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A meeting was held between the On-Scene Coordinator, the Site Assessment Manager and the Brownfields Coordinator. It was determined that the property will be returned to the state of New York. The EPA does not anticipate doing futher work on the site. The site does score high enough for listing on the National Priority List (NPL) however it scores low for the list. The City of Johnstown has indicated that it would be more beneficial to them to use the property with land-use restrictions than to further tie the property up for futher clean-up.
The EPA has determined that the state of contamination in the soil is not severe enough to seek the listing of the site on the NPL and that the property can be safely used for light industry. This is provided that the city not disturb the "in-place" slabs and the soil below these concrete slabs and all construction be built above the slabs. The city engineer's office has indicated that the city plans to further build up the grade anyway, since the property tends to flood during most rain events. Which, is not attractive to potential users. The EPA believes that if the city does as it intends to do about the grade it will further encase the contamination (mosty chromium) not allowing it to affect the local ecosystem which includes the human population as well as the Cayadutta Creek and its ecosystem.
The final details and restrictions will be worked out between the state and the city under the observation of the EPA.
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