24 & 32 York Street – EPA Brownfield Cleanup Grant Application Bulls Head Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA)

Introduction  

The City of Rochester is applying for grant funding to complete an Environmental Cleanup project at two City owned properties that are located at 24 and 32 York Street. This competitive grant application is part of the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (USEPA) Brownfield Grant Program which if awarded can provide up to $500,000 in funding for remediation of brownfield sites.  24 York Street and 32 York Street are two adjacent properties that were acquired by the City on September 12, 2019 after completing environmental due diligence on both parcels.

Site Map

 Background 

24 York Street is approximately 0.17 acres and is currently an asphalt-paved parking lot that is associated with a church located on the adjoining 32 York Street parcel to the north. 24 York Street was historically used as a blacksmith shop, a wood working shop, a painting and harness shop, an auto repair facility, and a gasoline station with at least eight underground storage tanks. 32 York Street is approximately 0.16 acres and currently contains a building that is used as a church, and historically as a post office.  Both parcels are located in the Bulls Head Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA).   

NYSDEC Petroleum Spill #1901036 & Current Status 

Phase II environmental site assessment investigations were conducted in June, 2019 for both 24 and 32 York Street in order to evaluate subsurface environmental conditions. There was sufficient evidence of petroleum contamination in soil and groundwater to warrant reporting a spill to the NYSDEC (NYSDEC Spill #1901036).  The City of Rochester DEQ is currently in the process of completing additional investigation for both 24 and 32 York Street to further delineate the extent of the petroleum contamination. The City plans to submit a USEPA Brownfield Cleanup grant application in the fall of 2019 for the cleanup and remediation of these two properties.  As part of the proposed cleanup, the City will retain an environmental consultant to assist with preparing and implementing a site-specific Remedial Action Work Plan (RAWP) and Site Management Plan (SMP).  

Further Information 

More detailed information regarding the environmental conditions and the City’s Brownfield cleanup efforts at 24 and 32 York Street can be found in the following list of documents:

• 24 York Street Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Report - DAY Environmental Inc., December,2017
• 32 York Street Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Report - DAY Environmental Inc., December, 2017 
• 24 York Street Phase II Environmental Site Assessment Report - DAY Environmental Inc., June, 2019 
• 32 York Street Phase II Environmental Site Assessment Report - DAY Environmental Inc., June, 2019    
• 24 and 32 York Street Final Phase II Environmental Site Assessment Report - DAY Environmental Inc., November, 2019
• 24 and 32 York Street Draft Analysis of Brownfield Cleanup Alternatives (ABCA) - DAY Environmental Inc., November, 2019  
• 24 and 32 York Street USEPA Brownfield Cleanup Grant Application - Southwest Common Council Meeting, November 21, 2019 (presentation slides)
• 24 and 32 York Street USEPA Brownfield Complete Grant Application