Willis Avenue Ballfield

Description

This site is located on Willis Avenue in the Town of Geddes (Onondaga County), New York. The former manufacturing buildings have been demolished. The site was used by Allied Chemical as a chemical manufacturing plant until 1977. Surrounding land uses include industrial. Interstate I690 is located immediately to the north of the site. The plant specialized in chloroalkali production and the production of chlorinated benzenes. Site operations resulted in the contamination (by various contaminants including chlorinated benzenes and mercury) of site media. An RI/FS is underway. In addition, several IRMs have been completed and/or are underway. These include an IRM to design and construct a barrier and collection system to address the flow of contaminated groundwater from the site (and the adjacent Semet Tar Beds Site) to Onondaga Lake and an IRM for the construction of a Ground Water Treatment Plant (GWTP). In addition, a NAPL collection IRM has been implemented at the lake shore. Over 38,000 gallons of dichlorobenzene NAPL have been collected and properly disposed of off-site. Construction of the GWTP was completed in February 2006. Construction of the Semet portion of the Lakeshore Barrier Wall and groundwater collection system was completed in 2007. The Willis Avenue Portion of the Lakeshore Barrier Wall and collection system is currently being constructed.

Summary of Project Completion Dates

Projects associated with this site are listed in the Project Completion Dates table and are grouped by Operable Unit (OU). A site can be divided into a number of operable units depending on the complexity of the site and the number of issues associated with a site. Sites are often divided into operable units based on the media to be addressed (such as groundwater or contaminated soil), geographic area, or other factors.

 

Contaminants of Concern (Including Materials Disposed)

 

Site Environmental Assessment

The primary contaminants at the site include mercury and chlorinated benzenes. Site media that have been impacted include groundwater and soil. Chlorinated benzene non-aqueous phase liquids (NAPLs)have been observed at and immediately downgradient (in the lake shore area)of the site. Contaminants in site groundwater exceed Part 703water quality standards. Contamination in site media (including chlorinated benzenes in groundwater and the NAPLs) present a significant threat to the environment.

 

Site Health Assessment

Exposures via drinking water are not expected because this area is served by a public water supply. Groundwater contamination from this site impacts Onondaga Lake. This contamination contributes to the overall public health and environmental concerns associated with Onondaga Lake. For additional information look at the health assessment for site #734030, Mercury Sediments-Onondaga Lake.

Contacts for more information and comments
Susan Edwards, Project Manager                   Phone: 518-402-9676
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
625 Broadway, 12th floor, Albany, NY 12233-7016
sledward@gw.dec.state.ny.us
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:
Atlantic States Legal Foundation Depository Library
658 West Onondaga Street, Syracuse NY 13204-3711
Phone: 315-475-1170
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.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-7016
Phone: (518) 402-9676
Hours: M – Fri, 8:30 a.m. – 4:45 p.m. Please call for an appointment

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