselves, it is important to note that there are three components to the
NRTMP monitoring plan: EC U/D Program; Bio-monitoring (mussels, young-of-year fish, wildlife);
and source track down & analysis screening. Anticipated in 2009/10, the Niagara River Secretariat
will prepare a trend analysis report covering the past 20 years of data collected in-water and compare
concentration inputs at Fort Erie and Niagara-on-the-Lake. The EC U/D Program is expected to
continue to be a valuable tool for assessing overall progress and future priorities as explained below
in more detail.
NRTMP Monitoring Program Plan . The NRTMP"s primary mechanism for measuring
improvements in water quality is the EC U/D Program. The U/D Program measures approximately
50 organic chemicals and includes the 18 NRTMP Priority Toxics in the dissolved and particulate
phases at the head (Fort Erie) and the mouth (Niagara-on-the-Lake) of the Niagara River where it
enters Lake Ontario (Figure 2). Water quality data is collected year-round and EC publishes a formal
U/D Program report on every ~2 years of data. The most recent U/D Program report was published in
2007 and includes data from 2004/2005. Since 1987, high quality US and Canadian government
monitoring program information provide clear evidence of reductions for most of the 18 Niagara
River Priority Toxics in water, sediment and biological indicators in the range of 50% or greater by
the 1996 target year. The EC U/D 20-year data trend report covering the period 1986/87 - 2004/05
was completed in 2010 and is currently being evaluated for setting priorities such as future track down
and analysis studies to identify potential new sources of contaminants, new emerging chemicals, and
NRTMP management strategies for reducing these chemicals.
16
-------
Lake Ontario
•
N1AGARA-
ON-THE
-LAKE
Lewislon
LikcDntiria
~
Like Eric
Grand
N / Island
* V. c
lonawanda
m
FORT ERIE
Buffalo
Lake Erie
Figure 2. Environment Canada's Niagara River Upstream/Downstream Surface Water Sampling Locations
Remediation of Additional Pollutant Sources - The 1989 EPA/NYSDEC Hazardous Waste Site
Report identified the NRTMP"s original 26 waste sites as highest priorities due to their potential to
contribute over 90% of the total toxic chemical loadings to the Niagara River. These 26 sites and the
estimated loadings were based on earlier studies and often on preliminary data. Although these 26
sites were of top priority for the NRTMP, numerous investigations and remedial actions at other site
areas, some consisting of multiple individual sites, were being addressed under New York State"s
remedial programs. The additional efforts by NYSDEC and EPA have included seven additional sites
described below now known to be significant contributors of toxic contamination to the river but for
which insufficient data existed in 1989 to include them in the NRTMP. The NRTMP is considering
the need for a revised assessment of the toxic contamination contributions from all known hazardous
waste sites to the river using current methods and techniques. For a quick reference, see the summary
tables for these projects located in Appendix B of this report. Also, detailed site information for all
sites can be found in NYSDEC"s Environmental Site Remediation Database website located at
http://www.dec.ny.gov/cfmx/extapps/derexternal/index.cfm?pageid=3.
17
-------
Citizens Gas Works Fourth Street — NYSDEC Site #915167
The site is located on Fourth and Village Court streets in the City of Buffalo and is located in a mixed
residential, commercial, and recreational setting approximately 1500 feet from the Lake Erie
shoreline. The Citizens Gas Works operated on this property staring from the early 1900's.
From 1934 to 1958, a portion of the property was also used by Greyhound Bus Company to service its
vehicles. During a site evaluation in 1992 black tar material was found in one area of the property.
Soil/tar and groundwater samples were tested during the investigation and results showed contained
up to 3300 ppm of benzene, 3000 ppm of toluene, 2700 ppm of xylenes, 3000 ppm of phenolic
compounds, and 53,000 ppm of PAHs. Site groundwater also exceeded groundwater standards for
benzene, toluene, xylenes, PAHs, and phenolic compounds. In August 1996, NYSDEC/NYSDOH did
additional testing which detected surface soil samples containing up to 420 ppm of PAHs. The tar
material was found to be a hazardous waste as it failed TCLP for benzene. The City of Buffalo
conducted an investigation and submitted the RI/FS report in January 2001. A Record of Decision
(ROD) was issued in 2001 requiring the removal of all contaminated tar materials from the site. The
Remedial Action consisted of source removal by excavation and off-site disposal and /or treatment
began in 2005 and was completed in early 2006. The excavated areas were backfilled with clean fill
and restored as a surface parking lot and driveways for the Waterfront School. Contaminated soils
along the main sewer were left behind and will be subject to an Environmental Easement. The site is
being maintained and monitored according to the Site Management Plan, dated September 2006.
NYSDEC performed two rounds of groundwater monitoring in 2007 and 2008. The results do not
show significant groundwater contamination in the overburden strata.
Former Buffalo Service Center - NYSDEC Site #C915194
This site is the location of a former Manufactured Gas Plant (MGP) which was operated by various
companies from 1848 to 1948. The site was initially investigated by the owner - National Fuel Gas
during the period 1989 to 2004. The investigation confirmed the presence of MGP wastes (containing
benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, total cyanides) in soil and
groundwater at the site. In June 2005 a volunteer applied to the Brownfield Cleanup Program to
remediate the site in preparation for building an office building. The site remediation consisted of
excavation and off-site disposal of contaminated soils above the predetermined cleanup levels and
backfilling with clean soil/material. Work began in summer 2005 and was completed in early 2006.
An environmental easement requiring a Site Management Plan was filed on September 7, 2006 in the
Erie County Clerk's office. Remaining groundwater contamination will be monitored by an Operation
& Monitoring Plan. A Certificate of Completion was issued on November 30, 2006 and no longer
poses a significant threat to the environment. The cleanup has resulted in the construction of an
approximately 350,000 square foot Health Now building by Duke Realty at the remediated site.
