By Joe Olenick<br><a href="mailto:joe.olenick@journal-register.com">E-mail Joe</a>
MIDDLEPORT— FMC is looking for some public input on three reports concerning soil samples around the Middleport plant site.
FMC, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the state departments of Health and Environmental Conservation held two public information sessions Wednesday as part of a public comment session that ends July 2. The organizations are looking for residents’ opinion about the reports, which are volumes 1, 2 and 4 of an 11-part study. Volume 1 is historic background on the FMC facility and the potential environmental impact it has had, while Volume 2 includes the results of soil tests done in the “historic air deposition area.” That includes the properties near the plant, south from the Erie Canal to Route 31 and from east of Main Street in Middleport to the Niagara County line, where wind could have carried arsenic emitted by FMC’s production of agricultural chemicals.
Volume 4 is about the testing done around a culvert in the northern part of Middleport, which reaches almost to Pearson Road. Between Volumes 2 and 4, about 280 properties were sampled.
“The purpose of the report is to present all of the information we’ve collected over the years and also our evaluation of the results,” said Brian McGinnis, FMC remediation project manager.
McGinnis said the reports do not identify what properties need cleanup work. That will be done in the next step, the Corrective Measures Study. Some properties will not need any work and will be notified by a letter.
In 1991, FMC signed an Administrative Order on Consent with the EPA and DEC under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act to perform a comprehensive environmental investigation as a result of past chemical releases from the site. This requires FMC to conduct a RCRA Facility Investigation to determine the nature of the chemicals released and the extent of their impact on soil and sediment. The three volumes discussed Wednesday are draft RFI reports.
There was some concern expressed Wednesday evening about the effect remediation work would have on trees and homes in Middleport. Resident Elizabeth Storch, who has lived in Middleport for 30 years, said she felt there was no danger because her property did not have a high level of arsenic. Regardless, Storch’s home is in the “green area,” the shaded part on a map with the report signifying the homes that will looked at in the Corrective Measures Study.
“I have researched this topic extensively,” Storch said. “I feel absolutely zero percent danger to my health. I see no need to remediate my soil.”
McGinnis said as far as he understood, if a property was designated for remedial work by the CMS, the final decision would be made by the owner as to whether the work would take place.
Once the public comment session ends, FMC and the agencies involved will review and respond to the comments. Then the government agencies will either approve, disapprove or require FMC to make changes to the reports. Afterwards, the Corrective Measures Study can be done by FMC.
Contact reporter Joe Olenick at 439-9222, ext. 6241.
