Parma looking for solution to contaminated soil

At the suggestion of Jerry Bauman's attorney, the Parma Planning Board agreed to table discussion on the remediation of soil located at the corner of Manitou and Frisbee Hill Road, at the January 20 Parma Planning Board Meeting.

Bauman, who owned a gas station that stood at that spot, has proposed to transport impaired soil to a parcel of land he owns at 4900 Ridge Road West. The land on Ridge Road will serve as a bio cell remediation site. Moving the soil will allow Bauman's brother, Steve, to build a new gas station.

After many public meetings, this plan still has not received approval from the Town of Parma.

"I have no idea why there has been such a delay," said Bauman. "This is state approved. Obviously the state and town don't see eye to eye."

Parma Building Inspector Jack Barton said the delay is partly due to the fact that Parma does not have a code for bio cell transfer and remediation in its current zoning code. While the plan Bauman has for the soil is approved by the Department of Environmental Conservation, the state requires the town's approval.

Barton said town officials are also considering requiring Bauman to apply for a use variance. That would require Bauman to go before the Board of Appeals.

Bauman's attorney, Leon Sawyko, said he asked the planning board to table the discussion because he would like to meet with the Building Inspector and the town attorney. Sawyko said he would like to avoid needing to apply for a use variance, because they are rarely granted.

"I disagree with the interpretation of the town attorney that a use variance would be needed," said Sawyko.

To date, Barton said there have been few complaints about Bauman's plan to transport the soil. He added that there are bio cell remediation sites in the Village of Hilton and the Town of Greece.

Tom Hall, environmental engineer technician with the DEC, said Parma's review of this has been the "most thorough" town review he has ever seen.

"Right now we are at a standstill waiting for the town's approval," said Hall. He said this common procedure (bio cell remediation) calls for the soil to be excavated and placed on an impermeable plastic sheet. From there, nature's elements will work to degrade the contamination. Hall said it is important to excavate the soil to avoid contaminating the groundwater surrounding the Frisbee Hill/Manitou property.

If the town grants Bauman permission to have the soil moved up to West Ridge Road, Hall said the process of ridding the soil of contamination should be completed inside a year. If the town does not grant Bauman permission, Hall said the soil that has been excavated would probably be taken to a landfill. Hall said it is not likely that all of the soil would be sent to a landfill, as the cost would be prohibitive.

Hall added that once the soil is excavated it will not be a danger.

"The soil is pretty typical of any property that has had a gas station located on it," said Hall. "What Mr. Bauman is proposing to do is the best solution I can see."