The land where the Corning fire station was built has been classified a Superfund hazardous materials site.
Testing by state officials found semi-volatile organic compounds and metals that exceed acceptable levels in the soil. Boron was also found to have contaminated groundwater at the fire station site, according to The Leader.
During their examination of the area, state's Department of Conservation (DEC). investigators found glass, ash and brick waste materials in the ground from previous manufacturing work.
"People are unlikely to contact contamination unless they dig or otherwise disturb soils in areas of known soil contamination, but this does not usually occur in the park,” the DEC wrote in an email to WSKG.org.
In 1980, Congress created the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, more commonly known as Superfund, to provide funding and support to clean up hundreds of sites where hazardous materials from manufacturing were found. If those found in violation of laws were unable to fund cleaning, the government assisted with the cleanup projects.
“The city appreciates the DEC taking the lead on investigating these properties,” said Corning City Manager Mark Ryckman. “Identifying and remediating soil contamination has continued to be a long and ongoing process in various areas of the community, but we are making steady progress.”
The city and state are determining the next steps to clean area.
At the same time as the fire station investigation, officials found a city park to be contaminated and added to the state's Inactive Hazardous Waste Disposal Site map.
Multiple sites around the city have been identified as Superfund sites and cleaned over the years.
