Public Invited to Meeting on Patchogue Former MGP Site
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), in conjunction with the State Department of Health (DOH) and representatives from National Grid, will hold a public meeting on Thursday, Dec. 17, at 7 p.m., to present the findings of the cleanup investigation report for the Patchogue Former Manufactured Gas Plant (MGP) site in Patchogue, Suffolk County.
(Media-Newswire.com) - The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation ( DEC ), in conjunction with the State Department of Health ( DOH ) and representatives from National Grid, will hold a public meeting on Thursday, Dec. 17, at 7 p.m., to present the findings of the cleanup investigation report for the Patchogue Former Manufactured Gas Plant ( MGP ) site in Patchogue, Suffolk County.
The meeting will be held at the Patchogue Fire Department 2nd Floor Meeting Room at 15 Jennings Avenue, Patchogue. At the meeting, DEC, DOH and National Grid staff will review the history of the site, describe the results of remedial investigation and respond to questions and comments from the community. Key findings in the report include:
There are no imminent hazards to human health. However, there are potential pathways through which people could be exposed to the potentially harmful materials in the future. These pathways, which include underground utility workers digging on the site or future site developers, may require additional study or remedial action. The site exhibits the characteristics of a former MGP site, including the presence of contaminants. The main contaminant is MGP tar, a dark oily liquid that is denser that water and very persistent in the environment. The MGP tar acts as a source for soil and groundwater contamination. The MGP tar is found in areas of the site associated with the historic structures from which the tar leaked. Petroleum contamination, also apparently related to the operation of the MGP was found to the southeast of the main site, closer to the Patchogue River. The groundwater at the site flows from the northwest to the southeast. Groundwater that moves through the tar becomes contaminated, and then moves southeast and discharges into the river, where dilution and degradation quickly act on the contaminants. Site-related contaminants were not detected in the water samples collected from the river. The investigation determined that the presence of contaminants in the soils, groundwater, sediments and surface water do not present a risk to the fish and wildlife on or near the site. Site Overview: Located at 234 West Main Street in Patchogue,the former MGP site is currently vacant and secured by locked perimeter fencing.The site consists of 3.6 acres along the Patchogue River just south of where the river exits Patchogue Lake.
Site History: The MGP was constructed by the Patchogue Gas Company in approximately 1904 and produced gas continuously through 1914 and intermittently into the 1920's. It was then modified to store and distribute gas produced off-site. The distribution facility remained until the 1970's, when LILCO sold the site to third parties. From the mid-1970s through early 2005 the site was used as a refrigeration equipment and scrap storage yard, before KeySpan ( the corporate successor to LILCO and the Patchogue Gas Company ) acquired it in May 2005 for purposes of remediation.
A preliminary site assessment, completed in 2003, determined that gas manufacturing wastes were still present in subsurface soils beneath the site and that further study was needed to delineate the environmental impacts. A remedial investigation was performed in 2008-09 by National Grid's consultants ( National Grid acquired KeySpan in 2007 ) under DEC oversight.
Next Steps: National Grid and its consultants will develop what's called a "Feasibility Study" in which options to address the current and potential exposure pathways are developed and evaluated.
DEC will then develop a draft cleanup plan, called a "Proposed Remedial Action Plan" to outline the remedy preferred by the DEC.
The action plan will summarize each cleanup alternative and the reasons for choosing or rejecting it. The goal of the plan will be to ensure the protection of public health and the environment. DEC will present the proposal to the public for its review and comment. After considering the comments received, DEC will, as necessary, revise and finalize the remedy and direct National Grid to begin its design and implementation. DEC will keep the public informed throughout the investigation and cleanup of the site.
Copies of investigation reports and other site documents are available at the Patchogue Medford Library at 54-60 East Main Street, Patchogue and at DEC's Central Office at 625 Broadway, Albany. Comments and questions are always welcome and should be directed to Lisa Gorton, DEC Project Manager, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-7014, ( 518 ) 402-9564, or JacquelynNealon, DOH Project Manager, 547 River St., Room 300, Troy, NY 12180-2216, ( 800 ) 458-1158 ext. 27880. National Grid has a hotline for neighbors of the site. The hotline provides an opportunity to ask questions or leave comments, ( 516 ) 348-6100.
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