Environmental Cleanup Project- East Main Street (former gas station)

Background

The City of Rochester acquired the property at 1200 East Main Street, located on the City’s east side, via foreclosure in 1997. The City applied for and was awarded grant funding from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) to complete an environmental investigation of the site. The site was formerly improved with an approximate 1,600 square foot one-story building that was reportedly constructed in 1928 and demolished in January 2003 by the City of Rochester. Historic use of the property as an automobile service facility and a gasoline service station resulted in soil and groundwater contamination from underground petroleum storage tank systems, floor drains, hydraulic lift systems and waste oil dumping to the unpaved ground surfaces. The purpose of the investigation was to identify the nature and extent of contaminants present on-site, assess the potential risks to public health and the environment, and to develop a Remedial Alternatives Report (RAR) identifying strategies for site clean-up and redevelopment. Results from the investigation indicate soil and groundwater at the Site has been impacted with petroleum contaminants, chlorinated solvents and metals above soil cleanup objectives and groundwater standards.

What's Been Completed

The City submitted a Site Investigation/Remedial Alternatives Analysis report in 2005, and the NYSDEC issued a Record of Decision (ROD) documenting the selected cleanup remedies in March 2006. The Final Remedial Activities Work Plan, detailing Site cleanup activities, will be completed and submitted to the NYSDEC by late spring 2009. The selected remedy includes the excavation and off-site off-site disposal of contaminated soil, and on-site groundwater treatment. The cleanup is scheduled to begin in late summer 2009 and take approximately two years to complete. The cleanup will be funded by the City of Rochester, and a grant from the NYSDEC. Following cleanup, the site will be redeveloped for a commercial use.