DEC Reviews Gateway Lofts Brownfield Contamination Plan, Seeks Comment

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ALBANY – The State Department of Environmental Conservation is seeking public comments on a plan to mitigate contamination on the site of the proposed Gateway Lofts Supportive Apartment site in Jamestown.

“Based on the findings of the investigation, NYSDEC in consultation with the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) has determined that the site does pose a significant threat to public health or the environment. This decision is based on the nature of the existing contaminants identified at the site and the potential for off-site migration of contaminants in the groundwater,” DEC officials said in a released statement.

The mitigation plan includes excavation of the top two feet and/or to the depth of new development hardscape of impacted soil from the open areas next to the building and disposal of materials.


Backfilling of the area with two feet of clean fill or hardscape.

In addition there will be collection of additional subsurface soil samples in order to further determine the presence of other sources of contamination or underground storage tanks, installation of a sub-slab depressurization system to help eliminate vapors entering the building, excavation and removal of all underground storage tanks, excavation and disposal of an area of PCB contamination on the property, installation of a groundwater treatment system and removal and disposal of any sediment found within the building’s trenches and drains.

The proposed remedy was developed by Southern Tier Environments for Living, Inc after performing a detailed investigation of the site under New York’s Brownfield Cleanup Program (BCP).



NYSDEC will consider public comments, revise the cleanup plan as necessary, and issue a final Decision Document.

 

3 Comments

  1. sulphide of arsenic and sulphide of antimony in sulphide of ammonia and others were used and disposed of by dumping in the river or on the property . The plating department and brass coloring dept did not have proper ventilation so I would assume the walls and floors are permeated as well . We had many Tri clor spills I have shared this with CHC family and friends on FB so the folks that worked in those departments can comment . The snagging dept would have lead as well.

  2. this from an anonymous source : I saw an article in the Post Journal about making the former CHC building a historical landmark. It brought to mind my early years at CHC in the plating dept, John Schauers and I did plating tank maintenance and when a solution became contaminated it was necessary to syphon out 10 % or more and dump it into the Chadaquin Creek. This was highly poisonous material and it was perfectly legal to do, Jamestown Electro Plating, and Cresent tool also did similar things. If it was a chrome plating solution the water turned a orange color and it would go from CHC to the Conewango, to the Allegheny and mix in with the Ohio and Mississippi. Shame on us but who knew,,, Hope they use the building for good causes…

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