In March 2016, EPA activated and mobilized Emergency and Remedial Response Services (“ERRS”) contractors to apply an encapsulant on asbestos-containing pipe insulation exposed in the easement, as the RV1 removal action, to protect Brookfield Renewable Energy Group (“Brookfield employees”) and the public. In October 2018, EPA activated and mobilized ERRS contractors to re-apply an encapsulant on asbestos-containing pipe insulation where it had weathered following RV1, as the RV3 removal action.
In August 2020, an Action Memorandum was signed to allow for the mitigation of asbestos-containing materials (ACM) throughout on-site buildings that were partially demolished exposing the ACM to the environment. Areas/buildings on-site in which there is a potential for asbestos mitigation include the easement, turbine room, boiler house, electrical room, machine room, wet room, beater room, and company garage.
EPA began removing
asbestos at the site in April 2021. The work will include removal and/or
encapsulation of asbestos at the former facility and adjoining alleyway used by
employees at the active hydroelectric power plant. Asbestos will be
contained within the work zones and EPA will conduct air monitoring and
sampling to protect their contractors, employees at the power plant, and the
public, in accordance with New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL)
regulations. This cleanup action should take four months to complete.
