In September, 2007, NYSDEC Region 5 rep. Mike McClean contacted the EPA Region 2 Regional Response Center and requested EPA assistance with an abandoned paint store in the City of Glens Falls, NY. The building had been acquired by the City through a tax foreclosure and the dangerous condition of the building was discovered by while the property was being evaluated for a Brownfields redevelopment Grant.
The building was located in the center of a residential area, adjacent to an elementary school and ball field. The materials inside the building were identified by DEC and Brownfields assessors as paint and solvents.
On September 20, 2007, OSC Eric Daly met with NYSDEC and City officials and performed a preliminary assessment of the building. OSC Daly observed that the roof structure was deteriorated and that approximately 1,000 rusted containers of paint and solvent were haphazardly stacked throughout the facility. EPA conducted air monitoring along the perimeter of the building, inside the premises, and along the school grounds.
The building consisted of: the main level, a basement, and an attic. The entire structure was unstable. The roof was dramatically bowed and perforated and the main room ceiling was collapsing. Containers of solvents and leaking/rusted containers of paint and unknown substances were located on all 3 levels and haphazardly stacked.
EPA was officially requested to conduct a removal action by the Mayor of Glens Falls, the Glens Falls Fire Department, and the Principal of Sanford Street Elementary School. NYSDEC issued a verbal referral of the site to EPA on September 20, 2007, and, based on the verbal referral, on September 20, 2007, ERRD Director G. Pavlou gave a verbal authorization to proceed with a removal action. A formal written referral was received by EPA on September 21, 2007.
EPA mobilized its ERRS contractors on September 24, 2007. Initial efforts concentrated on stabilizing the structure and identifying, and consolidating the containers. All hazardous substances were packaged into cubic-yard boxes, staged in Conex shipping containers in an adjacent parking lot, and shipped off-Site for disposal. On October 10, 2007 the removal action was completed.
The City demolished the empty structure in the fall of 2007, and hired a consultant to perform a Phase II soil analysis. On June 24, 2008, the City received a report which revealed the presence of elevated levels of mercury in the soil underneath the footprint of the building. Following the release of this report, EPA received a written request from the City for assistance in removing the contaminated soil, and a written referral of the Site to EPA from the NYSDEC for additional removal work was sent on 8/6/2008.
Inasmuch as the school year starts on September 3rd, the time frame in which to acquire additional samples/data, and then perform any needed removal work, is not enough to complete the work prior to the opening of school. Consequently, initial efforts will concentrate on inter-rim measures to secure the Site and acquire additional data. OSC Paul Kahn has taken the lead role in this phase of the removal assessment.
Preliminary results from the 8/4/2008 mercury sampling event have been received. Of the 18 samples acquired only one revealed the presence of [total] mercury above the background concentration. The other 17 samples had mercury concentrations at or below background.
The NYSDOH, in connection with the Region 5 NYSDEC office, has agreed to acquire and analyze one sample of the radioactive fly-ash that is at the Site in various locations.
OSCs Kahn and Daly will return to the Site on 8/26 to meet reps from the NYSDOH. At that time a sample of the fly-ash will be acquired and taken to the DOH radiation lab to ID the radionuclide(s) present, as well as the respective concentration(s). Turn-around time for the lab results should be 3 - 4 weeks.
As a precautionary measure, while on-Site on 8/26 the OSCs will cover the ground with heavy duty poly sheeting to prevent any fugitive dust emissions from leaving the Site.
Complete rad sampling event on 8/26/2008 and await the results. Receive the results from the paint sample analysis and obtain final report on the mercury sampling. When all the data is obtained a decision will be made as to the appropriate response to the overall situation.
Obtaining all analytical results in a timely manner and determining whether there is a need to do additional mercury sampling at deeper depths.
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