REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING
February 25, 2009
Page 2

Tom Blackman of Lockheed Martin, Greg Rys of the NYS Health Department and an official from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) were present to provide an update on the clean-up of the former Scully Septic Service Site in the area of Cascade Drive-Valley View Road.  (NOTE:  Lockheed Martin assumed responsibility for the cleanup because the Corporation had acquired the former General Electric Company [GE] French Road plant in the 1990’s.)

Mr. Blackman stated that Lockheed Martin Company had provided brief updates to their mailing list in newsletters to the directly impacted neighbors, informing neighbors and the community of what to expect.  They held a community meeting at the New Hartford Public Library in the Spring of 2008 prior to the most recent soil removal.  He stated that documents are on file at the Utica Public Library and that some information is also on Lockheed’s website as well. 

The Scully site cleanup occurred throughout 2008 and will be finished in the first part of 2009.   The “old” soil has been replaced with certified new soil.

According to Mr. Blackman, contaminated sediments were buried beneath and near the Sylvan Glen Creek and were to be removed; work began in Spring 2008.  About 300 mature trees had been removed to create a haul road and a diversion area to temporarily ‘move’ the Creek.  The Creek was diverted to allow the cleanup area to be dry for soil removal.  Following cleanup, the Creek was returned to its original state and about 1100 trees were replanted; reseeding will occur in Spring 2009.  The upland area, at the former Scully site, was dug out in the Fall and early Winter.  After confirming with NYS DEC that cleanup goals were met, backfilling began in February 2009.

Final steps:

• Site work will be completed following backfilling, planting trees in upland area and reseeding in all areas
• Trailers and all equipment will be removed
• Groundwater monitoring plan will be submitted for NYS DEC approval
• When groundwater is demonstrated to meet NYS DEC standards, the final step is to remove the site from the hazardous waste site list.

Mr. Blackman stated that Lockheed Martin is also working on the “old” GE site, now known as ConMed. The western portion of the site since an Order of Consent was signed with NYS DEC and Martin Marietta [now Lockheed Martin] in 1993;details are available on a Lockheed Martin fact sheet.  A public notice will be printed in the local newspaper.   

Mr. Blackman confirmed there would be a 2-year monitoring period of the site and will ensure that the approximate 1100 trees will grow.  He also confirmed the “old” soil has been removed.  Answering Councilman Reynolds' inquiry about what the land could now be used for, Mr. Blackman replied that it could be used to build homes.