Groundwater at the site is being monitored in accordance with the Site Management Plan, dated
October 2, 2006.
Alltift Landfill - NYSDEC Site #915054
This site is a former landfill that was previously used for the disposal of domestic and industrial
wastes. Environmental studies documented surface and groundwater contamination. According to
Phase II Investigation documentation, Allied Corp. (National Aniline Division) disposed
miscellaneous organic chemicals, chrome sludge, copper sulfate, nitrobenzene, monochlorobenzene,
and naphthalene on a monthly basis in the landfill. A smaller landfill containing automobile shredder
18
-------
wastes, demolition debris, fly-ash and sand wastes was situated on top of the older chemical waste
landfill. This smaller landfill was operated between 1975 and 1984. A Consent Order for the
completion of a RI/FS of the site was signed by Allied Signal in 1991.
A RI/FS report was submitted in 1992 indicated that groundwater and the ponds adjacent to the site
were impacted by the landfill. Contaminants of concern include metals, pesticides, PCBs, chlorinated
solvents and PAHs and would be tributary to the Buffalo River drainage basin.
A Record of Decision (ROD) was signed on March 27, 1995 requiring: capping, waste consolidation,
wetlands restoration, and groundwater collection. Remedial action began in 2004 and was completed
in 2005. An operation, maintenance and monitoring plan was put in place in 2006 and implementation
is ongoing. An annual 2009 Periodic Review Report was received in May 2010 and is under review.
Steelfields - NYSDEC Site W00619
The Steelfields Site is located in the City of Buffalo adjacent to the Buffalo River. The site is comprised
of four distinct areas based on the historical operations that occurred there. These areas are known as:
Area I-Republic Steel Area, Area II-Donner-Hanna Coke Plant, Area III- Republic Steel Warehouse, and
the Area IV-Coke Storage Yard. The former above-ground facilities were demolished previously by the
LTV Steel Company. Today the site is largely vacant except for the former "August Feine" building
located just north of Area II where a newly constructed containment cell exists. In 2006, Area IV was
separated from the site and entered into the Brownfield Cleanup Program as Steelfields Area IV
Site#C915204. Area IV is also listed on the NYS Registry as a Class 3 hazardous waste site under Site
#915017. The Steelfields site was the location of a former steel and coke-making facility. The site had
significant amount of fill material (2 to 20 feet in depth) from past activities. The fill consisted of waste
slag and coke, in addition to significant quantities of chemically contaminated soils from past disposal
practices on the site. LTV Steel, the previous Volunteer for this site (V00133) went bankrupt in 2000. In
October 2002 Steelfields Ltd. purchased the site out of bankruptcy. Steelfields Ltd. entered into the
Voluntary Cleanup Program and agreed to undertake the necessary investigation and cleanup of the 218
acres. A work plan outlining the work to be performed was approved in 2002. Remedial work was
completed on approximately 90 acres known as Area 1 in 2004. Remedial work was completed in all
areas of the site by October 2007. Declaration of Covenants and Restrictions were filed for Area I in
2007 and for Areas II & in in 2008. A Release of Liability and Covenant Not-To-Sue was issued on
9/3/2008 by the Office of General Counsel. Long term site management is ongoing.
Niacet Corporation — NYSDECSite #V00373
The Niacet facility, formally a Union Carbide Corporation facility, is located on 19.42 acres at the
intersection of 47th St and Pine Ave in the City of Niagara Falls. The facility is an active
manufacturing facility first constructed in 1925 and operated as the Niacet Chemical Company. The
plant originally produced acetaldehyde, paraldehyde, aldol and crotonaldehyde. The production of
acetic acid was begun in 1928 and the manufacture of sodium acetate and other acetates began in
1935. Vinyl acetate production was added in 1937. In 1957 the facility name was changed to Union
Carbide Corporation. The plant produced a variety of wastes including mercury/aluminum sludge, 2-
ethylexoate, zincacetate, acetic acid, acetate salts and overflows from the vinyl division. In 1978
Niacet purchased the property from Union Carbide Corporation and currently manufactures specialty
chemical products for food, pharmaceutical and industrial applications. A site investigation was
19
-------
completed in 2002 indicating the presence of mercury contaminated soil. A supplemental site
investigation was completed in March 2006. A draft Remedial Action Selection Report (RAS) was
submitted in November 2006. The draft RAS was not acceptable and the Department requested
revisions to the RAS were requested. Resubmission of the RAS is pending resolution of the
contaminated soil disposal characterization and classification issues. Disposal characterization and
classification issues still unresolved with RCRA. The PRP will submit additional data for RCRA
consideration. Revised RA Selection report and RAWP received are under review.
Spaulding Fiber — NYSDEC Site #915050/E915050
The 46 acre Spaulding Composites Site is located at 310 Wheeler Street in the City of Tonawanda.
Spaulding manufactured composite laminates and vulcanized fiber between 1911 and 1992 at this
now abandoned facility. The paper used to produce vulcanized fiber, and many of the phenolic resins
used in the production of the composite laminates, were also manufactured on site. Site drainage and
contaminant transport was tributary to the Niagara River through the municipal storm sewer system.
All RI/FS/Corrective Measure Studies have been completed for RCRA/Superfund portions of the site.
The Record of Decision (ROD) for this site was issued in March 2003. Seventeen Solid Waste
Management Units (SWMUs)within approximately 2.5 acres of property around the plant buildings
were identified (included in four separate operable units) as requiring remediation as a part of the SSF
project; the rest of the property is being addressed as part of an Environmental Remediation Project
(ERP). Remediation of OU#2 was performed as an IRM to address PCB contamination of surface and
subsurface soils. Operable Units 1, 3, and 4 were remediated under the State Superfund Program (~3
acres) from October 2009 thru May 2010. Cleanup of Operable Units 5, 6, and 7 (~ 40 acres) are
currently being completed under the Environmental Restoration Program (ERP). During the past year,
the former plant buildings have been demolished and removed by Erie County and the City of
Tonawanda. Excavation and offsite disposal of the remaining building foundations, along with the
contaminated soils below those foundations has been completed.
