Community Input: Booklet Remediation Options

PCB Treatment option (included with each of the propositions):

PCB material could be treated in one of the following ways: onsite incineration in an approved mobile unit; onsite thermal desorption or pyrolysis with offsite destruction of the concentrate using incineration, plasma, or hydrogen reduction; or, capping in place.

Tar Ponds

Option 1: Excavation of North Pond 

Containment in South Pond ($150 million; four years.)

 This option would excavate sediment from the North Pond and place it in a bermed containment area to be built in the South Pond. When completed, the containment facility would be fitted with an engineered cap and planted with grass. The North Pond would once again become a healthy aquatic environment. PCB material would go to an offsite incinerator approved for PCB destruction.

Option 2: Excavation of both ponds

Containment at Coke Ovens ($250 million; five years.)

 This option would excavate the sediment from both ponds, solidify it, and place it in an engineered containment facility at the Coke Ovens site. PCB material would go to an offsite incinerator approved for PCB destruction.

Option 3: Soil Washing, Bioremediation

Co-Burning, Containment ($330 million; seven years.)

 This option would excavate sediment from both ponds and treat it with soil washing and possibly bioremediation. Fuel material recovered in this manner would go to an offsite power plant or cement kiln for co-burning. PCB materials would be treated on the site with pyrolysis or thermal desorption, then destroyed through offsite incineration, plasma, or hydrogen reduction.

Option 4: Co-Burning ($220 million; 11 years.)

This option would excavate sediment from both ponds and send it to a power plant or cement kiln for co-burning. PCB material would go to an offsite incinerator approved for PCB destruction.

Option 5: Onsite Incineration ($240 million; 11 years.)

 This option would excavate sediment from both ponds and incinerate it onsite in an approved facility or facilities designed to handle PAHs and PCBs. Incinerator ash would go to an engineered landfill at the Coke Ovens.

Option 6: In Situ Capping ($120 million; four years.)

 This option would contain the sediment in both ponds under an engineered cap. Grass would cover the above-water portions of the cap (all of the South Pond and part of the North Pond).

Coke Ovens

Option 1: In Situ Containment and Bioremediation ($70 million; four years.)

 This option would bioremediate PAH-contaminated surface soils, then cover the excavated area with soil and plant it with grass. Cutoff walls would prevent subsurface coal tar from intruding into the lower reaches of Coke Ovens Brook. A trench in the old streambed would collect coal tar and groundwater, with the groundwater going to a water treatment plant.

Option 2: Landfilling Top 2 Meters of Soil ($40 million; five years.)

 This option would excavate the top two metres of soil from contaminated areas and replace it with clean fill. The contaminated soil would go into an engineered landfill on site. Underground chambers and tunnels would be removed or filled, and the site would be covered with clean soil and planted with grass.

Option 3: Soil Washing and Co-Burning ($120 million; seven years.)

 This option would excavate the top two metres of soil from contaminated areas and replace it with clean fill. Soil washing would separate contaminants from excavated soil. Fuel material recovered in this manner would be sent to an offsite power plant or cement kiln for co-burning. The remaining material would go into an engineered landfill on site. Underground chambers and tunnels would be removed or filled, and the site would be covered with clean soil and planted with grass. 

Option 4: Pyrolysis and Co-Burning ($100 million; seven years.)

 This option would excavate the top two metres of soil from contaminated areas and replace it with clean fill. Pyrolysis would separate contaminants from the excavated soil. Fuel material recovered in this manner would go to an offsite power plant or cement kiln for co-burning. The remaining material would go into an engineered landfill on the site. Underground chambers and tunnels would be removed or filled, and the site would be covered with clean soil and planted with grass.