MGP Site Remediation: When Is the Land Safe to Build On?

Written by  //  February 13, 2013  //  Home Construction  //  Comments Off on MGP Site Remediation: When Is the Land Safe to Build On?

The detrimental effects of manufactured gas plants remain a dormant threat in New York State. This issue of public safety has incited environmental cleanup crews to remove hazardous byproducts from polluted sites.Manufacturers and chemical firms are doing well, so they are expediting cleanup, says Michael Elia of Sevenson Environmental.

MGP sites also were once exempt from regulation,” the Sevenson CEO goes on to say. ” Now they are under more pressure.” Cities need the property.Contaminants are still being sought out and cleansed at sites in Yonkers and Bay Shore to make way for new developments. In this article, explore a brief history of MGPs, the danger of MGP waste and a couple cleanup projects in progress today.

Historic MGP Development

Manufactured gas plants (MGPs) began popping up in 1826 within New York state to produce gas from whale oil. The industry quickly evolved to generate gas from a process called carburetted water gas (CWG) creating the gaslight era of the late 19th century. Many other water gas processes were conceived by heating coal with steam to produce a carbon monoxide and methane gas mixture. The gas was widely distributed throughout cities by a complex of pipes and facilities for heat and lighting. The last active plant in the state was shut down in 1972. Up to 300 estimated MGP sites exist in New York state today, according to the New York state Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC).

MGP Environmental and Public Health Impacts

According to NYSDEC byproducts of manufactured gas still remain at many MGP sites and pose potential harm to the public if exposed. Waste products, primarily a viscous, oily substance called coal tar, are resistant to natural decay. During the decades MGPs were operational, tar leakage or discharge contaminated groundwater, sediment and soil many of these areas remain tarnished today.

Solid waste material called box waste or purifier waste, which are composed of iron filings, wood chips and solid tar chunks, also present a danger of groundwater contamination. These liquid and solid contaminants are mostly below the ground surface. However, if exposed, the public is endangered if the waste is inhaled, ingested or comes into contact with skin.

Former MGP Sites

Yonkers An investigation into the former Ludlow Street Works MGP site is underway by state officials and Consolidated Edison. Groundwater and soil samples are likely to be collected and testing is expected to last until December, according to DailyVoice.com. If the level of contaminants warrant a cleanup, plans will be set in motion and displayed for public review. The Yonkers investigation is only one of MGP sites throughout the state that Con Ed is reviewing.

Bay Shore The Bay Shore MGP was bought by Long Island Lighting Company in 1918 where they conducted carburetted oil-gas and water gas operations until its demolition in 1973. Keyspan and NYSDEC began conducting a remedial investigation of the former MGP in 1999, and the project is now in its final phase, according to BayShoreWorksMGP.com.

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