College submits proposal for environmental remediation

Skidmore College has filed a Proposed Intermediate Remedial Measures Work Plan with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) in cooperation with the New York State Department of Health (DOH) for the excavation of approximately 30 cubic yards of soil regarding discovery of mercury waste near a water pump station building located west of the Facilities Department (North Hall) on the main campus.

A Record Review Report and a Site Characterization Work Plan were submitted after a discovery of mercury in May 2005. The College reporting the finding, case No. 0501301. It is believed the material comes from mercury switches, which were used prior to 1992 at the site. The above reports were filed in 2005 and updated in 2006.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation approved the Site Characterization Work Plan in June 2006. An interim updated plan was submitted in March 2007. Although no visible mercury was observed in samples taken, seven of 37 samples were reported at concentrations above Recommended Soil Cleanup Objectives of .1 mg/kg. The area to be worked is approximately 15 feet wide by 25 feet long, extending approximately two feet below the surface.

In the testing no ground water was encountered above bedrock in any boring. One bedrock monitoring well was installed at a location assumed to be downgradient of the area, and no mercury was detected in the groundwater sample collected.

The remedial actions proposed at the site include site preparation, mobilization, staging of equipment; dig safe notification and markings; removal of impacted soil by vactor truck; confirmatory soil sample collection and analysis; backfill of area; groundwater sample collection and analysis; and the filing of appropriate reports.

The work is currently scheduled for June 2008 and will take approximately one week. Final testing results should be available in July, and final reports submitted to DEC and DOH in August.

Questions concerning this matter should be directed to Matt Baker, director of facilities.