Tonawanda Coke Corporation — NYSDEC Site #915055
The site is located about 1/2 mile south of 1-190 on both sides of River Road. The surrounding area is
almost entirely industrial although a small residential cluster exists about a 1/4 mile south of the plant.
This site consists of three landfills (operable units) used for general disposal of fly-ash cinders and
coal tar sludge (site 108), bricks, rubble, sand, demolition material (site 109), and wood shavings
impregnated with iron oxide and coal tar sludge (site 110), a coal storage area, and manufacturing
area. The site is adjacent to the Niagara River. In 1981, DEC collected sediment and surface water
samples from the Tonawanda Coke drainage basin. PAHs were detected in soil, sediment and water
samples. Groundwater exceeded standards for iron, phenols, cyanide, benzene and other organics.
Organic priority pollutants were detected at all three landfill areas, most of which were below 100
ppb. Impacts on an adjacent wetland were indicated by contamination with benzene, phenol,
naphthalene, and benzo(a)pyrene. In 1982 and 1983, the USGS collected soil, groundwater, and
surface water samples from this site. A Phase II Investigation has been completed by the responsible
party. In 1992, the PRP submitted a report describing investigation completed during 1991 and 1992.
Analytical results are consistent with previous investigations. The responsible party has completed a
Summary Remedial Investigation utilizing existing analytical data in 1997. Analytical results from the
previous investigation indicate the presence of widespread contamination on the site and the necessity
of an expanded Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study. Additional Investigative work was
20
-------
completed in 2005 to clear up discrepancies in the data. A report describing the additional
investigation work, the results and the conclusion was submitted in April 2006 and a revised report
was submitted in January 2008. Based on the findings of the investigation the site does not pose a
significant threat to public health and the environment because site security and fencing make the site
inaccessible to the public. The groundwater contamination at the site is insignificant and the surface
water discharge from the site to the river is managed under an SPDES permit. Therefore,
Institutional/Engineering Controls are the remedy for the OUs 1 and 2 of the site. OU3 along with the
river sediments will be deferred for further investigation and evaluation for an appropriate remedial
action. A public meeting was held on March 18, 2008. The ROD for Operable Units 1 and 2 was
signed on March 31, 2008. The consent order to construct the RI at OU3 was signed on September 17,
2009. Based on the results from the RI completed at OU3, discussions are in progress to implement
interim remedial measures at OU3. Negotiation with the PRP to complete the easement for OU1 and
OU2 is in progress. Other notable activities of late include a joint EPA/NYSDEC Air Quality Study
completed in 2008 and follow-up multi-media investigations of the facility conducted in 2009 in
response to concerns raised by the community. The study results and investigations resulted in formal
enforcement actions taken by NYSDEC and EPA for SPDES water quality, air quality, and RCRA
violations during 2010.
Acronyms
APL
Aqueous phase liquids
BCC
Buffalo Chemical Corporation
BSC
Bethlehem Steel Corporation
BUI
Beneficial Use Impairment
CERCLA
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980
CMI
Corrective Measure Implementation
CMS
Corrective Measure Study
DDT
primarily l,r-(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
ERP
Environmental Remediation Project
HSWA
Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments
ICM
Interim Corrective Measure
IIW A
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
21
-------
occ
Occidental Chemical Corporation
OM&M
Operation, Maintenance & Monitoring
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
TBD
To Be Determined
TCP
Trichlorophenol
VOC
Volatile organic compounds
22
-------
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
Cap
A cover over hazardous waste sites, usually
made of clean soils or clay, that prevents
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 "capture"
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).
23
-------
Contaminant
A substance that is not naturally present in the
environment or is present in amounts that can
adversely affect the environment.
D
Dredging
Removal of sediment from the bottom of a
waterbody.
DDT
Di chl oro-diphynyl -tri chl oroethane. 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 "2,3,7,8-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.
E
Embayment
A bay. A part 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 "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.
24
-------
Hazardous Waste Site
Land disposal site for hazardous wastes.
Hazardous Waste Substance
Any substance that is a by-product of society
classified under U.S. or Canadian law as
potentially harmful to human health or the
environment and 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 mass amount of a material entering a
system over a given time interval.
M
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.
25
-------
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
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.
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.
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).
land-uses (e.g., agriculture, forestry, and
urban) and activities (e.g., construction,
P
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
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.
26
-------
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.
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)
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
"Groundwater".
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.
27
-------
References
The Niagara River Declaration of Intent (DOI). 1987. Environment Canada, the United States
Environmental Protection Agency - Region n, Ontario Ministry of the Environment, and the New
York State Department of Environmental Conservation, February 1987.
Gradient Corp./GeoTrans Inc. 1988. Potential Contaminant Loadings to the Niagara River from U.S.
Hazardous Waste Sites, February 1988.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency/New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
(EPA/NYSDEC). 1989. Reduction of Toxics Loadings to the Niagara River from Hazardous Waste
Sites in the United States, November 1989.
Niagara River Toxics Management Plan Letter of Support. 1996. Environment Canada, the United
States Environmental Protection Agency - Region n, Ontario Ministry of the Environment, and the
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation,
December 1996
Conestoga-Rovers & Associates (CRA). 1998. Estimates of Pre-Remedial and Post-Remedial
Action Chemical Loading via Groundwater to the Niagara River, Ref. No. 9855(1),
January 1998.
The Niagara River Secretariat. 2007. Niagara River Toxics Management Plan (NRTMP) Progress
Report and Work Plan, October 2007.
