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EPA Releases List of Preliminary Candidate Sites for Sediment Processing/Transfer Facilities

Release Date: 06/04/2003
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(#03063) New York, N.Y. -- The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today, as part of the Hudson River PCB cleanup project, released a list of preliminary candidate sites for sediment processing/transfer facilities. The specialized facilities, which will be used to transfer and remove water- dewater - from the dredged sediment, will ultimately be selected after input from the public and will be constructed using proven technology to ensure that dredged material is handled safely. The site list has been released for public review. Three main operations will occur at these facilities: transferring of dredged sediment from barges or pipelines to the facility, processing and dewatering of the sediment, and transferring the processed sediment to barge or rail for off-site disposal. In considering locations for the sediment processing/transfer facilities, EPA is focusing on industrial and/or commercial properties within a half-mile of the river between the Hudson Falls Dam and the area just below the Port of Albany. Locations within this area are being evaluated using three groups of criteria provided to the public in December 2002. An initial list of 2,410 potential locations was assessed using Group 1 siting criteria: sufficient space for facility construction and operations; river, road and rail access; availability of utilities; and proximity to the areas that will be dredged. Locations that essentially met these criteria have been identified as preliminary candidate sites. The 24 sites on this preliminary list will now be assessed using Group 2 criteria: sensitive or cultural resources, existing and historic land uses, rare or unique ecological communities, threatened and endangered species, ease of purchasing/land ownership, wetlands, geology or surface features, and mapped 100-year flood plain or floodway data. Particular emphasis will be placed on sensitive resources, which are community assets such as churches, schools and nursing homes. The narrowed list of locations will ultimately be evaluated against a third group of criteria that will be developed during site investigations. The majority of the sites on the preliminary list are located within a 1/4 mile of the Hudson River shoreline, 500 feet from the nearest rail access, and a 1/4 mile from the nearest road. They are approximately 10 acres or more, large enough to support the construction and operation of a sediment processing/transfer facility. The facility siting process will continue to be transparent with full involvement of the public. EPA has made information available that explains the facility siting process and the criteria being used to evaluate sites; several public listening sessions were held to provide information and answer questions. EPA will continue to involve the public at each phase of the facility siting process. EPA will host two public forums to discuss the identification of preliminary candidate sites. The forums will be held on: Tuesday, June 10 Wednesday, June 11 Queensbury Hotel 88 Ridge Street Glens Falls, New York 2:00 - 4:00 pm and 6:00 - 8:00 pm Presentations 2:30 pm and 6:30 pm Sage College of Albany, Kahl Center 140 New Scotland Avenue Albany, New York 2:00 - 4:00 pm and 6:00 - 8:00 pm Presentations 2:30 pm and 6:30 pm To view copies of siting documents and fact sheets: Technical Memorandum: Identification of Preliminary Candidate Sites Facility Siting, June 2003 (Fact Sheet)