Clean up plans outlined for Brockport residents

Village of Brockport residents gathered at Seymour Library April 4 to listen to clean up plans that were outlined for two contaminated former industrial sites on State Street.

Since 1999, four lawsuits have been filed by residents because of pollutants on the site.

Representatives from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the New York State Department of Health and from General Electric were on hand to explain on-site clean-up proposals on the former GE/Black & Decker and 3M/Dynacolor sites.

Kelly Cloyd, a regional geologist with the DEC, outlined a summary of the work plan that includes demolition of a Boy Scout cabin and storage shed, soil excavation and post excavation soil sampling. "There aren’t any plans to remove the trees from the area," he said. "The excavation of soil will extend approximately three feet beyond the foundation of the Boy Scout cabin."

The excavation, he said, is to remove debris and soil associated with the foundation. It will not address historic fill. The second component of the soil removal is intended to address areas of the site where elevated cyanide concentrations have been found. The plan calls for excavating soils from 100 to 200 square feet to depths ranging from three feet to seven feet. "Once the initial excavation has been done, sampling will take place," he said.

Cloyd also explained that if blue soils are found, further excavation will be performed. Blue soils occur when dirt is exposed to cyanide and sunlight.

Paul Hare, who oversees regional environmental cleanup for GE, also explained to the residents more extensive plans for the clean-up procedures. The plan calls for cleaning and flushing out of 3,800 feet of storm sewer lines; the sealing of a 360 foot section of one storm sewer that runs under the building and removal of the estimated 25 tons of debris that will be recovered from the lines.

Exterior clean-up involves removal of 675 tons of soil. The soil is tainted with PCBs. Most of the soil removed will come from the east side of the structure where waste oils were stored.

"This is just a cheap Mickey Mouse fix," one resident said. "To do it right you would have to knock down the building and clean all of the soil."

Melissa VanSkiver, a mother of three who has lived in the area for the past two-and-a-half years, demanded answers as to the elevated mercury levels in her children’s blood. "What price are you setting on the life of my child?" she asked. "This has been going on for too long and we still aren’t getting any answers."

3M has committed itself to beginning the project within two weeks of receiving DEC approval. The plan is expected to be finalized and approved shortly after the public comment period that ends April 27. It is hoped the work will begin in May and will be completed within four to six weeks.