USEPA Great Lakes - NRTMP website, 2010.
http://www.epa. gov/ greatiakes/lakeont/nrtmp
NYSDEC Environmental Site Remediation Database website, 2010.
http://www.dec.nv.gov/cfmx/extapps/derexternai/index.cfm?pageid=3
28
-------
[This Page Intentionally Left Blank]
29
-------
APPENDIX A
PRIORITY NIAGARA RIVER HAZARDOUS WASTE SITES:
Site Remediation Status Summaries
30
-------
[This Page Intentionally Left Blank]
-------
Silo Niimo:
( (ink-ills
Komodi
l-OI'lllill
Posl-
Tolill
Addilioiiiil ( omiiioiiIs
I SCS Silo # :
/Polliil;inIs of
ill
Komodiiil
Kcmcdhil
Komodiii
WSM'.CSilo#:
( oncorn
Actions
( omplhinco
Action
lion
Pro^mm:
( omplo
;ind/or
()\M
Cosis lo
10(1
r.iildiToiiioii
Sliilus
Diilo
1 Actions
Occidental Chemical
Chlororganics
Decemb
NYS Part
Bedrock &
Not
Implementation of the Bedrock
Corp.
, cell brine
er 1998
373 and EPA
Overburde
available
& Overburden
# 41b-49
sludges,
RCRA
n
at this
Stabilization Programs will
#932019
phosphorus
permits
Groundwat
time
effectively eliminate future off-
RCRA (State & Fcdcr;
sludges
issued
er
site loadings from the Main
Monitoring
Plant Site.
Collection
Rt
OL
Treatment
Niagara Co. Refuse
Phenolic
Decemb
EPA Consent
Groundwat
Fed:
The site is still monitored by
Disposal
resins, plating
er 1999;
Order and
er
$1,495,4
EPA/State and data supports
#81
tank sludges,
NPL
ROD issued
Monitoring
00PRP:
that the remedy is effective and
#932026
brine sludge
deletion
Program
$14,015,
operating as designed.
Federal Superfund
in July
on-going
000
2004
Dupont Necco Park
Brine sludge,
Septem
EPA Consent
Groundwat
Fed:
Site is in OM&M phase.
# 14
barium salts,
ber
Orders and
er
$2,155,0
Ground water pump and treat
#932047
chlorinated
2007
ROD issued
Monitoring
00
performing satisfactorily.
Federal Superfund
organic
State:
Upgrades completed in 2009 to
chemicals
Collection
$141,000
improve pumping efficiency at
&
PRP:
PW-10. Quarterly and annual
Treatment
42,500,0
reports submitted to USEPA
on-going
00
and NYSDEC.
CECOS International /
Acetone, 2-
Februar
EPA RCRA
Groundwat
Not
Corrective Measure
#78/
butanone,
y 1995
HSWA and
er
available
Implementation including
#NA
benzene,
NYS Part
Extraction
at this
Aquifer pumping test program
RCRA (State &
chloroform,
373 permits
&
time.
to control
Federal)
toluene,
issued
Treatment;
contaminant migration
chlorobenzen
landfill cap
continues to operate
e, methylene
maintenan
satisfactorily.
chloride,
ce; site
tetrachloretha
access
ne
restrictions
Occidental Chemical -
Brine sludge,
June
EPA/NYSDE
Overburde
Fed:
It is estimated that
Hyde Park
organic
2003
c/occ
n
$12,100,
$2,000,000/year will be spent
#39
phosphates,
Stipulation
Groundwat
000
on the O&M of the site for
#932021
dechlorane,
and
er
PRP:
approximately the next 30
Federal/State
chlorotoluene
Judgment
Monitoring
$78,000,
years.
Superfund
s, TCP,
Approving
000
Co-lead
benzoyl
Settlement
Collection
chloride,
Agreement
&
chlorobenzen
Treatment
es, acid
chlorides
-------
Silo Niimo:
( (ink-ills
Komodi
l-OI'lllill
Posl-
Tolill
Addilioiiiil ( omiiioiiIs
I SCS Silo # :
/Polliil;inIs of
ill
Komodiiil
Kcmcdhil
Komodiii
WSM'.CSilo#:
( oncorn
Actions
( omplhinco
Action
lion
Pro^mm:
( omplo
;ind/or
()\M
Cosis lo
10(1
r.iildiToiiioii
Sliilus
Diilo
1 Actions
102nd Street
Benzenes,
Decemb
EPA ROD
Long-term
Fed/State
Long-term leachate pump and
# 40, 56, 85, and 94
chlorobenzen
er 1998
completed
leachate
treat system operating
#932922 & #932031
es,
1990 &
pump and
$9,900,0
optimally. It is estimated that
Federal Superfund
chlorophenols
Administrati
treat
00
future O&M costs to be paid by
, hexa-
ve Order
system
PRP:
the PRP will be approximately
chlorocyclohe
issued
installed
$26,000,
$100,000/year.
xanes,
September
and
000
mercury
1991
optimized
in March
1999.
Bell Aerospace
Chlorinated
1987
NYS Part
Hydraulic
PRP:
Recent maintenance and
Textron
solvents,
373 and EPA
groundwat
$1,898,8
upgrades in 2007 to the
#5
rocket fuel,
RCRA
er
91
treatment system has increased
#932052
misc.
permits
containme
(Capital
operational efficiency.
