Meeting Thursday on Corning soil study
- More soil, water testing will be conducted; state mulls if testing area should be expanded
- Environmental, health, Corning Inc. officials will make presentation, answer questions
- Elevated lead, cadmium, arsenic found in some yards as initially found at high school site
A public meeting will be held Thursday in Corning to discuss preliminary results of a study that has found elevated levels of lead, cadmium and arsenic in parts of northeast Corning.
Officials from state environmental and health agencies, Corning Inc. and an engineering firm will discuss findings about the contamination at levels above the state's cleanup objectives for residential settings. They also will answer questions about the testing, findings so far from the study launched during the summer and what comes next during the meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel.
Presenters will include Bart Putzig and Greg MacLean of Department of Environmental Conservation, Melissa Doroski of the Department of Health, Dan Colllins of Corning Inc., and John Sontag of Weston Solutions. They also will be available to answer questions.
From 3-5 p.m. Thursday, the public can meet one-on-one with state and Corning Inc. representatives at the Radisson. No appointment is necessary. During a past availability session held in the summer, primary concerns expressed by the public involved health issues, impact on property values, and how the sampling of soil would take place, the DEC said.
Levels of lead, cadmium and arsenic found at levels that were hazardous or caused concern were found in ash, glass and brick fill excavated during construction beginning more than two years ago at the Corning-Painted High School site.
This summer, a study began to see if those substances and other metals are present in more school property and the surrounding Houghton Plot neighborhood, which includes 200-plus homes in northeast Corning.
Fill was dumped in the area being studied from at least the 1930s to the 1960s and the state is analyzing soil and groundwater to see if it is a health hazard and requires action. Corning Inc. is paying for the study.
In preliminary findings released last week, the DEC said ash, glass and brick fill has been found in areas that include the high school, Corning Christian Academy, Memorial Stadium, land in front of the Corning Fire Department and in the southeast and northwest sections of the residential area.
The DEC said data from surface soil sampling in the bulk of the residential area is not yet available. Some interim remedial steps will be implemented, but final remedial action will be determined based on additional sampling and data evaluation, the DEC said.
The agency said additional findings expected in January will pertain to surface soil sampling of about 150 additional residential yards. Along with the state Health Department, the environmental agency said it will continue to evaluate data and determine the need for additional steps until the nature and extent of the fill material in the area is defined.
The DEC said questions about safety about the school properties and community playground in the study area should be directed to the Department of Health. The state has released a list of precautions people living in the study area should take regarding contact with soil until more is known.
The DEC said Wednesday much of the information to be presented at the public meeting was outlined in a press release and fact sheet it released last week, but some additional information on findings will be given.
Preliminary findings from shallow soil sample analysis show there are limited areas with "potential exposure concerns," the DEC said. The agency said owners or residents about those areas have been contacted with that information.
The DEC said a second round of soil boring and groundwater monitoring planned for November will include areas untested so far as well as new locations on some properties already tested.
For now, the state Health Department recommended that property owners follow these practices to reduce potential for exposure to contaminated soil:
• Wash with soap and water after gardening or any time before you eat.
• Minimize children's direct contact with bare soil by laying down wood chips or maintaining grass cover, especially if soil contains visible fill material containing ash, brick or glass.
• Consider growing vegetables in raised beds with clean soil that is at least 10 inches deep. Use untreated wood to make the beds. Pressure-treated wood and railroad ties contain added chemicals.
• Brush off soil from your clothes, and remove shoes and gloves before entering a home.
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Corning soil study meetings
• Public meeting, 6:30-8 p.m. Thursday, Radisson Hotel, Corning.
• Availability session, 3-5 p.m. Thursday, Radisson Hotel, Corning. Speak one-on-one with state, Corning Inc. representatives.
Soil study fact sheet