Brockport clean up plans detailed

Clean up at the General Electric and Black & Decker sites in Brockport could begin as early as July. The final clean up plans of the contaminated storm sewer and creek have been a long time in coming, residents said.

The plans were submitted to New York State Departments of Environmental Conservation and Health and call for the removal of 1,800 tons of soil that contain PCBs from nine residential properties north of the 200 State Street facility in Brockport. The plan also calls for the cleaning of 3,000 feet of storm sewer piping and the replacement of 110 feet of storm sewer piping. 3M’s plan calls for the removal of additional soil.

Frank Ricotta, DEC regional clean up engineer, said following the clean up process the soils will be cleared for residential, unrestricted use. "Our goal is to restore hazardous waste sites to pre-disposal conditions … not every site can be returned but we think with the excavation these soils will be restored as close as possible to pre-release conditions," he said.

Contractors for both corporations say clean up could begin as early as July, pending approval from state officials. Public comments on the proposals will be accepted until June 17. Written comments can be sent to the Department of Environmental Conservation.

Residents who attended the May 29 meeting at Seymour Library voiced concerns with air monitoring during the clean up period, access roads, the coordination of the clean-up plans between 3M and GE, medical follow up and soil testing following the excavation.

Resident Mike Connor, who has lived on Tributary 3 for his whole life, questioned when test results will be returned by Department of Health officials. "I had a blood test back in October and I’ve called at least once a month for the results and they still aren’t back," he said.

Dave Napier from the Department of Health said the results should be released mid-June as results were being collected and quantified. Residents were blood-tested for PCBs.

Debbie Curry, a former Love Canal resident, who now lives in Holley urged officials to release reports that are written in layman’s terms. "Explain the results to the people who get them back," she said. "Talk to them individually and let them know what the results mean."

Paul Hare, GE’s Albany-based project manager, said the clean up project would take about nine to 12 weeks to complete.

Residential properties affected by the contamination include properties on Victory Drive, Keable Court and Frazier Street; two on Lyman Street; and four on East Avenue.

Following the clean up, DEC regulations require the remaining soils have no more than 10 parts per million of silver and cyanide and one part per million of polychlorinated biphenyls.

Temporary access roads will be constructed and on-site decontamination of all earth moving equipment and transport trucks will be conducted. Workers at the site will also wear special clothing, DEC officials said.

Residents will have another opportunity to hear final clean up plans before they are undertaken. A public meeting will be held before the work begins. No date has been set.