RCRA (State and
chemicals
issued
nt pump
and
Federal)
and treat
O&M)
system in
place
Future
O&M
estimated
$400,000
/year
OCC- Durez Corp. -
Phenolic
1995
NYS Part
Groundwat
Not
EPA and NYSDEC have
Packard Road
wastes
373 and EPA
erpump
available
determined that the existing
# 66
RCRA
and treat
at this
groundwater pump and treat
#932040
permits
program;
time.
program is capable of serving
RCRA (State and
issued
maintenan
as the final groundwater
Federal)
ce of
remedy for the site.
landfill
cap; site
access
restrictions
-------
Silo Niimo:
( (ink-ills
Komodi
l-OI'lllill
Posl-
Tolill
Addilioiiiil ( omiiioiiIs
I SCS Silo # :
/Polliil;inIs of
ill
Komodiiil
Kcmcdhil
Komodiii
WSM'.CSilo#:
( oncorn
Actions
( omplhinco
Action
lion
Pro^mm:
( omplo
;ind/or
()\M
Cosis lo
10(1
r.iildiToiiioii
Sliilus
Diilo
1 Actions
Occidental Chemical
CaF2 sludge,
August
EPA/NYSDE
Operation
Fed/State
Continued optimization of the
S-Area
organic
2002
C lead
and
$10,500,
performance of
# 41A
phosphates,
responsibility
maintenan
000
groundwater pump and treat
#932019A
chlororganics,
under 1985
ce of S-
PRP:
system effective.
Federal/State
sulfides
judicial
Area
$45,000,
Superfund
settlement
landfill
000
Co-lead
agreement
cap;
Future
groundwat
O&M
er
estimated
collection
Fed:
and
$1,000,0
treatment.
00; PRP:
$5,000,0
00
capital
and up to
$3,000,0
00 /year
for 30
years.
Stauffer Chemical
Carbon
Decemb
NYSDEC
Bedrock
State:
Groundwater treatment system
#255
tetrachloride,
er 1995
Consent
groundwat
$180,000
has been modified to include
#932053
various
Order
erpump
PRP:
granular activated carbon prior
NYSDEC Superfund
metallic
and treat
$5,100,0
to discharge to the NYPA
chlorides,
system;
00 State
Forebay.
methylene
soil vapor
O&M:
chloride,
extraction
$10,000
tetrachloroeth
and
PRP:
ylene
dewatering
$1,300,0
system.
00/year
for 30
years.
Solvent Chemical
Chlorobenzen
May
ROD issued
Bedrock
State:
Continued operation and
#251
es, zinc
2001
December
groundwat
$1,170,0
maintenance of bedrock
#932096
1994; U.S.
erpump
00 PRP:
groundwater pump and treat
NYSDEC Superfund
District
and treat
$7,374,0
system.
Court
system.
00 PRP
Judgement
O&M:
issued
$4,600,0
October
00
1997.
-------
Silo Niimo:
( (ink-ills
Itemed i
l-OI'lllill
Posl-
Tolill
Addilioiiiil Comments
I SCS Silo # :
/Polliil;inIs of
ill
Komodiiil
Komodiiil
Komodiii
WSM'.CSilo#:
Concern
Actions
( omplhincc
Action
lion
Pro^mm:
( omplo
;ind/or
()\M
Cosis lo
10(1
I'liifoivoiiion
Sliilus
D.ilc
1 \clioiis
Vanadium Corp.
Chromium,
Projecte
ROD issued
OU#l -
State:
Remedial Design for OU#3
# 1
caustic waste
d
March 2006:
Containme
$454,000
was completed in in 2007. The
#932001
complet
OU#l - No
nt and
PRP:
Remedial Action is expected to
NYSDEC Superfund
ion
Further
storm
$9,900,0
start in 2011 pending execution
October
Action
water
00
of a Consent Decree.
2009
OU#2 - No
control,
(OU#l &
Further
approved
OU#2)
Action
OM&M
OU#3 -
plan;
Projected
Consolidatio
OU#2-
future
nand
landfill
OU#3
capping
cap,
PRP cost
groundwat
to
er
completi
collection
on
and treat
$12,000,
system,
000
approved
OM&M
plan
Olin Corporation
Mercury brine
October
NYSDEC
Groundwat
Not
Remedial system close to
#58, 59
sludges,
1997
Consent
erpump
available
meeting optimum
#932051
chlororganics,
Order
and treat.
at this
effectiveness; recent
State and Federal RCR
fly ash
time.
performance reports indicate
system improvements.
Dupont - Buffalo Ave.
Carbon
January
NYSDEC
Groundwat
State:
Periodic post monitoring
# 15-19
tetrachloride,
1992
Consent
er
$75,000
reports indicate effective
#932013
chloroform,
Order
remediatio
PRP: $
groundwater pump and treat
NYSDEC Superfund
dichloroethyle
ROD issued
n system
74,000,0
system. Blast fractured
ne, methylene
January 1990
(pump and
00
bedrock trenches installed in
chloride,
treat)
(includes
SW plant area have greatly
trichloroethyl
Gill
increased hydraulic
ene,
Creek
containment and pump rates.
tetrachloroeth
cleanup)
GWRS system upgrades
ylene, vinyl
Projected
replaced steam stripper and
chloride,
future
added therm-ox unit to treat
PCBs,
O&Mby
off-gasses to handle additional
barium, and
PRP:
flow from trenches. Through
other organic
$1,100,0
September 2009, the recovery
and inorganic
00 / year.
system and the Olin deep well
compounds
have removed approximately
153,200 pounds of organic
compounds from the
groundwater.
-------
Silo Niimo:
( (ink-ills
Rcmcd i
l-OI'lllill
Posl-
llllill
Addilioiiiil ( oiniiioiils
I SCS Silo # :
/Polliil;inIs of
ill
Komodiiil
Komodiiil
Komodiii
WSM'.CSilo#:
( onoorii
Aolions
( ompliiinoo
Action
lion
( omplo
;ind/or
()\M
Cosls lo
10(1
r.iildiToiiioii
1 Aolions
Sliilus
Diilo
Buffalo Color Corp.
Aniline, N-
IRM
NYS Part
Groundwat
Not
Draft Remedial
Plant Site Areas A,B,C
methylaniline,
pump
373 and EPA
erpump
available
Investigation/Feasibility Study
AndE
N-
and
RCRA
and treat
at this
completed in March 2008.
