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Fact Sheet for Draft Remedial Design Work Plan and Citizen Participation Plan for Onondaga Lake, Public Meeting Announced

Introduction

The draft Remedial Design Work Plan (RDWP) has been completed on behalf of Honeywell International Inc. (Honeywell). It presents the activities and sequencing necessary to complete the initial phase of remedial design for the remedy selected in the Record of Decision (ROD) issued by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) in 2005 for the Onondaga Lake Bottom subsite. The NYSDEC and Honeywell have agreed to conditions under which Honeywell will design and implement the selected remedy, as set forth in the Consent Decree (United States District Court, Northern District of New York, 2007) (89-CV-815).

The selected remedy includes the dredging and disposal of up to an estimated 2.65 million cubic yards of contaminated sediments, construction of an isolation cap over an estimated 425 acres in the shallower areas of the lake, construction of a thin-layer cap over an estimated 154 acres in the lake's deeper areas, construction and operation of a hydraulic control system along part of the shoreline, completion of a pilot study to evaluate methods to prevent formation of methyl mercury in the deeper waters of the lake, re-establishment of habitat impacted by implementation of the remedy and enhancement of habitat in certain near-shore areas, monitored natural recovery of the sediments in deeper part of the lake (water depths greater than 30 feet), as well as long-term maintenance and monitoring of the effectiveness of the remedy.

The NYSDEC and Honeywell are required and committed to informing and involving the public throughout the remedial design and construction phases of the Onondaga Lake Bottom Subsite. As such, the draft Citizen Participation Plan (CPP) provides a formal, yet flexible plan for communication with the public during the remediation of the Onondaga Lake bottom.

The draft Remedial Design Work Plan (RDWP) describes the process to design the remedy for the Onondaga Lake Bottom subsite. The primary objective of the RDWP is to provide the framework for implementing remedial design activities for the Lake Bottom subsite consistent with the Consent Decree. The RDWP includes the elements listed below.

  • Description of remedial design activities with a schedule for performing these activities.
  • Summary of pre-design investigation (PDI) field activities.
  • Discussion of the need for further design-related investigation activities and need for a PDI work plan (including a quality assurance project plan and field sampling plan) and schedule for such activities.
  • Plan for physical security and posting of site work areas.
  • Health and Safety Plan to protect persons in relation to site remedial work.
  • Description of the remedial design, including remedial goals, and the means for implementing each element of the remedy to achieve those goals.
  • Schedule for submitting remedial design documents.

The draft Citizen Participation Plan (CPP) identifies specific community outreach and participation activities. The goals of the CPP are to provide communications and dialogue with the public that are open, transparent and proactive; to provide multiple opportunities for dissemination of information to the public; and to outline ways for interested stakeholders to participate in discussions and/or participation groups on the design and construction of remediation activities

Public Comment

The draft Citizen Participation Plan (CPP) and Remedial Design Work Plan (RDWP) are available for public review and comment. A public meeting has been scheduled (see the details below) as part of the citizen participation program for this site. During the public meeting, the NYSDEC will present information regarding the draft CPP and the draft RDWP, respond to your questions, and accept public comments. The NYSDEC will accept written public comment regarding the draft CPP and RDWP during the 60-day public comment period commencing on November 1, 2008 and ending on December 31, 2008. Comments should be sent to the Project Manager whose address is provided above. The public meeting will be held on November 20, 2008 at 7:00 pm at the Martha Eddy Room in the Art and Home Center at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse, New York.

Next Steps

The NYSDEC will continue to work with Honeywell to implement the remedy. Technical documents will be reviewed and approved throughout the design and construction phases of the project to help ensure the effectiveness of the remedy. Additionally, it will remain a NYSDEC priority to continue the public outreach process. Meetings with interested parties, the public and the scientific community are expected to continue with the purpose of fostering good communication, progress, and a project that benefits the entire community. Updates will also be provided through fact sheets such as this one.

Related Documents

The CPP and the RDWP are available for review at all of the locations listed below. Furthermore, the complete Administrative Record file, which contains information including the Consent Decree, Record of Decision, Statement of Work, Explanation of Significant Differences, SCA siting, Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study, Human Health Risk Assessment, and the Baseline Ecological Risk Assessment is available at the asterisked locations listed below. The other listed repositories contain key documents, but do not contain the entire administrative record.

Document Repositories

Atlantic States Legal Foundation
658 West Onondaga Street
Syracuse, NY 13204
Phone: (315) 475-1170
Please call for hours of availability

Liverpool Public Library
310 Tulip Street
Liverpool, NY 13088
Phone: (315) 457-0310
Hours: M - Th, 9:00 a.m.- 9:00 p.m.;
Fri, 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.;
Sat, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.;
Sun, 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

NYSDEC, Region 7
615 Erie Blvd. West
Syracuse, NY 13204-2400
Phone: (315) 426-7400
Hours: M - Fri, 8:30 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.
Please call for an appointment

Onondaga County Public Library
Syracuse Branch at the Galleries
447 South Salina Street
Syracuse, NY 13202
Phone: (315) 435-1800
Hours: M, Th, Fri, Sat, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.;
Tu, W, 9:00 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Moon Library
SUNY ESF
1 Forestry Drive
Syracuse, NY 13210
Phone: (315) 470-6712
Hours: check http://www.esf.edu/moonlib/

Camillus Town Hall
4600 West Genesee Street, Room 100
Syracuse, NY 13219
Phone: (315) 488-1234
Hours: M-Fri, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

NYSDEC
625 Broadway
Albany, NY 12233-7016
Phone: (518) 402-9676
Hours: M - Fri, 8:30 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.
Please call for an appointment