DEC Solicits Public Comment on United Hospital Contamination Cleanup Plan
On Wednesday, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), in consultation with the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), formally invited the pubic to comment on the proposed remediation plan for the former United Hospital Site, just over the Rye line in Port Chester, across from the Whole Foods. A major mixed use development plan is underway for the 12 acre site. Just last week, the DEC said it was reviewing a Remedial Investigation Report (RIR) for the former United Hospital Site. The planned multi-use residential/commercial development for the site includes the construction of a four multi-story family and a six-story assisted living residential building with commercial spaces, hotel, retail, restaurant, green spaces, internal roadways, and above grade and subgrade parking.
City of Rye officials said they have already begun review of the proposed actions, and expect the City will have additional comments that will be provided before the deadline in October. The City previously engaged an environmental consultant, and provided initial comments related to the brownfield clean up preliminary plans back in 2021. At the time, the City and its consultant “concluded the Remedial Investigation Work Plan (Brownfield Clean Up) had been prepared in accordance with DEC guidelines”.
NYSDEC is accepting written comments about the proposed plan, called a Draft Remedial Action Work Plan (RAWP, see here, along with other documents) for 45 days, from August 21, 2024 through October 7, 2024. NYSDEC will consider public comments, revise the cleanup plan as necessary, and issue a final Decision Document. NYSDOH must concur with the proposed remedy. After approval, the proposed remedy becomes the selected remedy. The applicants may then design and perform the cleanup action to address the site contamination, with oversight by NYSDEC and NYSDOH.
