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EPA Provides New York $222.5 Million for Water Infrastructure Improvements

September 6, 2018 / Lee Ann Rush / 0 Comments

NEW YORK, NY - Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it has awarded over $222.5 million to New York to help finance water infrastructure projects that are essential to protecting public health and the environment. The funds will primarily be used to upgrade wastewater and drinking water infrastructure systems throughout the state.

“Working with our state and local partners to ensure our communities have affordable access to clean drinking water remains a critical priority for EPA, said EPA Regional Administrator Pete Lopez. “We are pleased to provide significant funding as part of our overall efforts to help New York meet its critical water infrastructure needs.”

EPA awarded $177,159,000 to the New York Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) program, administrated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (NYSEFC). This award, plus a 20% state match and repayments from prior CWSRF loans, combined with interest earnings and bond issuances, will enable the financing of up to approximately $900 million of clean water infrastructure projects in New York.

EPA awarded $45,363,000 to the New York Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) program, administrated by the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) and the NYSEFC. This award, plus a 20% state match and repayments from prior DWSRF loans, combined with interest earnings and bond issuances, will enable the financing of up to approximately $392 million of drinking water infrastructure projects in New York.

Based on estimates from the U.S. Water Alliance, New York’s CWSRF and DWSRF programs have the potential to create approximately 20,000 jobs.

The CWSRF program provides low-interest loans and principal forgiveness for the construction of water quality protection infrastructure projects to make improvements to wastewater treatment systems and control pollution from stormwater runoff, which will protect New York’s lakes, rivers and the Atlantic Ocean.

Examples of the types of projects on the State’s CWSRF Intended Use Plan are:

$7,675,000 to the Town of Ballston for planning, design, and construction of a new sewer district to serve businesses and residences and maintain water quality in Ballston Lake;
$100,000,000 to Binghamton/Johnson City for design and construction of a project to rebuild components of the sewage treatment plant to improve water quality in the Susquehanna and Chenango Rivers;
$21,700,000 to New York City for construction and construction management of the Bronx and Manhattan grit chambers that provide primary screening to Wards Island Wastewater Treatment Plant, resulting in improved water quality in the East River.

The DWSRF program provides low-interest loans and principal forgiveness for the construction of drinking water infrastructure projects and for the administration of small system technical assistance, source water protection, capacity development, and operator certification. The DWSRF program will protect people’s health by reducing exposure to contaminants in drinking water.

Examples of the types of projects on the State’s DWSRF Intended Use Plan are:

$1,000,000 to Deferiet Village for improvements to drinking water distribution and storage;
$12,033,104 to the Town of Ticonderoga for upgrades to its water treatment plant, a new groundwater source, new storage, and distribution system upgrades;
$6,405,114 to the Village of Keeseville to upgrade its water treatment plant, storage capabilities and drinking water distribution system.

Since 1990, the EPA has awarded $6.5 billion to these two programs, which, along with the other program funds, has enabled New York to finance $21.7 billion in projects.

For more information on the Clean Water State Revolving Fund program, visit https://www.epa.gov/cwsrf

For information on the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program visit https://epa.gov/drinkingwatersrf

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EPA Proposes Cleanup of Lead Contaminated Residential Properties at Eighteen Mile Creek Superfund Site in Lockport, N.Y.

July 27, 2018 / Administrator / 0 Comments

EPA to hold public meeting on August 16; Contact: Michael Basile, basile.michael@epa.gov, 716-551-4410

NEW YORK, NY - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to clean up lead-contaminated soil at approximately 26 residences that are impacted by the former Flintkote Plant property at the Eighteen Mile Creek Superfund Site, in Lockport, N.Y. As part of a multi-phased, comprehensive cleanup of the Eighteen Mile Creek Site, EPA is proposing the removal of approximately 14,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil and off-site disposal at facilities licensed to handle the waste. The excavated areas will be restored and backfilled with clean soil.

“EPA is committed to taking action to address the significant health threat lead contamination poses across the country,” said EPA Regional Administrator Pete Lopez. “The plan proposed for this site will address the lead in the soil that children and families could be exposed to on these properties.”

EPA has provided property owners with their specific soil sampling results and has discussed preventative measures to reduce exposure before an action can be taken. Once EPA gets public input on its proposal and finalizes a plan for these properties, the Agency will coordinate with the property owners to minimize impacts and inconveniences associated with construction.

