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Chapter 15: Hazardous Materials
15.1. INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
This Chapter assesses the potential for increased exposure to environmental contamination or hazardous materials during construction and operation of the Proposed Project, and the specific measures that would be employed to protect public health, worker safety, and the environment. As such, these analyses address the potential for the Proposed Action to have one or more significant adverse environmental impacts that were identified in the Lead Agency’s Positive Declaration (see Appendix A-5). A hazardous material is generally defined as any substance that poses a threat to human health or the environment.
To identify historic and current uses on-Site and other potential sources of hazardous materials,
reports from prior investigations were reviewed to assess the potential presence of contamination on the Project Site. The reports reviewed included Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments (ESA) (see Appendix H).
This analysis concludes that with the implementation of the measures described in this Chapter, no significant adverse impacts related to hazardous materials would be expected to occur as a result of the Proposed Project and, as such, no mitigation measures would be required.
15.2. EXISTING CONDITIONS
15.2.1. PHASE I ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ASSESSMENT
To determine the potential for the presence of hazardous materials on-Site, a Phase I
ESA was prepared by AKRF, Inc. in October 2017 (see Appendix H-1). The Phase I ESA was conducted to identify recognized environmental conditions (RECs) and other environmental concerns associated with the Site resulting from past or current Site usage
and usage of neighboring properties. RECs are defined in ASTM International (ASTM) Standard Practice E 1527-13 as the presence or likely presence of any hazardous substances or petroleum products in, on, or at a property (1) due to any release to the
environment; (2) under conditions indicative of a release to the environment; or (3) under conditions that pose a material threat of a future release to the environment. The Standard Practice also includes definitions of Historic REC, Controlled REC, and de
minimis condition. De minimis is defined as a condition that generally does not present a threat to human health or the environment and that generally would not be the subject of an enforcement action if brought to the attention of appropriate governmental agencies.
The Phase I ESA included a reconnaissance of the Site; a review of regulatory databases, including New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) records; a review of historic fire insurance (Sanborn) maps and city directories; and a review of existing data on area geology and hydrogeology.
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The Phase I ESA identified the following RECs:
• Regulatory databases indicate the Project Site was a historic generator of ignitable waste, corrosive waste, and spent halogenic solvents. Storage and handling of these wastes have the potential to have affected the subsurface.
• Building department records indicated an abandoned steam boiler vault was removed in 2003. The likely fuel source for the steam boiler was fuel oil situated in
either an aboveground storage tank (AST) or underground storage tank (UST), which may have been removed when the former buildings were demolished. Potential buried debris from former on-Site structures could contain historic fill of
unknown origin and/or abandoned USTs. Based on the age of the previous structures on the property, fuel oil may have historically been used for heating purposes.
• Based on historic dry cleaner listings in the regulatory database, Putnam Services Unlimited, located at 941 King Street in Greenwich Connecticut, approximately 350 feet north-northeast of the property, was listed as a carpet and upholstery cleaner in 1994 and 1995. Although no releases from Putnam Services Unlimited were reported, based on the proximity to the property, if a release occurred, residual contaminants could be migrating through groundwater onto the subject property.
In addition to the above RECs, the Phase I ESA noted de minimus conditions and other on-Site environmental concerns: existing diesel generators, arsenic and insecticide associated with the historic arboretum on the Project Site, suspect asbestos-containing
material (ACM), potential lead-based paint (LBP), and electrical and hydraulic equipment (including existing elevators and in-ground lift) that may include polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) or mercury-containing components.
15.2.2. PHASE II ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ASSESSMENT
To further assess the RECs and other environmental concerns identified during AKRF’s Phase I ESA of the Project Site and discussed above, a Phase II ESA was prepared by
AKRF, Inc. in November 2017 (see Appendix H-2). The Phase II ESA included the advancement of nine soil borings, installation of one groundwater monitoring well, installation of three temporary soil vapor points, and the collection of soil, groundwater, soil vapor, and ambient air samples for field-screening and laboratory analysis.
The Phase II ESA concluded the following:
• The analytical data from the soil, groundwater, and soil vapor sampling indicated that there was no evidence of a release of contamination associated with the RECs or de minimis condition observations identified during AKRF’s October 2017 Phase
I ESA. No evidence of hazardous, non-hazardous, and/or petroleum-like releases (e.g., odors, staining, or elevated PID readings) were identified through the soil, groundwater, and soil vapor sampling.
