Cleaning up brownfield sites a lengthy process

UTICA — How many brownfields are there in New York state and how do they get funded?

According to New York State Department of Environmental Conservation there are 417 active sites. Regionally, there are no active brownfield clean-up sites in Madison or Herkimer counties, but there are three in Oneida County — the SMC Brownfield site in New Hartford, the former Oneida Limited Knife Plant in Sherrill and the 5140 site in Whitestown.

Recently, the Federal Environmental Protection Agency announced the annual availability of funding to eligible entities that wish to develop an area-wide plan for brownfields assessment, cleanup and subsequent reuse.

While some might think the clean-up process is simple, officials said it is complicated process that and starts with a request for proposals.

"Generally speaking, the EPA becomes involved with local Brownfields cleanups when we provide grants to communities," said EPA spokesman John Martin.

According to EPA guidelines, this funding is for research or technical-assistance activities directed to one or more brownfield sites located in a specific area, such as a neighborhood, downtown or business district, local commercial corridor, community waterfront and city blocks.

The cleaning and funding process is not always simple, officials said.

Each grant project funded must have an area-wide plan with implementation strategies for assessing, cleaning up and reusing the brownfields sites as well as project-area revitalization strategies. The EPA anticipates awarding about 20 projects, with funding up to $200,000 each.

According to EPA records, there were no area projects selected for cleanup or assessment for the current year.

So, how long does cleanup take?

"Some of these projects take years," said James Genovese, administrative assistant for Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente.

And that work starts after EPA grant funds are secured.

"Start to finish ... including the planning and implementation of the site investigation, remedy selection, then the planning and implementation of the remedial program, is approximately three-and-a-half years," according to DEC spokesman Kevin Frazier.

During the process, the DEC coordinates with local municipalities and the EPA in monitoring the cleanup as well as issuing certificates of completion.

If long-term site management is required, such as groundwater monitoring, cover-system inspection and maintenance, the DEC also reviews and approves all periodic reporting documents," Frazier said.