U.S. EPA Proposes $23 Million Second-Phase Plan for Superfund Site
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed a plan that calls for a variety of actions to address contamination in the Creek Corridor portion of the Eighteen Mile Creek Superfund Site, in Lockport, N.Y.
The Creek Corridor is approximately one mile in length and extends from the Erie Canal to Harwood Street in the city of Lockport. The Creek and several adjacent properties are contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and other contaminants, including lead. PCBs can affect the immune, reproductive, nervous and endocrine systems and are potentially cancer-causing. This portion of the site cleanup would cost an estimated $23 million. EPA will accept written comments on the proposed plan until Sept. 30, 2016.
The cleanup proposal, which is the second phase of cleanup at this site, calls for the complete removal of contaminated sediment in the Creek Corridor. The plan also proposes a combination of excavation and off site disposal, capping, and institutional controls to address contaminated soil at Upson Park, the former Flintkote Plant, White Transportation and United Paperboard Co. properties. During the removal of contaminated sediment, the dilapidated Clinton and William Street dams would be removed.
“We are making steady progress in cleaning up this site. To protect public health, we have relocated five families and purchased their homes,” said Judith A. Enck, EPA regional administrator. “The proposed plan will further that progress by removing much of the contaminated soil that continues to pose a threat, and I encourage people to comment.”
Under the proposal, EPA would conduct work at:
- The former United Paperboard Co. property located at 62 and 70 Mill Street, where a lumber company and paper company operated from the 1890s to 1948;
- The White Transportation property located at 30 to 40 Mill Street;
- Upson Park, a 5.9-acre property that was used by a canal building company and then a paper pulp mill and is now a public park along the Erie Canal with recreational uses; and
- The former Flintkote Plant property located at 198 and 300 Mill Street, where Flintkote operated between 1928 and 1971 and manufactured felt products.
EPA completed the initial phase of cleanup in 2016, which included the demolition of the former Flintkote building and the buyout and relocation of five families from their Water Street residences in Lockport, N.Y. Those homes and the former industrial building were demolished, and all demolition debris was removed from the properties. The excavation of contaminated soil at the residential properties will be performed during cleanup of sediment in the Creek Corridor to prevent recontamination of the Creek and the properties.
Eighteen Mile Creek has a long history of industrial use dating back to the 1800s when it was used as a source of hydropower. The headwaters of the Creek consist of an east and west branch that begin immediately north of the New York State Barge Canal in Lockport, N.Y. Eighteen Mile Creek flows north approximately 15 miles and discharges into Lake Ontario in Olcott, N.Y. The site was placed on the Superfund National Priorities List in March 2012. Investigations at the site show that sediment and soil in and around Eighteen Mile Creek and nearby properties are contaminated with variety of pollutants, including PCBs and lead.
In June 2013, EPA outlined a three-phase approach to site cleanup. The initial phase, which involved demolition at the residential and Flintkote building properties, was completed in 2016. The second phase of the cleanup, which is the subject of the proposed plan released for review and comment, involves the Creek Corridor. The third phase of cleanup, which is still in the investigation stage, will address groundwater and contaminated sediment in the creek from Lockport to its discharge in Lake Ontario.
The Superfund program operates on the principle that polluters, rather than taxpayers, should pay for the cleanups. EPA continues to search for parties responsible for the contamination and, if found, will hold them accountable for the costs of investigations and cleanups. Otherwise, it will be funded by the EPA Superfund program with taxpayer dollars.
Written comments may be mailed or emailed to:
Jaclyn Kondrk, Remedial Project Manager
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
290 Broadway, 20th Floor
New York, NY 10007
For more information about the Eighteen Mile Creek Superfund Site, visit www.epa.gov/superfund/eighteenmile-creek. The proposed plan can be accessed directly at https://semspub.epa.gov/src/document/02/393244.
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
