You are here

Toxics Targeting Wants More Done About Former Ithaca Gun Factory Site

07/31/24




ITHACA, NY (WENY) -- Toxics Targeting, an environmental database firm based out of Tompkins County, has been trying to get a brownfield site cleaned up for over 20 years. On Tuesday, July 30th, the president of the organization, Walter Hang, said he's calling on Gov. Kathy Hochul to require a comprehensive cleanup of all the off and onsite contamination from things like trichloroethylene.

"That contamination has migrated down the hill into this adjoining residential area. A lot of the lead has been removed but we’ve just learned that there are two remaining areas at the factory site on the western parcel [and] near where the former smokestack used to be that has still not been cleaned up," said Hang.

According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the factory operated from 1888 and closed in 1988. The site is now located in a residential area between Fall Creek and Lake Street in Ithaca.

According to the National Cancer Institute, "Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a volatile, colorless liquid organic chemical. TCE does not occur naturally and is created by chemical synthesis. It is used primarily to make refrigerants and other hydrofluorocarbons and as a degreasing solvent for metal equipment."

It can be found in the water, air, and soil. Trichloroethylene breaks down slowly and stays in the environment for a long time.

The National Cancer Institute also states, "People in the general population can be exposed to trichloroethylene by inhaling it in indoor and outdoor air, drinking contaminated water, or eating foods that have been washed or processed with contaminated water. Because this chemical was used extensively by the U.S. military to degrease equipment, contaminated soil and groundwater can be found near many current and former military bases."

Hang said scientific studies document that trichloroethylene can increase the risk of Parkinson's Disease by up to 500 percent.

"Parkinson's is the fastest growing neurodegenerative in America and the public has essentially no idea that they can get Parkinson's by being exposed to trichloroethylene. [It's] a very toxic persistent solvent that's all over New York," said Hang.

According to the DEC's website, the U.S.E.P.A. has removed substantial amounts of lead-contaminated soil on and off the site. It also states that lead-contaminated soil is still in the areas where it has [the] potential to recontaminate off-site locations, including bodies of water.

There are three on/off sites listed on the DEC's website, two of which are Class A and the other is Class N.

The DEC defines Class A and Class N as follows:

"Classification Code: A (Active)

The classification assigned to a non-registry site in any remedial program where work is underway and not yet complete (i. e., Brownfield Cleanup Program, Environmental Restoration Program, Voluntary Cleanup Program and RCRA Corrective action Program sites). This may be used for Manufactured Gas Plant sites or those being remediated under an EPA Cooperative Agreement.

Classification Code: N (No Further Action at this Time)

Sites are given a classification of "N" when:

  • the investigation and evaluation of a Class P site results in a determination that contamination at the site does not warrant placing the site on the Registry or it is being addressed under a brownfield program;
  • a site was in a brownfield program (BCP, ERP or VCP) or other non-Registry program, remediation was not completed, and the site did not otherwise qualify for listing on the Registry. As an example, this occurs when a volunteer begins a brownfield project and then for economic or other reasons, determines they cannot complete the work and the brownfield project is terminated. If the contamination at the brownfield site qualifies it for placement on the Registry, the Department acts to do so. If the site re-enters a brownfield program, it can be reclassified to Class A (active) to indicate that work has recommenced;
  • a site was identified simply as the location(s) where a drum(s) or other discrete waste was at one time present and subsequently removed by DEC or others and, based on the resulting conditions, no need for additional work was apparent; or
  • an application to the BCP, ERP or VCP was submitted, and was then withdrawn or terminated before any actions were taken to investigate or remediate the site."

The DEC also states with Class N sites:

"DEC offers this information with the caution that the amount of information provided for Class N sites is highly variable, not necessarily based on any DEC investigation, sometimes of unknown origin, and sometimes is many years old. Due to the preliminary nature of this information, significant conclusions or decisions should not be based solely upon this summary."