Old Ley Creek Channel
Description
This site is located in an urban area of the town of Salina, Onondaga County. The site consists of the former channel of Ley Creek, a small portion of land east of the channel and west of NYS Route 11, and the current Ley Creek channel downstream of the NYS Route 11 bridge. Ley Creek was rerouted in the early 1970s turning this former channel into a tributary to the new channel of Ley Creek. Ley Creek, a Class B stream, is a tributary of Onondaga Lake, making this site part of the Onondaga Lake drainage system. In accordance with NYCRR Part 895.3, the former channel of Ley Creek would be considered a Class B stream, and therefore considered a protected stream. Access to this site is unrestricted, and the property is next to a public thoroughfare. The site poses a significant threat to both fish & wildlife and to the public health.
Old Ley Creek Channel (Highlighted in green) is located
roughly 1.3 miles from Onondaga Lake
Aerial View
Environmental Issues
Contaminant levels in sediment exceed the severe effect limits for aquatic plants and animals. Limited DEC sampling in 1987 and 1997 has shown the presence of PCBs at hazardous waste levels in both the former channel sediments (PCBs up to 237 ppm) and subsurface soils (PCBs up to 373 ppm). In addition, the 1997 former channel sediment sampling showed levels of heavy metals exceeding the DEC Fish & Wildlife Severe Effect Levels (SEL). For example, chromium was found at a concentration of 6290 ppm, well above the SEL of 110 ppm. Lower levels of 1,2 and 1,4-dichlorobenzene were also detected in the former channel sediments. The current Ley Creek channel sediments were sampled in 1998 as part of the Salina Landfill remedial investigation/feasibility study (RI/FS), and have been found to contain levels of PCBs at greater than 80 ppm, chromium at levels greater than 1,700 ppm and other heavy metals exceeding their respective SELs. Access to this site is unrestricted, and the property is next to a public thoroughfare. The site poses a significant threat to both fish & wildlife and to the public health. Sediments and subsurface soils are contaminated, however, site access is difficult due to thick vegetation. Flow in the channel does not support an attractive fishery which makes trespass and direct contact with contaminated materials unlikely.
Documents:
Contacts for more information and comments
Susan Edwards
Project Manager
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
625 Broadway, 12th floor
Albany, NY 12233-7016
sledward@gw.dec.state.ny.us
518-402-9676
Hours: M - Fri, 8:30 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.
Please call for an appointment
Documents for this site are available for public inspection at:
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Region 7
615 Erie Blvd. West
Syracuse, NY 13204-2400
Phone: (315) 426-7400
Hours: M - Fri, 8:30 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.
Please call for an appointment
Atlantic States Legal Foundation Depository Library
658 West Onondaga Street
Syracuse NY 13204-3711
Phone: 315-475-1170
Fax: 315-475-6719
http://www.aslf.org/
Onondaga County Public Library
Central Branch at the Galleries
447 South Salina Street
Syracuse, NY 13202
Phone: (315) 435-1800
Hours: M, Th, Fri, Sat, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.; Tu, W, 9:00 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
This Fact Sheet was funded through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Technical Assistance Grant program.