By Blake Jackson
Environmental soil testing conducted by the Village at the Lake Street pool project site revealed the presence of Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).
Specifically, the six soil stockpile samples contained only one type of PCB, with levels ranging from approximately 2 parts per million (ppm) to 6 ppm.
This exceeded the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) CP-51 “Soil Cleanup Guidance,” which allows up to 1 ppm of PCBs in surface soils and up to 10 ppm in subsurface soils (defined as soil beneath permanent structures or 1-2 feet below ground, depending on land use) for potential on-site backfill.
The impacted soil, resulting from surplus and structurally unsuitable material excavated up to 14 feet deep, was previously contained under the existing concrete pool deck, pools, and the filter equipment room foundation.
While NYSDEC guidelines might have permitted the use of this soil as fill under the new pool decking, the Village has opted for complete off-site disposal as a proactive measure.
Adjacent lawn areas will undergo environmental testing, and any additional impacted soil found will also be removed.
The Village suspects the PCBs originated from imported backfill material used during the original pool construction in either 1932 or 1975. Subsurface testing suggests this is a localized issue, with only one type of PCB detected.
Groundwater monitoring, conducted before and during construction, indicated PCB levels exceeding US EPA drinking water quality standards.
However, there is no technical evidence suggesting on or off-site ecological or environmental adverse impacts, a conclusion supported by the site's historical use as undeveloped woodland and adjacent residential land use.
The removal of the impacted soil to a licensed disposal facility will commence, necessitating the closure of Nannahagan Park from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM for approximately one to two weeks, starting Monday, April 14, 2025.
The Village is committed to public safety, having secured and covered the soil stockpile with silt-control measures.
Air-monitoring stations will be installed during removal to manage dust, and the Department of Public Works will conduct street sweeping as an additional precaution.
The Village and its engineers will oversee the removal and conduct further on-site testing. While the soil removal may take one to two weeks, the project team is working to maintain the current pool construction schedule.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-stockseller_ukr
Categories: New York, General