# 120, 122
dimethylanilin
treat
permits
system
time.
As a result of the RI/FS, a
#C915230, C915231,
e, N-
system
issued;
operational
Brownfield Cleanup Plan
C915232
diethylaniline,
installed
NYSDEC
12/2007.
application was submitted and
State and Federal
cyanide,
12/2007
Consent
was approved by the NYSDEC
RCRA
methanol,
Orders issued
in April 2009. The Remedial
State Brownfield
nickel,
3/12/2005
Work Plan was approved in
Program
chromium
and
6/30/2006.
May 2009. Demolition of the
plant buildings began in late
2009 and RA design work is
expected to be complete by the
end of 2010. Remedial action
to remove contaminated soils is
expected to begin in 2011.
This is a planned future re-use
site for commercial and
industrial businesses.
Buffalo Color -
Iron oxide
Septem
NYSDEC
Slurry
State:
Groundwater pump and treat
AreaD
sludges
ber
Consent
wall;
$200,000
system operating
# 120-122
containing
1998
Order
sediment
PRP:
satisfactorily.
#915012
organics
dredging;
$14,000,
NYSDEC Superfund
lanfill cap;
groundwat
er pump &
treat
system
000
-------
Silo Niimo:
( (ink-ills
Komodi
l-OI'lllill
Posl-
Tolill
Addilioiiiil ( omiiioiiIs
I SCS Silo # :
/Polliil;inIs of
ill
Komodiiil
Kcmcdhil
Komodiii
WSM'.CSilo#:
( oncorn
Actions
( omplhinco
Action
lion
Pro^mm:
( omplo
;ind/or
()\M
Cosis lo
10(1
r.iildiToiiioii
Sliilus
Diilo
1 Actions
Bethlehem Steel Corp.
Tar decanter
C91519
NYSDEC
Proposed
Not
915009 - Consists of RCRA
# 118
sludge,
7
Consent
Groundwat
available
regulated portion of property
#915009, C915197,
ammonia still
Projecte
Order
er
at this
C915197 - Tecumseh Phase I
C915198, C915199,
lime, sludge,
d
C915197-
collection
time.
Business Park -IRM completed
C915205, C915216,
pickling
October
Brownfield
and
2009, RI/AAR (NFA) expected
C915217, & C915218
liquor
2008
Clean-up
treatment
in 2010
State and Federal
C91520
Agreement
for
C915198 - TecumsehPhase II
RCRA
5 -
(BCA)
brownfield
Business Park - RI/AAR WP
State Brownfield
complet
C915198-
s
submitted 2009, RD field in
Program
ed 2006
BCA
redevelop
2010, RA implementation in
C915199-
ment.
2011
BCA
C915199 - TecumsehPhase III
C915205-
C915205 -
Business Park - Site change -
BCA
Protective
C915217 removed from the
C915216-
cover,
site, RI/AAR WP submitted, RI
Denied entry
passive
to be completed in 2010.
into BCP
groundwat
C915205 - Tecumseh
C915217-
er
Redevelopment, Inc.-Steel
BCA
treatment,
winds - Completed
C915218-
Easement
C915216-Steel Winds IA-
Eligibility
Denied entry into BCP.
Pending
C915217-Steel Winds II-
Submitted RI/AAR WP but
never implemented Site
included in C915199
C915218 - TecumsehPhase IA
Business Park - Submitted
RI/AAR WP, RI anticipated in
2010.
River Road (INS
Foundry sand,
January
NYSDEC
OM&M
State:
Remedial action completed in
Equipment)
cutting oils,
2000
Consent
activities
$546,000
January 2000 for the Cherry
# 136
industrial
Order. ROD
underway.
PRP:
Farm and River Rd sites.
#915031
sludges, PCBs
issued March
$15,000,
OM&M activities underway.
NYSDEC Superfund
1994
000
Periodic reports submitted to
the NYSDEC.
Niagara Mohawk -
Foundry sand,
See Site
ROD issued
OM&M
See Site
See Site 915031 above.
Cherry Farm
cutting oils,
915031
Feb 1991
activities
915031
# NA
industrial
above.
Amended
underway.
above.
#915063
sludges, PCBs
ROD Oct
NYSDEC Superfund
1993
-------
Silo Niimo:
( (ink-ills
Itemed i
I(i nil ;il
Posl-
Tolill
Addilioiiiil ( oin men Is
I SCS Silo # :
/Polliil;inIs of
ill
Komodiiil
Komodiiil
Komodiii
WSM'.CSilo#:
Concern
Actions
( omplhincc
Action
lion
Pro^mm:
( omplo
;ind/or
()\M
Cosis lo
10(1
r.iildiToiiioii
1 Actions
Sliilus
Diilo
Frontier Chemical -
Solvents, oils,
March
NYSDEC
Landfill
State:
Long-term O&M includes
Pendleton
acids, dyes,
1997
ROD issued
cap and
$1,430,0
landfill cap maintenance and
#67
paint wastes,
March 1992;
leachate
00
pump and treat of leachate
#932043
heavy metal
NYSDEC
collection
PRP:
from the site.
NYSDEC Superfund
sludges, metal
Consent
and
$14,120,
salt sludges,
Order
treatment
000
pickling
Future
liquors
O&M
costs
State:
PRP:
$50,000
annually
Frontier Chemical,
Monochloroto
Projecte
NYSDEC
Remediati
Fed:
A DEC RI/FS Order for OU#2
Royal Avenue
luene,
d
ROD - OU#l
on on-
$3,690,0
with PRP group was signed in
#
methylene
complet
issued March
going
00 State:
2008. Investigative work was
#932110
chloride,
ion date
2006
$400,000
completed in 2009 and a draft
EPA and NYSDEC
chloroform,
to be
PRP:
report was submitted in late
Superfund
dichlorobenze
determi
$3,600,0
2009 which is under review.
ne,
ned.
