02/05/10 - Mayor keeps the focus on the environment
od photo of Leland Ave Site
CLEANUP OF FORMER MATT PETROLEUM SITE UNDERWAY IN UTICA
Mayor Achieves Third Environmental Milestone in City Since Fall 2008
February 4, 2010 – (Utica, NY) - Marking another environmental milestone in Utica, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis, and Utica Mayor David Roefaro announced today that the cleanup of the former Matt Petroleum site in the heavy-industrial northern section of the city is underway.
“The launch of the Matt Petroleum cleanup is significant for the people of Utica, the local economy and the environment,” Commissioner Grannis said. “With this cleanup, DEC will address contamination left behind by past users of the property which will enable the city to plan for its future productive use.”
Since fall 2008, DEC has achieved three major remediation goals in Utica: the removal of the Bossert Manufacturing site from the Superfund program, the launch of the dredge-spoil cleanup of Utica Harbor and the commencement of the Matt Petroleum cleanup.
Located on Leland Avenue and bounded by the Mohawk River, the site is a 4.7-acre parcel that housed a brickyard in the first half of the 20th century and a bulk petroleum terminal from the 1950s to the 1990s, leaving behind a legacy of pollution. Leaking pipes and tanks contributed to soil and water contamination, and several major oil and gasoline spills in excess of 50,000 gallons have resulted in discharges reaching the river. Various grades of petroleum products ranging from heavy fuel oil to lighter gasoline and diesel products were routinely stored and used on the site.
As DEC was developing the cleanup remedy for Matt Petroleum, some interim remedial work was conducted, including the removal of 14 above ground petroleum storage tanks, five underground storage tanks, a network of piping, several buildings and other wastes. The interim work allowed DEC to determine the extent of the pollution and the appropriate cleanup strategy. As the cleanup gets underway, the plan calls for excavating approximately 77,000 tons of petroleum-contaminated soils – digging will be conducted to the underlying clay layer which ranges anywhere from five to 12 feet below the surface. Beginning this week, contractors will be on-hand to prepare the site for the cleanup work.
Mayor David Roefaro said, “I’ve spent my first two years in office working tirelessly with the DEC and committing to projects that exude green energy, revitalization, and overall urban renewal. Today, the DEC, and the City of Utica work hand-in-hand. Together, we've embarked on three major projects, and the cleanup of the former Matt Petroleum Site is another major milestone that will usher in clean land, investors, and eventually, developers. I thank Commissioner Grannis for working with my administration to enhance underutilized land and space just waiting for its second chance, its renaissance. These remediation projects play a vital role in sustaining our tax base, our environment, and our people.”
