State DEC Invites Comments on Brownfield Cleanup in Downtown Port Chester
If you have been to The Capitol Theater, Costco, the movies or any of the myriad of dining options in downtown Port Chester, you may not have realized you walked by a site in the center of downtown Port Chester that is part of New York’s Brownfield Cleanup Program (BCP) (a brownfield site is any property where a contaminant is present at high levels of concern as defined by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation). The site, referred to in DEC documents as the South Main Petroleum Site Assemblage, is at the very center of the downtown at 2, 14, and 16 South Main Street, 15 East Broadway, and 106 Westchester Avenue.
Site Plans
All lots are now vacant besides 106 Westchester Avenue which is scheduled to be demolished in November 2024 as part of the remedial action and redevelopment of the site. The proposed redevelopment plan includes the demolition and removal of all existing structures and construction of a 12-story mixed-use residential and commercial building. Documents indicate the developer is 2SM Development, LLC (part of Hyperion Group) of Miami, Florida.
Historically, the site has been used as a mix of commercial spaces, including grocery stores, offices, saloons, and a blacksmith. Most recently the site has included residential spaces, commercial stores, offices, and restaurants.
Site Contaminants
A site investigation showed volatile organic compounds (VOCs), metals, and Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) were found in soil, groundwater, and soil vapor at concentrations above use-specific soil cleanup objectives across the site.
Exceedances in soil were encountered to depths up to 13 feet below grade. According to filed reports, petroleum impacted soil and former storage tanks seem to be the source of contaminated groundwater within the site and can also be attributed to the petroleum related VOCs identified in soil vapor. Chlorinated VOCs were also found in soil vapor samples, but an on-site source has not been identified.
Proposed Remediation
The current draft remedial work plan consists of:
- Decommissioning and removal of any encountered Underground Storage Tanks (USTs) and Aboveground Storage Tanks (ASTs);
- Abatement of regulated building materials (e.g. asbestos) and subsequent demolition of the site buildings, structures, and subsurface obstructions;
- Excavation and off-site disposal of contaminated soil exceeding the established Soil Cleanup Objectives for the site to depths of 3 to 14 feet below ground surface (bgs) to remove VOCs and PFAS in soil and groundwater;
- Dewatering and treatment of groundwater as necessary to reach excavation depths;
- Collecting and analyzing post-remedial soil and groundwater samples to evaluate the effectiveness of the remedy;
- Importing clean material that meets the established Soil Cleanup Objectives for use as backfill;
- Implementation of a Health and Safety Plan and Community Air Monitoring Plan during all ground intrusive activities.
Comments
Comments on the Draft Remedial Action Work Plan (RAWP – find site documents including this one here) are being accepted through November 30, 2024. Comments and questions can be directed to the NYS DEC and DOH (Department of Health).
Project-Related Questions
Michaela Cochran
Project Manager NYSDEC
625 Broadway
Albany, NY 12233
(518) 402-9669
Project-Related Health Questions
Stephen Lawrence
NYSDOH
Empire State Plaza, Corning Tower, Room 1787
Albany, NY 12233
(518) 402-0450
