Ithaca Falls Overlook Environmental Restoration and Brownfield Cleanup Project

By Scott Nostrand, P.E., Senior Vice President, Barton & Loguidice and Nels Bohn, Director of Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency, City of Ithaca New York

The waterfalls and gorges are treasured attractions for the City of Ithaca, drawing thousands of visitors each year. The Ithaca Falls on Fall Creek is one of the region’s most powerful and impressive, with a drop of 150 feet. Adjacent to Ithaca Falls is the former location of the historic , with a namesake smokestack that was a local landmark for years. The company was established in 1880 and produced some of the world’s finest shotguns. The factory parcel for the reclaimed area and enable visitors to included storage areas and buildings associated safely use the adjacent recreational area for with gun finishing. When the factory closed in hiking and fishing. the mid-1980s, the New York State Department The remediation project came with its own set of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) of challenges. Due to the project’s proximity discovered lead contamination at the factory to and Fall Creek, extra site, and off-site into Fall Creek Gorge. In 2002, precautions were taken during the remedial the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) activities. The primary complication was the conducted an emergency response to remove fact that the source of the contamination was the contaminated soils; however, despite efforts located on a cliff adjacent to and above the falls. to address the contamination, hazardous waste The on-site bridge had deteriorated to the point levels of lead persisted. It became apparent that it was unable to withstand the weight of to area leaders that a multiagency approach the construction equipment, and its foundation was necessary to revitalize the property into a was surrounded by contaminated soil, adding community asset. another layer of difficulty to the project. In order The City of Ithaca took ownership of a portion to ensure that all of the contaminated soil was of the parcel that overlooks Ithaca Falls eliminated, the bridge was removed, providing (Overlook Site) and retained a Syracuse- access to the contaminated soils. Access to the based engineering firm (Barton & Loguidice) site was provided by a temporary log crossing to conduct a site investigation and remedial in order to deliver construction equipment to construction design as well as assist the overlook site. Once on the overlook area, with securing funding through the NYS a crane was used to bring equipment into Environmental Restoration Program and the the adjacent raceway gorge and to transport federal EPA Brownfield Cleanup Program. contaminated material out. Identifying and obtaining funding was a critical element of the project in order to ensure a thorough cleanup to meet redevelopment goals See:Award-Winning Project on Page 13

TALK OF THE TOWNS | 12 From Page 12: Award-Winning Project Cleans Up Contaminated Soil to Clear Way for Future Development

Several tactics were used in order to complete stimulating economic development. Through the remediation amid the cliffs and gorges, innovative and cost-effective strategies, the including long-stick excavation, cranes to goals of the project were achieved. In April, transport contaminated substances and vacuum this project received the 2017 New York extraction. In total, the project removed more Engineering Excellence Platinum Award in the than 2,500 tons of contaminated soil with lead Environmental category from the American levels greater than 130,000 ppm in order to Council of Engineering Companies of New York meet the 400 ppm site cleanup objective. (ACEC New York). ˆ Project completion required the development of innovative tactics to handle the contaminated soil. For example, on-site testing was a critical cost-effective and efficient component in segregating hazardous and non-hazardous soils. Hazardous soils were placed in protective containment and were treated with a stabilizing agent that fixates the lead to the soil matrix. Once the soils underwent treatment, they were tested again to make sure they were non-hazardous. The clean-up and environmental restoration has cleared the way for future site development, once the privately funded investigation and remediation of the primary factory site is completed. Future development potentially includes new housing and a public park overlook area above Ithaca Falls, strengthening the city’s tax base and/or increasing public space. Additionally, the project saved the ecological well-being of Fall Creek and the Watershed, thus enhancing a major recreational destination for the region. This project is a good example of how multiple agencies like the City of Ithaca, NYSDEC, EPA and the New York State Department of Health could come together to create positive changes for both the community and environment while TALK OF THE TOWNS | 13