The Department of Environmental Conservation plans to clean up some of the soil at the Atlas Terminals in Glendale, which started life in the 1920s as a plant that degreased oil-soaked, filthy rags for reuse. While a vital function, it was also a messy one, leaving the soil polluted and toxic, though it remains safe to passersby. The cleanup would essentially remove contaminated dirt and replace it with safe dirt. File photo.
The site of the Atlas Terminals is one step closer to being envionmentally sound. The state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is currently reviewing a plan that would remove contaminants from a 6.8-acre portion of the Atlas Terminals, which is located next to The Shops at Atlas Park in Glendale.
The process is part of a DEC program called the Brownfield Cleanup Program, which aims to clean up brownfields in hopes of refurbishing and reusing them. A brownfield is a property that is difficult to redevelop due to a contamination in the building itself.
According to a DEC fact sheet, about 66,000 cubic yards of soil would be removed from the site.
Thirteen different “contaminants of concern” were found at the terminal through the DEC’s testing, including lead, mercury, copper, zinc and chrysene. According to the DEC, it is not known exactly how much of each contaminant was found, but the situation does not pose a significant health risk to the public because of the small amount of contamination found and the exposure risk.
The fact sheet also states that once the contamination is removed, about 83,500 cubic yards of clean fill will be installed in the building to clean it up. Both the DEC and Atlas Terminals will instate programs that should make the site eligible for use again.
In the past, Atlas Terminals had been used as a manufacturing facility that handled steel, plastic and oil distribution. It is currently used as a warehouse and distributer for a knitting business and a bakery.
The process is currently under a public comment period, which will last until June 28. The public is encouraged to look at the plan itself and send comments to the DEC.
A copy of the plan is available at the Glendale branch of the New York Public Library, which is at 78-60 73rd Place. The plan can also be found on the DEC’s website, www.dec.ny.gov, by entering the code C241113 in the Environmental Site Remediation Database Search engine.
After the public comment period is ended, the DEC will make any necessary changes to the program and issue a final decision document on what should happen at Atlas Terminals. The state Department of Health must also approve the plan before the cleanup can begin.
According to Robert Filkins, a representative from the Division of Environmental Remediation at the DEC, the final document should be released in mid-July, barring a major change to the plan. He said major changes to the plan could cause delays, since an entirely new plan might have to be developed in that case.
Filkins added that it is not yet known when the actual cleanup at the site would begin.
Filkins can be reached for comments and questions pertaining to the project by email at rhfilkin@gw.dec.state.ny.us or by phone at 518-402-9767.
Any health-related questions should be directed to Chris Doroski at the state Department of Health. He can be reached via email at beei@health.state.ny.us, or by phone at 800-458-1158.
By Luis Gronda
