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 removal activities are expected to continue through November 2011.

This removal action will continue to address the excavation and off-site disposal of TCE/VOC 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.  Further soil sampling will be conducted by RST personnel, as soil is excavated under the building footprint and to the eastern side of the building.  The excavation of contaminated soils will proceed based upon the 2010 data and the additional October 28, 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 SERAS and RST sampling, post-excavation samples will be collected to confirm that the excavation has reached the required cleanup goal prior to backfilling.

During soil removal activities, air monitoring is being conducted by RST to ensure that there is no off-site migration of contaminants (weather permitting).  AreaRAE units will be deployed during the excavation and treatment of the VOC contaminated soils.  The area will be tented, VOC vapors will be pumped through a carbon scrubber system, and soils will be treated prior to disposal.  Work expected to commence during the week of November 7, 2011. 

Sections of the south wall, south wall foundation, and eastern wall foundation will be repaired, beginning November 8, 2011.   Excavation of soils will continue and T&D of excavated soils will be on-going.  Backfill is currently staged on-Site and areas screened with the XRF and sampled have been backfilled, when appropriate.