• No concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs), PCBs, or pesticides were detected above their respective Part
375 Unrestricted Use Soil Cleanup Objectives (UUSCO), Restricted Residential Use Soil Cleanup Objectives (RRSCO), or Protection of Groundwater Soil Cleanup Objectives (PGWSCO) in the soil samples from this investigation.
• Based on the Phase II field observations, the metals detected in soil at levels above their respective Part 375 UUSCOs are likely attributable to contaminants in the
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shallow fill layer observed at the Site and/or background conditions, and not related to an on-Site release or other source area.
• No concentrations of VOCs or SVOCs were detected above their respective New York State Ambient Water Quality Guidance Values in the groundwater samples
from this investigation.
• No concentrations of VOCs were detected above their respective New York State
Department of Health (DOH) Air Guideline Values in the soil vapor/ambient air samples from this investigation.
• Evidence of an ongoing hydraulic oil condition was noted on the concrete slab floor
in the elevator machine room on the ground floor of the building. Hydraulic oil and sorbent pads were noted on the slab floor adjacent to elevator motors denoted “Car #1” and “Car #2”. The findings from the soil sampling in the elevator machine room suggest the condition has not affected subsurface soils.
15.3. POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT
Redevelopment of the Site would involve demolition of the existing building, followed by excavation
(and potentially dewatering) for the Proposed Project. With the Proposed Project, the greatest potential for exposure to contaminated materials would occur during subsurface disturbance associated with construction of the new building(s) as part of the Proposed Project. Absent appropriate controls, as described below and which would be included as part of the Proposed Project, the Proposed Project could potentially result in an increase in exposure for the community and construction workers. The potential for adverse impacts, however, would be avoided by performing construction of the Proposed Project in accordance with the following measures:
• Any soil or fill excavated as part of future Site redevelopment activities should be managed in accordance with applicable regulations. All material intended for off-Site disposal should be tested in accordance with the requirements of the intended receiving facility. Transportation of all soil leaving for off-Site disposal should be in accordance with requirements covering licensing of haulers and trucks, placarding, truck routes, manifesting, etc. Excavation may reveal different or more significant soil contamination in areas not tested as part of this investigation. If discovered, such contamination could require further investigation and/or remediation in accordance with applicable regulations.
• No evidence of USTs or other buried tanks was identified during the geophysical survey or the sampling program. However, if any storage tanks or contaminated soil are encountered during redevelopment, such tanks should be registered with NYSDEC and/or the Westchester County Department of Health (WCDOH), if required, and closed and removed along with any contaminated soil in accordance with applicable regulations.
• If any USTs and/or petroleum contaminated soil are encountered during the development
activities, consideration should be given to installing a vapor barrier below the proposed building foundation. A membrane-type waterproofing product, if used as part of the foundation construction, could also function as a vapor barrier.
• The hydraulic oil condition noted in the elevator machine room should be addressed including cleaning the residual hydraulic oil from the slab floor and properly draining the
hydraulic oil reservoirs from the faulty elevator motors until they are properly repaired and/or removed. All oil soaked materials and residual hydraulic oil should be disposed of in accordance with applicable regulations.
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• Prior to demolition, ACM surveys would be conducted throughout the existing structure. All
ACM would be removed prior to demolition by a licensed asbestos abatement contractor in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements.
• Demolition activities with the potential to disturb LBP would be performed in accordance with the applicable Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulation (OSHA 29 CFR 1926.62—Lead Exposure in Construction).
• If dewatering is required, treatment and discharge of dewatering fluids would be conducted in accordance with all applicable regulations and guidance, including obtaining appropriate permits.
• Appropriate erosion and sediment controls would be implemented in accordance with NYSDEC Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) requirements.
The Proposed Project would not include hospital care or skilled nursing care and would therefore
not be expected to generate significant quantities of medical waste. Any medical or biological waste generated would be handled, stored, and disposed in accordance with all applicable regulations, including those of DOH.
15.4. MITIGATION MEASURES
With the implementation of measures noted above, no significant adverse impacts related to hazardous materials would be expected to occur as a result of the Proposed Project and, as such,
no mitigation measures would be required. Following construction, there would be no further potential for adverse impacts.