by Bea Peterson
There is a quarter acre site just off Route 67 in Hoosick that is being cleaned up as part of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Inactive Hazardous Waste Disposal Site Program, better known as the NYS DEC Superfund. According to the nicely put together information package at the Cheney Library the “site is located in a rural area of Rensselaer County, approximately 2.5 miles northeast of Hoosick Falls. The site is located on the east side of the entrance road which services a small residential area. The area of concern is a low area, approximately 200 feet from Route 67, that is a former fill area.”
1977 Disposal
In 1977 the land was owned by Alexander Schmigel. It is owned now by Robert Brenenstuhl. The site began as a gravel pit that was later filled in. For two weeks in 1977 Schmigel disposed of “…approximately 165 55-gallon drums of waste (containing polymer resins, acetone, 2-methoxyethyl ester of acetic acid).
The site owner reportedly poured the liquid contents of the drums into a small pit, then crushed the emptied drums and dumped them into the same pit. The open pit was then backfilled with soil and assorted refuse (auto parts, tires, bicycle frames, wire, lumber, tree limbs, bed springs, paper, plastic, etc.). The site was also allegedly used by a local garage for disposal of waste lubricating oils…An early site inspection report, prepared by the Rensselaer County Health Department, indicated no obvious odors, color variations or seepages noted in the disposal area…A PSA and supplemental investigations were conducted between 1986-1989 which included the installation of three monitoring wells…Analysis of groundwater samples confirmed the presence of acetone, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene at levels exceeding the Part 703 groundwater standards. However, more recent samples indicated much lower concentrations, if detected at all…The drums and other solid waste material in the soil, anywhere from 9 to 12 feet deep, were estimated to be approximately 10 to 15 percent of the total volume…”
No Groundwater Contamination
Field work for the additional investigation was conducted in October 2007. The investigation determined some on-site soil contamination (acetone) remains at the site, but no groundwater contamination exceeding groundwater standards was found. Homeowner well samplings have shown no volatile organic chemical contamination. The site reached the top of the remediation list, and work began last week. There appeared to be little health risk to the crew uncovering the drums as they wore normal working clothes.
According to Lori Severino of the DEC Office of Media Relations, by the end of last week several drum remnants had been removed. She believes all work should be completed in November unless unforeseen circumstances arise. Test results of what was in the barrels are not yet available.
Looking into DEC records Severino did not find any other sites of this type in the Town of Hoosick.
