U.S. Water News Online
ALBANY, N.Y. -- The New York state has proposed a cleanup plan for the source of mercury for what is considered one of the world's most polluted bodies of water.
The Department of Environmental Conservation seeks to cleanse the lake of mercury that has seeped in from the former LCP Chemicals facility in the village of Solvay, near Syracuse.
``The cleanup of the former LCP Chemicals site will eliminate a major source of mercury pollution to Onondaga Lake,'' said DEC Commissioner John Cahill.
The proposed action as chosen by the DEC from several options presented by Honeywell International, the former owners of the facility. The estimated cost of cleanup by Honeywell is $12.43 million and $157,200 in annual operation and maintenance costs.
A public hearing was held July 19 at Geddes Town Hall and written comments will be accepted by the DEC through Aug. 4. After that, the DEC will choose a plan.
New Jersey-based Honeywell recently merged with AlliedSignal, a company which made chlorine at the plant for almost 40 years before selling the property to LCP Chemicals in 1979. The plant ceased operation in 1988 under pressure from the state following repeated chlorine leaks.
The plant has remained vacant and full of toxic waste since LCP declared bankruptcy in 1992. In addition to mercury and chlorine, the site also is contaminated with lead and asbestos.
Officials said that at its peak the plant was dumping about 20 pounds of mercury a day into Onondaga Lake, now a federal Superfund site considered one of the world's most polluted bodies of water.
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