EPA REGION 2 MERCURY CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 21 Albany County REFINING, INC. NEW YORK EPA ID# NYD048148175 Site Description Since 1956, the Vi-acre Mercury Refining, Inc. site, located in Colonie, New York, has been used for reclaiming mercury from batteries. The site lies in a light industrial and commercial area. The closest residents are about 1/4 mile to the north of the site. Approximately 20,000 people live within a 1 '/2-mile radius of the property; 100,000 live within 3 miles. Local surface water is used for recreation and as a drinking water supply. The nearest downstream supply intake is 1 mile from the site. A tributary to Patroons Creek, which flows to the Hudson River, runs next to the site. Operators dumped waste batteries behind an on-site furnace building until 1980, when these wastes were stored in drums on wooden pallets on paved areas of the site. Tests in the early 1980s indicated that waste was at least 3 feet below the ground surface. The State's Fish and Wildlife Service tested soil in this area in the early 1980s and discovered high levels of poly chlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and mercury in soils and stream sediments. PCBs were found in the insulation of some of the incoming waste material the Company accepted. The site has been partially remediated and the waste disposal methods of the Company have improved. In 1998, Mercury Refining ceased its mercury reclamation activity at the site. Currently, the site serves as a transfer facility for mercury bearing material, which is shipped off-site for reclamation at another location. Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through federal and potentially responsible party actions. NPL LISTING HISTORY Proposed Date: 12/01/82 Final Date: 09/01/83 1 April 2002 ------- Threats and Contaminants zn Groundwater, surface water, sediments, and soil are contaminated with heavy metals including mercury, zinc and lead. The soils were also contaminated with PCBs. Although contaminated soil has been excavated and moved off-site, additional contamination remains. The risks to personal health may include eating contaminated fish. Although the groundwater is contaminated, there are currently no known domestic uses of groundwater within the area, so it is unlikely that people would be directly exposed to groundwater contaminants. Cleanup Approach The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) issued Mercury Refining a hazardous waste corrective action permit on December 31, 1996. The permit required the Company to remove contaminated soil under an old furnace building located on-site and perform long-term monitoring of on-site soil and groundwater and off-site soil and sediments in Patroons Creek. Any groundwater, soil or stream sediments which were found to be contaminated were to be remediated. Due to Mercury Refining's failure to complete these actions, the NYSDEC requested EPA to assume the role of lead agency in November 1999. EPA is completing remediation of the site using its Superfund authority. In May 2000, EPA offered Mercury Refining the opportunity to perform a remedial investigation and feasibility study (RI/FS) of the site. However, Mercury Refining indicated that it does not have the financial ability to do the study. The RI/FS, therefore, is presently being done by EPA. The field work portion of the RI will be completed in May 2002. EPA plans to complete the RI/FS and issue a determination on a final clean-up remedy by the winter of 2003. Response Action Status Entire Site: Under a 1985 State Consent Order, Mercury Refining excavated and removed about 2,100 cubic yards of mercury-contaminated soil and debris and 300 cubic yards of PCB-contaminated soil. Contaminated soil was found beneath the furnace building and was left in place after being sealed with plastic sheets. The Site was regraded with clean fill and capped to keep rainwater from spreading any remaining contaminants. The State issued another Consent Order on February 8, 1993, which required removal of the contaminated soil under the furnace building and long-term monitoring of on-site soil and groundwater and off-site soil and sediments in Patroons Creek. In December 1996, the NYSDEC issued to the Company a hazardous waste corrective action permit for the purpose of controlling the generation and storage of hazardous waste on-site and for investigating and remediating on- and off-site contamination. The Company failed to comply with the 1993 Order and the permit. After April 2002 2 MERCURY REFINING, INC. ------- unsuccessfully working to resolve the matter with the Company, the NYSDEC relinquished its position as lead agency to EPA. EPA is now addressing remediation of the site under the Superfund Program. Site Facts: In 1985, a State Consent Order required the Company to conduct cleanup activities at the site. In 1989, the NYSDEC issued a Consent Order that required Mercury Refining to curtail any further chemical releases from plant operations to the environment. On February 8, 1993, the NYSDEC issued the Company another Consent Order, which required cleanup of contaminated soils and long-term monitoring of on-site groundwater and soil and off-site soil and stream sediments in Patroons Creek. In December 1996, the NYSDEC issued a hazardous waste corrective action permit, which required the cleanup of any remaining contamination. Any unfinished work required by the State consent orders was subsumed into the permit. In November 1999, the NYSDEC requested EPA to take over as lead agency for the site. EPA is in the process of completing the investigation and remediation of the site using the federal Superfund Program. The removal and disposal of approximately 1,820 tons of mercury contaminated soil and 410 tons of PCB contaminated soil during 1985 addressed any immediate risks associated with direct contact. In addition, the PRP completed construction of a new furnace building, which had state-of-the-art air pollution control equipment. Site investigatory and clean up work will be completed under the federal Superfund Program. Cleanup Progress \£- MERCURY REFINING, INC. 3 April 2002 ------- |