Once the final plan is selected, EPA will take more soil samples to determine more conclusively the number of residential properties that need soil cleanup. EPA will monitor air near the work areas to ensure protection of residents and the surrounding community.

Background:

Eighteen Mile Creek has a long history of industrial use dating back to the 1800’s. The headwaters of the Creek consist of an east and west branch beginning immediately north of the New York State Barge Canal in Lockport. Eighteen Mile Creek flows north approximately 15 miles and discharges into Lake Ontario in Olcott, N.Y. Investigations at the site show that sediment and soil in and around Eighteen Mile Creek and nearby properties are contaminated with a variety of pollutants, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and lead.

The former Flintkote Plant property located at 198 and 300 Mill Street operated between 1928 and 1971 and manufactured felt products.

EPA has taken a multi-phased approach to cleaning up the Eighteen Mile Creek Site. In the first phase, EPA demolished the buildings at the former Flintkote Plant property and bought out and relocated five families from their Water Street residences in Lockport, N.Y. due to the impact of recurring flooding of PCB-contaminated water and sediment from the Creek. Those homes, and the former industrial buildings, were demolished and all demolition debris was removed from the properties.

In the second phase, which is ongoing, EPA is addressing soil and sediment contamination in the Creek Corridor. This encompasses an approximately 4,000-foot segment of Eighteen Mile Creek that extends from the New York State Barge Canal to Harwood Street in the City of Lockport.

The third phase of cleanup – also currently ongoing – is an investigation of groundwater and contaminated sediment in the Creek from Lockport to Lake Ontario.

Today’s announcement involves the fourth phase, which is the proposed cleanup and restoration of lead-contaminated soil at residential properties in the vicinity of the former Flintkote Plant property.

EPA will hold a public meeting on August 16, 2018 to explain the cleanup proposal and take public comment on the various cleanup options. The meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m. at the 4-H Training Center at the Niagara County Fairgrounds, 4487 Lake Avenue, Lockport, N.Y. Written comments will be accepted until August 27, 2018.

Written comments may be mailed or emailed to: Jaclyn Kondrk, Remedial Project Manager,U.S. EPA, 290 Broadway, 20th Floor; New York, N.Y., 10007 or e-mail: kondrk.jaclyn@epa.gov

To review EPA’s proposed plan, visit: https://www.epa.gov/superfund/eighteenmile-creek

On the one-year anniversary of the EPA’s Superfund Task Force Report, EPA announced significant progress in carrying out the report’s recommendations. These achievements will provide certainty to communities, state partners, and developers that the nation’s most hazardous sites will be cleaned up as quickly and safely as possible.

EPA’s new “Superfund Task Force Recommendations 2018 Update” is available at: https://www.epa.gov/superfund/superfund-task-force-recommendations-2018-update

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EPA Completes Cleanup of Chemical Hazard in Tonawanda New York

July 3, 2018 / Lee Ann Rush / 0 Comments

Contact: Michael Basile, (716) 551-4410, basile.michael@epa.gov

NEW YORK, NY - Removing a significant threat to public health and safety, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has completed its cleanup of improperly stored hazardous materials at the Morgan Materials, Inc., facility in Tonawanda, New York.

"This array of improperly stored chemicals posed a real danger to the local community,” said EPA Regional Administrator Pete Lopez. “In just a year and a half, EPA worked with 36 different chemical manufacturers and companies who had legally sold materials to Morgan Materials and got them to recycle thousands of drums and containers totalling some nine million pounds of materials, saving tax-payers approximately $8 million in cleanup costs.”

“New York State is committed to ensuring that businesses across the state are operating in a responsible way that is protective of public health and our environment,” said State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Regional Director Abby Snyder. “It is our priority to provide a safe and clean environment for residents and to protect our natural resources. Working with EPA, DEC helped ensure the cleanup at Morgan Materials meets state and federal standards and the site has been fully remediated.”

Town of Tonawanda Supervisor, Joseph Emminger, said “The cleanup of this site represents a significant improvement for the residences and businesses in the neighborhood, as well as the nearby schools, since this was a disaster waiting to happen. We applaud the efforts of the EPA in doing the cleanup in a timely manner and look forward to the repurposing of the site.”

