1.1.2.1 Location

The Site is located in a residential neighborhood at 58 Green Street in the Village of Port Byron, Cayuga County, New York 13140.  The former metals plating and finishing facility is currently separated from the owner’s personal home by a paved driveway. 

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.

The EPA removal action activities at the Site resumed on May 21, 2012, in efforts to complete the final work not completed prior to the December 21, 2011 demobilzation.  The Site was graded, covered with topsoil and hydro seeded.  Areas showing signs of poor drainage were addressed to ensure water moves away from the mill area.  Additional rip-rap was placed on the Owasco Lake Outlet to stabilize the bank areas not addressed during previous activities.  The damage to the common driveway between the mill and residential home was repaired.

A stream survey was performed by ERT and SERAS on the Owasco Lake Outlet.  Sampling of the water and sediment was performed.  EPA is attempting to identify if the Outlet has been or is currently being impacted by the adjacent RN Hitchcock site. 

EPA, ERT, SERAS, ERRS, and RST contractors returned to the Site during the week of May 21, 2012.  ERRS crews and sub-contractors conducted removal activities as described above.  RST performed documentation and oversight of activities.  ERT and SERAS performed a stream survey.   Currently removal activities are complete, however, during these final activities it was discovered that the historic mill has developed potentially catastrophic structural damage. (See Planning Section 2.2 for issues and details)
 

Further inspection, stabilization, repair, and/or demolition at the Site may be performed based on current structural issues on the Southwest corner of the mill.  

2.2.1.2 Next Steps

EPA will attend public meetings at the Town of Mentz and Village of Port Byron to discuss the Site.  The structural engineer contracted for the pre and post inspection of the mill will assist in the collection of data to aid in the final decision on how to proceed with the damaged mill. 

2.2.2 Issues

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 smaller historical breaks were discovered by creating access holes in the sub-floor.  However, site activity including excavation activities, truck traffic, backfill operations, foundation repair, etc could have contributed to the eventual failure.

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.  Measurements taken by the structural engineer show no current movement on the gaps on the second floor.

The south side of the mill is currently off-limits and labeled with "keep out" signs.

Currently, no repair or demolition decision has been made, although discussions and data collection are ongoing.