00
NYSDEC will either enter into
tetrachloroeth
a Consent Order with Frontier
ylene and
Chemical - Royal Ave. to
other organic
implement remedies in the
contaminants
2006 ROD or refer to the State
Superfund program for
remedial design.
-------
Silo Niimo:
( (ink-ills
Rcmcd i
l-OI'lllill
Posl-
Tolill
Addilioiiiil ( omiiioiiIs
I SCS Silo # :
/Polliil;inIs of
ill
Komodiiil
Kcmcdhil
Komodiii
WSM'.CSilo#:
( oncorn
Actions
( omplhinco
Action
lion
Pro^mm:
( omplo
;ind/or
O&M
Cosis lo
10(1
r.iildiToiiioii
Sliilus
Diilo
1 Actions
Occidental Chemical -
Phenol tars
Plant
NYSDEC
Plant site
State:
In May 2000, additional
Durez Division,
containing
site: 199
ROD
includes
$510,00
contaminated sediment from
North Tonawanda
chlorobenzen
0
OU#l/2 -Feb
cover
PRP:
the bottom of the cove were
# 24-37
es and
City
1989; ROD
system and
$39,000,
removed. The most recent
#932018
chlorophenols
sewer
OU#3 -
groundwat
000
report (-2006), indicates
NYSDEC Superfund
cleaning
March 1992.
er
elevated concentrations of
:1992
control/tre
dioxins and furans. A work
Inlet/Co
atment.
plan for source investigation
ve:
Inlet and
and additional sediment
1992
cove &
removal as needed has been
&2000
north lobe
approved. In 2009 and 2010,
removal
reports were submitted
and
detailing investigations of the
containme
Pettit Creek Flume and the
nt work is
cove. A draft work plan was
being
also submitted for a Fish and
monitored.
Wildlife Impact Analysis of the
cove. The DEC provided
comments in Sept. 2010. Site
Management is ongoing at the
Plant Site and Inlet Cove. This
consists of GW collection,
treatment and GWQ
monitoring at the Plant Site and
GWQ monitoring and NAPL
removal at the Inlet.
Gratwick Riverside
Phenolic
Decemb
NYSDEC
Landfill
State:
The Site was reclassified by
Park
resins, PCBs
er 2005
ROD- Feb.
cap and
$2,550,0
DEC from a Class 2
#68
1991;
leachate
00 PRP:
(significant threat) to a Class 4
#932060
Amended
collection
$5,000,0
(Site remediated and in long
NYSDEC Superfund
ROD - Jan.
and
00
term OM&M) site in June 2008
1999
treatment
Future
O&M
costs
estimated
to be
$1,140,0
00 over
10 years.
-------
Silo Niimo:
( (ink-ills
Itemed i
l-OI'lllill
Posl-
Tolill
Addilioiiiil ( omiiioiiIs
I SCS Silo # :
/Polliil;inIs of
ill
Komodiiil
Komodiiil
Komodiii
WSM'.CSilo#:
Concern
Actions
( omplhincc
Action
lion
Pro^mm:
( omplo
;ind/or
()\M
Cosis lo
10(1
r.iildiToiiioii
Sliilus
Diilo
1 \clioiis
Mobile Oil
Tetraethyl
Projecte
NYSDEC
Remediati
Not
Site segregated into (5)
# 141
lead and lube
d
Consent
on on-
available
operable units. Remediation of
#915040 &C915201
sludges, spent
Decemb
Order issued
going
at this
OU-1 complete to commercial
NYSDEC Brownfield
catalysts, Air
er 2011
in 1985.
time.
standards via excavation of
floatation unit
NYS
contaminated fill with no
and gravity
Brownfield
required monitoring. Removal
oil/water
Cleanup
of Pipelines in OU-2 complete
separator
Agreement
with further Investigation of
sludges
executed
OU-2 on going.
April 3, 2006
OU-3 - RI/AAR submitted and
under review
OU-4 - RI/AAR submitted and
under review
OU-5 - Work scheduled for
future years
Iroquois Gas -
PAHs
Main
NYSDEC
915141A:
State: $
915141A: hydraulic control,
Westwood
(Polynuclear
plant
ROD issued
hydraulic
250,000
and groundwater pump and
Pharmaceutical
Aromatic
site in
March 1994
control;
PRP: $
treat are effective.
# NA
Hydrocarbons
1997
for both sites.
groundwat
7,000,00
# 915141A & B
) BTEX
and
erpump
0
915141B: DNAPL from under
NYSDEC Superfund
(Benzene,
Scajaqu
and treat
the creek continues to be
Toluene,
ada
915141B:
collected
Ethyl
Creek
DNAPL
benzene,
sedimen
extraction
Xylene), lead,
ts in
and cyanide
March
1999.
915141
A:1997
915141
B:2001
Booth Oil
Waste oils,
Novem
NYSDEC
Haz waste
State:
Remedial action completed
# NA
PCBs, VOCs,
ber
ROD issued
removed,
$1,318,9
Nov 1994. Additional
#932100
semi-VOCs,
2004
March 1992
residual
00
remedial work to address
NYSDEC Superfund
and PAHs
and March
PAH
PRP:
gasoline vapor impacts to
1993, ROD
contaminat
$6,000,0
adjacent home continued
amendments
ion.
00
through 2005. Previously
in August
OM&M
unknown USTs removed with
2002
plan for
soil disposal and vapor
site cover
extraction. Monitoring wells
maintenan
installed to monitor
ce. Deed
groundwater for gasoline
restrictions
impacts.
in place
Deed restrictions filed for site.
