Rivertowns Real Estate News

Map of Affected Properties

Gillette expects to do soil remediation, with respect to mercury contamination, for at least 78 properties in Sleepy Hollow NY, near the old Duracell battery plant. The remediation is not planned until spring 2012 and the work is to start with affected properties located closest to the old plant with work moving outwards from there.
Soil remediation involves taking away old contaminated dirt and replacing it with new dirt. Some landscaping will also be done to return the affected areas as close as possible to their pre-remediation conditions. Approximately 2,000 soil samples were initially taken from 149 properties, in an area bordered on the south by Depeyster Street, on the west by Clinton Street, Barnhard Avenue and Barnhart Park, to the north by Elm Street and to the east by Cortland Street, as well as in the area around the apartment building at 95 Beekman Avenue.
The affected properties showed lead levels of between 0 and 28,000 mg/kg and mercury levels between 0 and 180 mg/kg. The plan is to clean up the mercury to a maximum level of 4.8 mg/kg which is well above the NYS Department of Health maximum threshold of 1.2 mg/kg. However, according to remediation officials, the 4.8 mg/kg level “is well below the exposure levels that may cause health effects in animals or humans“. Mercury levels below that, in the area, can be attributed to other “historic fill” that has been placed there from sources besides Duracell.
There are no plans to clean up the lead to the state mandated maximum level of 400 mg/kg, as it has been determined that the presence of lead, as well, can be attributed to other sources than just the Duracell plant.
More information can be found at:
http://www.sleepyhollowny.gov/images/Documents/Notices/Report.v360011.2011-04-01.PhaseIRIDSR%20R3dDURACELL.pdf

Filed under: Local News, Real Estate | Tagged: Duracell, Gillette, Lead, Mercury, Scott Rosasco, Sleepy Hollow | 1 Comment »