Morgan Materials, located in northern Erie County at 380 Vulcan Street, Tonawanda, purchased and was improperly storing both hazardous and nonhazardous materials. EPA’s Superfund cleanup activities began in late November 2016 and concluded this month.

EPA’s Superfund cleanup activities began in late November 2016 and concluded this month. The Agency’s cleanup efforts recycled approximately nine million pounds of materials and saved $8 million in cleanup costs.

Morgan Materials, located in northern Erie County at 380 Vulcan Street, Tonawanda, purchased and improperly stored both hazardous and nonhazardous materials. The site consists of a series of seven connected warehouse buildings, on eight acres, located in a mixed industrial and residential neighborhood and near two schools.

Background:

EPA’s efforts began in July 2016 when EPA and New York State (NYS) DEC conducted a joint inspection with officials from the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, New York State Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Services, Buffalo Sewer Authority, and the Town of Tonawanda. EPA also collaborated with New York State Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Services’ Office of Fire Prevention and Control.

EPA found chemical containers throughout the site, often unlabeled, leaking or stored improperly, including flammables, corrosives, and oxidizers, which could have leaked or caused fires. Results of EPA’s initial testing showed that the facility was full of hazardous substances, such as volatile organic compounds and heavy metals.

In November 2016, NYS DEC ordered Morgan Materials to address conditions that presented an imminent danger. Morgan Materials did not comply. EPA then assumed responsibility for security, utilities, and fire control systems. To ensure public safety, EPA established air monitoring stations throughout the site.

EPA contacted companies who had sold chemicals to Morgan Materials, resulting in substantial quantities of materials being recycled. Materials that were not recycled were disposed of at off-site permitted disposal facilities.

For further information, please visit our website: https://www.epa.gov/ny/morgan-materials-site-town-tonawanda-new-york

Under Administrator Pruitt’s leadership, the Superfund program has reemerged as a top priority to advance the Agency’s core mission of protecting human health and the environment. EPA established a Superfund Task Force in May 2017 to provide recommendations for improving and expediting site cleanups and promoting redevelopment.

The task force’s recommendations focused on five overarching goals: expediting cleanup and remediation, reinvigorating cleanup and reuse efforts by potentially responsible parties, encouraging private investment to facilitate cleanup and reuse, promoting redevelopment and community revitalization, and engaging with partners and stakeholders.

The Superfund Task Force Recommendations can be viewed at https://www.epa.gov/superfund/superfund-task-force-recommendations

EPA Announces Settlement with Northeast Dredging Equipment Company LLC, Puts Cleaner Diesel Engines

June 26, 2018 / Lee Ann Rush / 0 Comments

NEW YORK, NY - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced Northeast Dredging Equipment Company, LLC has completed the installation of two cleaner diesel engines on a floating crane as part of a legal settlement reached in April of 2017 for alleged violations of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act. As part of the settlement, Northeast Dredging LLC invested at least $250,000 to replace two old diesel engines from its floating crane with cleaner models, resulting in improved water and air quality. The crane operates in or around the New York/New Jersey Harbor. In addition, Northeast Dredging paid a $100,000 penalty.

“These newer engines, which have been installed, are reducing the amount of air pollution being released into the densely populated New York/New Jersey Harbor area,” said EPA Regional Administrator Pete Lopez. “The outcome of this settlement benefits air quality and underscores the importance of proper disposal in protecting our public waters. It’s a win-win.”

Among the alleged violations were placement of dredged materials in an unauthorized location in the Atlantic Ocean.

The purchase and installation of these engines is considered by EPA to be a “supplemental environmental project,” which is an environmentally-beneficial project that a business or individual voluntarily agrees to undertake in partial settlement of violations. The new cleaner diesel engines installed emit 71% less nitrogen oxides and 86% less particulate matter than the 1972 diesel engines they replaced.

Background:

In September 2011, Northeast Dredging entered into a contract with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Army Corps) to perform dredging work in the Arthur Kill Channel, along the northern shore of Staten Island. In 2012, Northeast Dredging began its dredging work without full inclusion of the Army Corps to discuss ocean placement requirements. Shortly thereafter, Northeast Dredging disposed of dredged material in an area that was not designated for disposal. In March 2013, Northeast Dredging transported, and then disposed of, the contents of five vessels loaded with dredged materials. The disposal was done without adequate photographic evidence of their contents. All three of these actions were violations of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act.

The Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act governs the transportation and disposal of any material into ocean waters. Under the law, EPA designates dredged material disposal sites for long-term use. Before designating these sites, EPA conducts an extensive environmental review process, and there are opportunities for public participation. Each designated site has its own site management and monitoring plan. Disposal is strictly prohibited outside these sites because of the potential to adversely impact the aquatic environment.

More information on the EPA's role in dredged materials management: https://www.epa.gov/ocean-dumping/ocean-disposal-dredged-material.

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Construction Work Scheduled to Resume in Massena, NY in Preparation for Cleanup of the Grasse River Superfund Site

May 11, 2018 / Lee Ann Rush / 0 Comments

Larisa Romanowski, (518) 407-0400, romanowski.larisa@epa.gov

ALBANY, NY - Construction work is expected to resume later this month on a facility in Massena, NY to support the $243 million dredging project to clean up PCBs from the Grasse River. When constructed, the facility will be used as a staging area to support future dredging and capping operations. Before dredging work can start, the facility must be constructed and engineering plans and other design work completed. Arconic Inc. (formerly Alcoa) is performing the cleanup work under an EPA order. EPA, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe are working together on the oversight and coordination of the various components of the cleanup project.

“Our ability to protect people’s health and the environment is most effective when we work together and engage our local communities from a foundation of trust and transparency,” said EPA Regional Administrator Pete Lopez. “Working collaboratively with the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe, the State, local governments and the community, we can get much accomplished as we meet our shared challenges head on.”

In 2013, EPA selected a plan to clean up river sediment contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) by dredging and capping of contaminated sediment in a 7.2-mile stretch of the Grasse River.

The 2018 construction activities are expected to include completion of a sheet pile wall along the staging area riverfront and construction of a dock facility; removal of a small amount of sediment along the shoreline next to the staging area; removal of soil in two areas along the north shore of the river near the Alcoa Bridge; re-opening of the secure landfill for the disposal of shoreline sediment and soil; and performance of an in-river capping test in small areas near the staging area.

Plans to protect the health and safety of the workers and area communities will be in place while the construction work is underway. The air and river water will be monitored during the work. A traffic management plan has been developed to minimize the increased truck traffic at and near the staging area. With the exception of the collection of river water samples, and the in-river capping test, all of the work being conducted in 2018 will be performed by land and is not expected to impact recreational boating on the Grasse River.

EPA will hold a public information session on May 16 in Massena to provide an update on, and answer questions about, construction of the cleanup support facility. The next meeting will be held in Akwesasne in June. Meetings will be held monthly in Massena or Akwesasne while the construction work is underway.

Public Information Session:

Wednesday, May 16, 2018
7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Massena Community Center
Community Room
61 Beach Street
Massena, N.Y. 13662

Background:

Under the EPA’s 2013 cleanup plan, approximately 109,000 cubic yards of sediment will be dredged from near-shore areas of the river. In the river’s main channel, approximately 59 acres of sediment will be covered with an armored cap and another approximately 225 acres of contaminated sediment will be capped with a mix of clean sand and topsoil to isolate the contamination from the surrounding environment.

In spring 2017, Arconic began construction of a staging area that will be used to unload the sediment dredged from areas near the shore of the river. The staging area is located next to the river, near the intersection of County Route 42 and Route 131 in Massena. Arconic also expanded the permitted, licensed on-site Arconic Massena West landfill so that it can store dredged sediment and other materials generated during the construction work and when the river cleanup work is performed.

For more information about the Grasse River Superfund Site, please visit https://www.epa.gov/ny/aluminum-company-america-massena-ny.

Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter at www.twitter.com/eparegion2 and visit our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/eparegion2.

Tag: New York (page 2 of 3)

EPA Provides New York $222.5 Million for Water Infrastructure Improvements

EPA Proposes Cleanup of Lead Contaminated Residential Properties at Eighteen Mile Creek Superfund Site in Lockport, N.Y.

EPA Completes Cleanup of Chemical Hazard in Tonawanda New York

EPA Announces Settlement with Northeast Dredging Equipment Company LLC, Puts Cleaner Diesel Engines

Construction Work Scheduled to Resume in Massena, NY in Preparation for Cleanup of the Grasse River Superfund Site

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