Editor’s Note: Funding for this environmental story was provided by New York Community Trust – Westchester.
The fence at Peekskill Landing is finally down. Con Edison is finished with the second phase of their environmental remediation project at the former Pemart Avenue Manufactured Gas Plant site.
The second phase involved the removal of impacted river sediments and was completed at the end of November.
“It’s good that they’re cleaning it up. Maybe people can go swimming again,” joked Tom O’Connor, who was walking Scenic Hudson Landing last Monday, Nov.25
While they have completed the second phase, there will still be ongoing site management and future excavations at the site, said ConEd Media Relations Manager Elisabeth Ferrari on Wednesday, Nov. 27.
“Con Edison has completed investigation and remediation of the upland areas and Peekskill Bay as required by the DEC for the former Pemart MGP Site,” she said. “Going forward, site monitoring, management and maintenance will be required, including in connection with future excavations at the site, in accordance with regulatory requirements.”
The second phase was explained to the Herald on Thursday, Nov. 21, by Joe Baratta, project operations manager, of Con Edison’s Environment, Health and Safety Environment & Sustainability division.
“After successfully dredging approximately 10,000 cubic yards of impacted sediments and removing various debris, including old piles and barge remnants, Con Edison is now in the process of placing clean backfill as a cap over the sediments in the river,” Baratta said.
To understand the sheer volume of the project, a cubic yard is a volume measuring 3 feet wide, 3 feet long, and 3 feet tall. It is equal to 27 cubic feet. To visualize, a typical wheelbarrow holds 4 to 5 cubic feet of material. One cubic yard could fill approximately 7 to 9 wheelbarrow loads.
The company worked with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation throughout the process. They also had ongoing support from the City of Peekskill, Metro-North, Scenic Hudson, local property owners and the surrounding community.
“The result of this collaborative effort is an improved marine environment and a significantly cleaner waterfront that will support future development and enhanced river access for everyone in the community,” Baratta said.
The first phase of work concentrated on the removal of impacted soil on properties along Water Street (Old Pemart Ave) and was successfully completed in 2022. However, the second phase was nearly two years behind its original schedule.
Asked about the delay, Barratta said, “Following phase 1, Con Edison completed the necessary steps to gain approval to conduct the second phase work. This included applying for Army Corps of Engineers Permits and seeking work plan approval from (New York State Department of Environmental Conservation), which all took time. In addition, we were required to negotiate and obtain access agreements from all local property owners.”
(Eric Harvey)
The containment with the biggest concern at the site was coal tar which Baratta said was a by-product from the gas plant which operated at the location until the mid-1940s to make gas used for home lighting and cooking.
“The greatest challenge faced on this project was to complete cleanup within the allotted permitting time frame from April through November,” Baratta said. “The project team accomplished this goal through diligent pre-work planning which included engagement with stakeholders and the community. During the project, additional hours were worked each week to complete the project on time and safely.”
Since the third week of April barges arrived at Peekskill Bay to contain all excavated sediment from the Peekskill Landing site. Sediment was transported downriver to approved disposal facilities who then process and dispose of the waste. Baratta said all the construction work done in the project is contracted through Con Edison’s prime contractor who is a nationally recognized vendor with a specialty in environmental remediation and dredging.
