cold spring is a town in new york state, situated on the hudson river to the south of cold spring...
TRANSCRIPT
Cold Spring is a town in New York State, situated on the Hudson River
To the south of Cold Spring is: Foundry Cove – a small river inlet Constitution Marsh – a diverse wetland
A battery factory was established in 1952 between the town and the river
The resulting pollution caused devastating heavy metal contamination both inside and outside the plant facility, making it
"the most cadmium polluted site in the world”(Klerks, 1987)
Pollutants included:Cadmium Zinc Trichloroethylene (TCE)Nickel Cobalt
Cadmium is extremely toxic to humans – it is carcinogenic and has been banned from use in manufacturing by the EU
1952 - US Army constructs battery plant Polluted water starts contaminating the area
1965 - Treatment plant built after a series of owners
1969 - Marathon Battery Co. purchases the plant
1970 - Congress passes the Clean Water Act
1971 - NY State discovers Cadmium in Foundry Cove
1972 -EPA orders Marathon to dredge sediment. Sediments buried in underground vault
1975 - Discharge of Cadmium treated wastewater allowed
1976 - NY State discovers high levels of Cadmium and Nickel in Cove, Marsh and surrounding area
1979 - Marathon Company closes plant
The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) drew up a remediation plan, which they were to personally manage
In 1983 the area became a Superfund Site, due to the severity and extent of Cadmium contamination Superfund Site – a National Priorities List of abandoned hazardous
waste sites requiring long-term cleanup, under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, 1980
Remediation plan split into 3 areas: The battery plant grounds Foundry Cove The surrounding areas including residential and recreational areas
Dredging, draining and treating contaminated sediments (removing 95% of Cd.)
Replanting acres of marshes along Foundry Cove
Excavating and treating contaminated soil in an underground vault (lined with clay and asphalt) on the plant property
Tearing down plant buildings and processing towers
Excavating contaminated soil from residential gardens near the site and landscaping these yards
1979 - Marathon Company closes plant and relocates
1980 - Site purchased for use as a storage site Congress passes CERCLA
1983 - EPA adds Foundry Cove site area as a Superfund Site
1986 - EPA orders the former plant owners to clean up the site
1989 - The Army and Marathon reimburse the EPA for the clean up
1992 - Agreement with Gould (previous facility tenant) for clean up
1993 - Army and Marathon set up trust fund
1994 - Dredging of marsh and cove Excavation and deposition of Cadmium
1995 - Marsh replanting
1995 - Clean-up completed
The responsible parties, Marathon Battery, Gould and the US Army were forced to pay $109 million
▪ Marathon - $9 million▪ Gould - $57 million▪ US Army - $43 million
The majority of Marathon’s and Gould’s costs were covered by their insurance
In 1995, the clean-up was completed
On 18th October 1996, the site was officially delisted from the Superfund program
The former battery site has been declared safe and is ready for redevelopment
In total 189,000 tonnes of contaminated soil and sediment was removed and treated off site
Today, Constitution Marsh is a Bird Conservation Area, Foundry Cove is a popular destination as an area of natural beauty, and nature education centres are located in the Cold Spring areaFoundry Cove & Constitution Marsh in 1995
after replanting and reintroduction of wildlife