-------
[This Page Intentionally Left Blank]
-------
APPENDIX B
REMEDIATION of ADDITIONAL POLLUTANT SOURCES:
Site Remediation Status Summaries
-------
[This Page Intentionally Left Blank]
-------
Silo Niimo:
( (ink-ills
Kcmcdhil
l-'lll'lllill
Posl-
Tolill
Addilioiiiil
I S(;S Silo # :
/Pollii l;iil Is
Actions
Komodiiil
Komodiiil
Itemed i
( oninionls
\YSI)I.( Silo#:
of Concern
Completed
( ompliiinc
Action
iilion
1'i'o^i'iiin:
o iind/or
O&M
Cosls
llnldiTi'iiK'
Sliilus
lo Diilo
ill Actions
Fourth Street Site
benzene,
Completed
State
Environment
State:
Remedial Action
NA
toluene,
in 2006
Superfund
al Easement
$10,000
included excavation
915167
xylenes,
Program
,000
and off-site disposal
NYS Superfund
phenolic
of all contaminated
compounds,
media above clean-up
PAHs
goals.
Former Buffalo Service
benzene,
Completed
Brownfield
Groundwater
PRP:
Remedial Action
Center
toluene,
in 2006
Clean-up
monitoring
$16,500
included excavation
NA
ethylbenzene,
Agreement
and
,000
and off-site disposal
C915194
xylenes,
Environment
of all contaminated
NYS Brownfield Clean-up
polycyclic
al Easement
media above clean-up
Program
aromatic
goals.
hydrocarbons
, total
cyanides
Alltiflt Landfill
miscellaneou
Completed
SSF
Groundwater
PRP:
Remedial Action
NA
s organic
in 2005
Consent
monitoring
$14,000
included
915054
chemicals,
Order
and
,000
consolidation and
NYS Superfund
chrome
Environment
capping of waste and
sludge,
al Easement
restoration of
copper
adjacent wetlands
sulfate,
areas.
nitrobenzene,
monochlorob
enzene,
naphthalene,
automobile
shredder
wastes,
demolition
debris, fly-
ash and sand
wastes
-------
Silo Niimo:
( onionls
Komodiiil
l-'uniiiil
Posl-
Tolill
Addilioiiiil
I SCS Silo # :
/Pollii l;iil Is
Actions
Komodiiil
Komodiiil
Reined i
Comments
WSM'.CSilo#:
of Concern
Completed
(onipliiinc
Action
iilion
o iind/or
()\M
Cosls
llnforccnic
Sliilus
to Diilo
ill Actions
Steelfields Site
waste slag
Completed
Voluntary
Groundwater
PRP:
On-site Landfill and
NA
and coke,
in 2007
Clean-up
monitoring
$16,500
groundwater
V00619/C915204
significant
Agreement
and
,000
containment system
NYS Voluntary Clean-up Prog
quantities of
Declaration
of non-hazardous
chemically
of
waste, Groundwater
contaminated
Covenants
monitoring, Remedial
fill soils
and
Action included
Restrictions
excavation and off-
site disposal of all
contaminated media
above clean-up goals.
Niacet Corporation
mercury/
Not
Voluntary
Remedial
Not
Project design
NA
acetaldehyde,
completed.
Clean-up
Design
availabl
activities are on-
V00334
sodium
Agreement
Underway
e at this
going and are
NYS Voluntary Clean-up
acetate,
time.
expected to be
Program
paraldehyde,
complete by early
aldol,
2010.
crotonaldehy
de,
aluminum
sludge, 2-
ethylexoate,
zincacetate,
acetic acid,
acetate salts
Spaulding Fiber
PCBs,
Not
State
Remedial
State:
Demolition of plant
NA
Metals,
completed.
Superfund
Actions
$6,000,
structures ongoing
915050/E915050
phenolic
Program
Underway
000
through efforts by
NYS
compounds
State
City of Tonawanda
Superfund/Environmental
Assistance
and Erie County. A
Restoration program
Contract
No further Action -
Record of Decision
for the ERP project
(OU7) was issued in
March 2009.
Remediation of the
Superfund areas
(OU1, OU2, OU3, &
OU4) and the
Environmental
Restoration Grant
areas (OU5 & OU6)
began in late 2009
and should be
completed by summer
2010.
-------
Silo Niimo:
( (ink-ills
Komodiiil
l-'lll'lllill
Posl-
Tolill
Addilioiiiil
I SCS Silo # :
/Pollii l;iil Is
Actions
Komodiiil
Komodiiil
Reined i
( oinmonls
WSM'.CSilo#:
ill" Coiiooi'ii
Completed
(ompliiinc
Action
iilion
I'm^mm:
o iind/or
()\M
Costs
IlllldlTCIlK'
Sliilus
Ki Diilo
ill Actions
Tonawanda Coke Corp.
PAHs, iron,
OU#l and
ROD for
The
N/A
Notable activities of
N/A/
phenols,
#2
OU#l and
groundwater
late include a joint
#915055
cyanide,
completed
#2 signed
contaminatio
EPA/NYSDEC Air
NYSDEC/EPA CWA,
benzene,
2008.
3/31/08.
n at the site
Quality Study
Superfund, RCRA, CAA
naphthalene,
Consent
is
completed in 2008
benzo(a)pyre
order to
insignificant
and follow-up multi-
ne
construct
and the
media investigations
the RI at
surface
of the facility
OU#3
water
conducted in 2009 in
signed
discharge
response to concerns
9/17/09.
from the site
raised by the
Formal
to the river
community. The
enforcemen
is managed
study results and
t actions
under an
investigations
taken by
SPDES
resulted in formal
NYSDEC
permit.
enforcement actions
and EPA
Institutional/
taken by NYSDEC
for SPDES
Engineering
and EPA for SPDES
water
Controls are
water quality, air
quality, air
ongoing at
quality, and RCRA
quality, and
OU#l and
violations during
RCRA
#2 of the
2010.
violations
site.
during
2010.
------- |