Central Hudson Begins Next Phase of Environmental Cleanup in Newburgh

(Newburgh, NY) Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation, following a plan developed and approved by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), continues the environmental cleanup at the site of a former manufactured gas plant in the City of Newburgh, and plans to soon begin removing sediments in the Hudson River as part of the remediation activities. These last phases of the cleanup, including all site restoration, are expected to be completed by the spring of 2011, followed by close monitoring of the site over the next 10 to 20 years.

“Manufactured gas plants, or MGPs, once provided gas derived from coal or oil for heating, lighting and other uses during the late 1800s and early 1900s,” said Paul E. Haering, Vice President of Engineering and Environmental Affairs. “In New York State alone, more than 300 MGPs were built and operated by local gas companies. When natural gas was introduced in the 1940s and 1950s
through the interstate pipeline system, MGPs were phased out and removed from service.”

The DEC has placed seven Hudson Valley sites on the New York State Environmental Site Remediation Database where it believes Central Hudson or its predecessor companies owned or operated MGP facilities. These include the Newburgh site, three sites in Poughkeepsie and one site each in Beacon, Kingston, and Catskill.    

“Contaminants are typically found at the locations of these former MGPs, and in working with the DEC, Central Hudson is addressing the Hudson Valley sites,” said Haering. “Studies of the Newburgh site began in the late 1990s, and cleanup began in 2007 with the completion of remediation activities at our natural gas and propane facility on Water Street, the original site of this MGP. These next phases of the cleanup address contaminants that have been found near the city sewage treatment plant and in off-shore river sediments near the original site. In total, the cleanup is projected to potentially cost approximately $35 million, including future operating, maintenance and monitoring activities.”

Central Hudson has contracted with D.A. Collins Companies to perform the land-based and off- shore contaminant removal. Plans include a permanent, below-grade barrier wall placed along the shoreline to prevent any on-shore contaminants from reaching the river in the future, and temporary barriers in the river to contain the dredging area and prevent contaminants from spreading during removal. An estimated 26,000 cubic yards of sediment will be removed over 1.8 acres of river bottom, which will be delivered to an environmental firm, ESMI, for treatment in Fort Edwards, N.Y.

“In addition to the environmental precautions, we are sensitive to the effects this cleanup may have on the community and are working closely with the City of Newburgh and other organizations to minimize potential impacts,” said Haering. “For example, because the work area is adjacent to the Newburgh Rowing Club, we identified a temporary alternate location for the club’s river access so that they may continue to operate during the cleanup activities,” he said “In addition, our contractors have installed temporary containment facilities on shore to hold removed sediments until shipment to the processing facility. They are equipped to monitor and manage noise and odors that may result during sediment removal.” 
More information on the cleanup plan and other MGP sites throughout the state is available through the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation by logging onto www.dec.ny.gov, and typing “MGP” in the search box.

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