• R.N. HITCHCOCK and COMPANY SITE, PORT BYRON, NY 10/24/2012  (HOPPE) 

OSC Hoppe, RST and ERRS contractors have returned to the Site to prepare the mill for demolition activities.  The mill exterior and interior has been documented using large format, high definition photography prior to its’ removal using archival standards established by the National Park Service for submission with National Register of Historic Places nominations.  Additionally, an oral history of the mill was documented and recorded, using the 95-year old owner as the orator. 

On Tuesday October 16, 2012, OSC Hoppe attended a town hall meeting with the Town of Mentz.  OSC Hoppe led a discussion of the removal actions to date and future activities, including the demolition of the mill.  The reactions to razing the mill were mixed; however, EPA efforts to remove the contaminated materials associated with the electroplating activities in and around the mill and the attempted preservation of the mill were well received.   Further, local residents and neighbors were pleased with the information presented as fact sheets distributed prior to current removal activities.

The structure was emptied of its’ contents and prepared for demolition.  On October 22, 2012, the mill was razed due to its’ compromised foundation, which allows for USEPA to remove the remainder of contamination from the Site. 

Historical artifacts and components of the mill have been preserved and will be donated to the local Loch 52 museum and historical society.  Other small artifacts have been returned to the owner and his family. 

On October 23, 2012, twenty-two (22) tons of hazardous concrete/foundation material was removed from the Site.  On October 24, 2012, 200 yards of construction and demolition debris were removed.  Removal of additional C&D debris, hazardous and non-hazardous concrete have been scheduled for later this week and early next week.  

• R.N. HITCHCOCK and COMPANY SITE, PORT BYRON, NY 10/10/2012  (HOPPE)

OSC Hoppe and ERRS contractors have returned to the Site to prepare the mill for demolition activities.  During the week of May 21, 2012, EPA and contractors discovered a significant drop in the Southwest floor of the mill. Upon inspection, the pier and beam support structure below failed at multiple points. The failure included breakage of beams and separation from the exterior concrete foundation. Dry rot and additional historical breaks were discovered by creating access holes in the sub-floor.  Additionally, the second floor supports in the Southwest corner have separated from the main south wall beam. The floor is constructed of notched lumber hung on a notched section of the main south support. There are no pins, nails or similar holding these together. As a result, the first floor failure and subsequent shifting of the second floor likely happened concurrently.

EPA has consulted with engineers, construction specialists and NY State Historic Preservation Office personnel to determine the future of the mill.  Although EPA made efforts to save and repair the building during the removal action, the decision to raze the mill has been made.   The mill will be further documented prior to its’ removal using archival standards established by the National Park Service for submission with National Register of Historic Places nominations.

 The demolition is expected to occur late during the week of October 15 or early the week of October 22, 2012.