Health and safety was a critical part of the Sag Harbor project. National Grid is committed to protecting the public, our workers and contractors and the environment from potential hazards that could occur as part of cleanup activities for the site.
Health and safety programs are comprised of careful planning, good communication and effective monitoring of the execution of the health and safety plans. Remediation work was performed by qualified contractors that were appropriately trained and monitored, and performed in accordance with applicable regulations. Health and Safety Plans were developed for each remediation activity. Contractors were required to provide documentation of employee training and medical monitoring, and were evaluated based on their compliance with established health and safety plans.
A Community Air Monitoring Program and a Traffic Control Program were in place throughout the project. The Community Air Monitoring Program included air monitoring at the construction / remediation site and also between remediation activities and public residential or commercial areas downwind. Remediation of MGP wastes often results in strong odors that are sometimes unpleasant. Odors were controlled to the extent practicable by conducting the excavation work under an enclosure with a vapor management system, limiting the size of the area excavated, using foam to cover exposed waste materials and by occasionally stopping work until wind and weather conditions improved. The Community Air Monitoring Plan specified monitoring locations and concentrations that determined when additional odor or emission controls were used and the very rare occasions when work was stopped to protect workers and the public.
The Traffic Control Program managed traffic in and around the remediation activity and whenever trucks traveled to and from the site. This program included route planning for trucks and other vehicles, and coordination with local authorities and agencies on transportation safety issues. There were no transportation related leaks, spills or accidents during the project.
National Grid and the NYSDEC also developed a treatment system to remove site related contaminants from the 500,000 – 1,000,000 gallons of water per day that were removed from the soil during the excavation activity. The treated water was discharged through a pipe (marked to avoid impeding marine traffic) into a portion of Sag Harbor Cove in which was determined there will be no impact on the salinity of Cove water. Current measurements show that no impacts occurred.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the problem?
A long history of industrial activity has impacted soil and groundwater at the Sag Harbor Site. Some of the materials spilled or released in the past are harmful to human health or the environment. The site remediation program is designed to clean up the site so that it can be returned to valuable use in the community.
Am I safe?
Yes. Site investigations showed that harmful materials are limited to the site and immediate vicinity. Access to these areas is limited and controlled. Groundwater and surface water from the site were and are not used as drinking water sources. Now that the site has been remediated, the contaminant mass has been significantly reduced, an 8-15 foot thick cap – including a geotechnical fabric barrier – has been placed over the remaining contaminated soil, and the level of contamination in the groundwater flowing though the site significantly reduced as well.
What can I expect in the future?
National Grid is required to provide periodic monitoring of the groundwater to ensure that the levels of contamination are within standards approved by the NYSDEC and NYSDOH. The company will also conduct periodic inspections of the slurry wall barrier and the pumps extracting remaining liquid contaminants and provide any maintenance required. A Site Management Plan and Institutional Controls now being developed will ensure that there will be no future uses that can affect the effectiveness of the remediation or damage any of the remedies in place.