You can clean up dirt  

Before: This 1996 photo depicts the appearance of the Colonie Interim Storage Site, Colonie, N.Y; before the cleanup action by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. (Courtesy photos)

After: This 2007 photo depicts the transformation that occurred at the Colonie Interim Storage Site.

Dec. 27, 2007

New York District works to remove contaminated soil from a Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program

By Mary Stavina
New York District

The cleanup of tainted soil, at the Colonie Interim Storage Site located in the town of Colonie, N.Y., has come to an end with the removal of more than 149,000 tons of radiologically contaminated soil.
 
In 1997, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers New York District assumed the responsibility for this project when Congress transferred responsibility for executing the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to the Corps.  The objective of the remediation effort at this site was to clean up radiologically and chemically contaminated surface and subsurface soils and groundwater.
 
The Colonie site consists of a total area of 11.2 acres plus 56 vicinity properties. The site was owned and operated by National Lead Industries from 1937 through 1984.  An industrial facility on the site was used for electroplating and manufacturing various components from uranium and thorium.  Radioactive materials released from 10 exhaust stacks of the plant spread to the site buildings, portions of the grounds and the vicinity properties.  Large portions of the site were filled with metals, mostly lead.  The site was consequently shut down by the state in 1984 because of the airborne releases of radioactive materials that exceeded court-ordered standards.

The Corps worked proactively with the state regulators, citizens and governing bodies throughout the cleanup process, while ensuring that remediation proceeded at a steady pace.
 
In fiscal year (FY) 2006, soil remediation of the main site and the soils were staged for shipment and disposal by the Corps.  In FY 2007, the adjacent CSX vicinity property was completed as well as the transportation and disposal of all remaining radioactive-contaminated material.   The total cost of the project for the Corps and DOE will be less than $200 million.

The Corps will continue to monitor groundwater on the site for contamination.  According to James Moore, project manager, "All the data that we have to date is very promising" and with the soil being removed any source of groundwater contamination will likely be addressed using natural processes.
 
A groundwater feasibility study has been recently forwarded to state environmental regulators.  Once the Corps receives the state comments, a proposed plan for groundwater will be prepared and issued to the public for comment.  After two years the site will be handed back over to DOE, and can potentially be ready for any form of redevelopment.