FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 11, 2006
CANAL CORPORATION BEGINS CLEANUP OF UTICA HARBOR DREDGE SPOIL SITE
Project Addresses Contamination Related to Harbor Point Site
The New York State Canal Corporation has begun the cleanup of a former dredge spoil area located between the New York State Canal and Mohawk River adjacent to the Utica Harbor lock in the City of Utica. The dredge spoil area is associated with Operable Unit 3 (OU 3) of the National Grid Harbor Point Site Remediation Project.
Harbor Point is approximately 140 acres of land located between Utica Harbor and the Mohawk River. The area was developed for industrial purposes in the mid 1800’s and has been the site of two manufactured gas plants (MGPs), a coal-fired steam plant, a petroleum storage and distribution facility (Mohawk Valley Oil) and a tar products plant (New York Tar Emulsions Products (NYTEP). In the 1920s, the Harbor Point peninsula was the location of the largest energy-producing complex in North America.
The Canal Corporation operates a canal maintenance facility on the southern and eastern sides of the harbor on property which is owned by New York State. On the other side of the Mohawk River, to the north and west of the peninsula are the Utica Marsh and three former dredged sediment disposal areas.
National Grid is under a New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) order on consent regarding the investigation and remediation of the Harbor Point Site. DEC has issued a Record of Decision (ROD) for OU 3 listing different alternatives for remediation and why the proposed method was chosen.
The work being carried out by the Canal Corporation is the result of a settlement agreement between National Grid and the Canal Corporation to address contaminated sediments that were dredged and deposited into designated dredge sediment disposal areas in order to maintain adequate navigation depths in the Harbor. The work consists of clearing the area, grading, and covering of dredged material, as well as drainage improvements to prevent runoff. All work is being done in accordance with a DEC-approved work plan and is expected to be completed by November 2006.
Contaminants present in the dredge spoils are mainly polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), a group of chemical contaminants that include naphthalene, anthracene and benzo-a-pyrene.
To protect public safety, a Community Air Monitoring Program has been established as part of the Harbor Point Remediation Project. The Community Air Monitoring Program will include air monitoring at the construction / remediation site and also between remediation activities and public residential or commercial areas downwind. In addition, all vehicles and equipment will be cleaned to DEC specifications prior to leaving the spoil area.
The project is not expected to impact recreational use of the Canalway Trail. However, the public is advised to use caution when traveling on the Canalway Trail between North Genesee Street in Utica and the harbor lock while construction work is in progress.
Additional information on the entire remediation project can be found on National Grid’s Harbor Point Remediation website at www.harborpointsite.com. For additional information please contact the New York State Canal Corporation at 518-436-3055; John Spellman at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation at 402-9662; or Greg Rys at the New York State Department of Health in Herkimer County at 315-866-6879.