The Site is bounded to the north, west and east by private residences, to the south and east (250 feet) by the Port Byron public school grounds, Port Byron/Town of Mentz Library and administrative buildings, and immediately adjacent to the Owasco Lake Outlet to the east (15 feet).  To the southeast is the Village of Port Byron. The New York State Throughway is less than 250 yards to the north.  The Port Byron Middle School and the AA Gates Elementary School are located less than one half mile to the east of the Site. 

Between October 2006 and February 2007, EPA conducted a removal of plating materials from the facility including vats and drums containing corrosive plating solutions, acids, cyanides, and heavy metals including cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, nickel and zinc.

In September, 2010, EPA conducted a comprehensive site assessment at the Site to assess the remaining potential contamination at the Site.  This assessment focused on the building materials and the soil, groundwater and sediment in the vicinity of the building.

Sampling revealed the presence of elevated levels of trichloroethylene (TCE) and its degrading byproducts in groundwater near the facility. This chemical was typically used for metal degreasing.   The results also indicated the building materials are contaminated with heavy metals including chromium, hexavalent chromium, and cadmium.  These metals were used in the electroplating process.

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results

The EPA conducted site assessment activities between September 20 and September 24, 2010. Site activities included soil/dust/sweep sampling, surface and subsurface soil sampling (soil borings), sub-slab soil sampling, groundwater sampling, concrete core sampling, sediment sampling, asbestos sampling, wipe and wood core sampling.

Results from all media show total chromium and cadmium detected, with maximum concentrations occurring within the building and elevated levels outside of the building.  Migration of these contaminants was traced to surface and sub-surface soils, groundwater and sediment samples within the Owasco Lake Outlet. 

Samples of the concrete in the process area on the first floor (floors and walls) revealed elevated levels of hexavalent chromium, chromium, cadmium and lead.  Three of these samples failed Toxic Characteristic Leaching Procedure test (TCLP) for chromium and six failed for cadmium, displaying the characteristic of  Toxicity as defined in 40 CFR, Subpart C, Š261.24 of RCRA.  Soil sweep/dust throughout the building is contaminated with chromium, cadmium and lead.  Exterior structure sampling revealed the presence of metals, including hexavalent chromium and total chromium in wall concrete.

Samples at the Site revealed the presence of metals in soils immediately adjacent to the plating section of the building. These metals included hexavalent chromium, total chromium, total cadmium and lead.  Additionally, sediment samples in the Owasco Lake Outlet revealed detected levels of chromium, cadmium and lead.

Metals were also detected in groundwater samples collected between the plating section of the building and the outlet, including chromium and cadmium.

Samples collected between the plating section of the building and the outlet, as well as those collected from under the building show elevated levels for chlorinated solvents including cis-1,2 DCE, trans-1,2 dichloroethene (trans-1,2 DCE), 1,1 dichloroethene (DCE), vinyl chloride, TCE, and tetrachloroethene (PCE).  Groundwater samples collected revealed the presence of cis-1,2 DCE, TCE, vinyl chloride, trans-1,2 DCE and 1,1 DCE at elevated levels.  Soil samples collected below the concrete structure, in exterior surface soils and in soil borings also detected TCE.  Water collected from the settling tank and sump that feeds the tank inside the building revealed cis-1,2 DCE, TCE and vinyl chloride.

EPA is currently conducting a removal action to address the building materials contaminated with heavy metals.  This action will include the removal of contaminated materials, including a partial building demolition, and further assessment and removal of contamination within the soils at the Site.  Site operations commenced on August 22, 2011 and are expected to continue through November 2011.

This removal action will  continue to address the demolition of contaminated sections of the structure as well as excavation and off-site disposal of TCE contaminated soils exceeding the EPA removal action level of 280 mg/kg. The areas of concern were delineated in 2010 during ERT/SERAS sampling which was conducted at the Site.  Construction debris from demolition activities is being segregated based on 2010 SERAS and 2011 ERRS sampling results.   Further soil sampling will be conducted by RST personnel, post demolition, where the slab is removed.  The excavation of contaminated soils will proceed based upon the 2010 data and any additional 2011 sampling, with contaminated soils (> 280 mg/kg) being stockpiled for disposal. When the excavation has reached the maximum horizontal and vertical extent of contamination as delineated by RST sampling, post-excavation samples will be collected to confirm that the excavation has reached the required cleanup goal prior to backfilling.

During demolition and soil removal activities, air monitoring is being conducted by RST to ensure that there is no off-site migration of contaminants.  

The  sections of the foundation wall (under the Mill section) that are contaminated with cadmium and chromium will be removed or partially removed until clean sections of the foundation are revealed.   The foundation and south facing wall will be repaired. 

Contaminated soil under the Mill section will be removed.