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EPA Modifies Cleanup Action for Contaminated Materials in Two Lagoons at the General Motors Superfund Site in Massena, New York

Release Date: 04/24/2000
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(#00072) NEW YORK, N.Y. -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed modifying its cleanup plan for the General Motors (GM) Superfund site to facilitate the removal of approximately 11,700 cubic yards of chemically-contaminated materials from two inactive lagoons at the GM facility in Massena, New York. The proposed change affects only the inactive lagoons at the site and how the contaminated materials to be excavated from those lagoons will be handled. EPA is not proposing changes to the cleanup levels established for the site or the lagoons. The 1990 cleanup plan called for excavating materials contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) greater than 10 parts per million (ppm) from the inactive lagoons, treating the excavated materials on-site to reduce the PCB concentrations and disposing of the treated material on-site. Under this proposal, all materials with PCB concentrations greater than 10 ppm would still be excavated from the inactive lagoons, however, the materials would then be solidified on-site and shipped off-site to a secure disposal facility. No treated material will be disposed of on-site. GM is expected to undertake the work with EPA acting in an oversight capacity. The cleanup of the inactive lagoons will get underway later this spring and should be completed by the end of the summer. "We worked with the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe and New York State to develop this plan. It is another step forward in our efforts to clean up the site and the latest example of EPA's commitment to be responsive to the health and environmental concerns of communities near federal Superfund sites," said EPA Regional Administrator Jeanne M. Fox. EPA's Project Manager will be available to discuss the proposal with the public on April 26, 2000 from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Akwesasne Housing Authority, 378 State Route 37, Hogansburg, New York. GM has operated an aluminum die-casting plant at the site since 1959. Until 1980, PCBs were a component of hydraulic fluids used in die-casting machines at the GM facility. PCBs provided protection against fire and thermal degradation in the high temperature environment of the die casting machines. GM no longer uses the die-casting process or PCBs at the facility; however, PCB-contaminated materials remain at the site.