Environmental cleanup in Corning will resume soon, new investigations planned. See where.
Environmental clean-up efforts of residential properties in the Houghton Plot area are set to begin in April and be completed late this year, according to the state Department of Environmental Conservation.
Work in the Houghton Plot area, bounded by Pyrex Street, East Pulteney Street, Post Creek, and the Chemung River, is being completed by Corning Inc. under a consent order with the state DEC.
Corning Inc. entered the consent order with the DEC in July 2014 to address layers of target fill containing ash, brick or glass that contained contaminants, including lead, cadmium or arsenic, at levels above State Soil Cleanup Objectives.
The DEC and the state Department of Health are overseeing the investigation and implementation of cleanup actions in Corning associated with the past disposal of waste materials containing ash, brick, or glass from historic glassmaking, according to a DEC spokesperson.
The DEC will continue to monitor Corning Inc.'s cleanup of affected properties and ensure all work is fully protective of public health and the environment, said the DEC.
A Corning Inc. spokesperson said the remediation and restoration work on the study area is ongoing.
“Corning’s team of engineers and construction contractors will resume work this spring,” said Corning Inc. “Overall, Corning has completed more than 180 residential properties since work began in 2018. We anticipate additional properties to be scheduled in 2024.”
Corning City Councilman Frank Muccini, R-5, said he hopes the entire project will be completed by the end of this year.
"It should be," Muccini said. "That's what Corning Inc. has said in the past. That was their goal. I just want them to finish cleaning up certain portions of the plot and be done."
Additional areas in Corning tested for contaminants
The DEC is also conducting an area-wide investigation of additional properties in Corning in consultation with the state Department of Health.
Overall objectives include:
Identifying the extent of areas impacted by ash, brick, and/or glass-related contaminants in Corning.
Evaluating if groundwater is impacted by metals and other contaminants related to ash, brick, and/or glass.
Conducting preliminary screening to determine the potential for aerial deposition from past glass manufacturing/disposal practices.
Field investigations will continue in 2024, according to a DEC spokesperson. Once field activities have been completed and preliminary analytical results are received, DEC will evaluate next steps.
Preliminary investigation activities were completed at sites including Connector Street, Centerway Pedestrian Bridge Approach, Corning Fire Department, Guthrie Centerway Property/Guthrie Clinic North, Corning Refractories, Conhocton Street Flood Control Berm Area, McKinney Park, William Street/Hillvue Park, Denison Park, Vine Street, and the River Road Spoils Area, officials said.
These sites will be further evaluated in 2024.
Additional site investigations are underway or are expected to start in 2024, including Post Creek, Van Etten Road, Rose Road, Steuben Glass Facility, Former Fulton Finishing Plant, Pine Hill Road, Dodge Avenue, Townsend Avenue, and South Corning Spoils.
Investigation of a portion of the Chemung River is being pursued as an offsite area to the Tioga Avenue site.
Additional information is available at: Environmental Cleanup within the Corning Area
Flood control investigation work planned
Corning Inc.’s investigation work is also planned for operable unit 04 Flood Control Areas, which will start in April, according to a DEC spokesperson.
Site management activities consisting of maintaining the soil covers and managing encounters with remaining ash, brick, and/or glass will continue throughout the Study Area in perpetuity, DEC officials said.
Corning Inc. and its contractors are performing the work under DEC oversight.
More: Corning agreement creates long-term remediation plan
History of the Houghton Plot
The Houghton family, the founders of Corning Inc., owned the plot when it was an undeveloped piece of farmland.
Officials said workers from Corning Flint Glass Works and other area glassmaking companies dumped waste glass and ceramics at the site until the early 20th century, when the area was covered with topsoil and homes were built.
The contamination in Houghton Plot was initially found by the DEC during the 2012-2013 Corning-Painted Post High School expansion project, officials said.
More: Corning's unique architectural past explored in new book. How city forged 'Main St. Model'
How people may encounter contaminants
According to the DEC, people may come into incidental contact with contaminants present in soils through home maintenance and recreational activities.
Maintaining a grass or mulch cover will help prevent direct contact with the soil, officials said. Unnecessary digging in the dirt should be avoided, and children and adults should wash their hands after outdoor activities.
The cleanup actions include excavation of impacted materials from residential properties, backfill of the excavated areas, and site restoration, according to the DEC. To ensure for the protection of public health and the environment, continuous air monitoring is conducted during all excavation and backfilling activities.
This article originally appeared on The Leader: Is Corning contaminant cleanup close to completion? See latest plans
