WHITE PLAINS — The contamination is minimal and problems are manageable. But that doesn't mean it won't cost a lot to handle.
Following nearly 25 years of environmental study, the city is preparing to embark on an $8 million plan to fully cap the Gedney Way landfill with 2 feet of dirt.
To update residents on the project, the city and state Environmental Conservation and Health departments will hold a "public information session" next Thursday.
"It's certainly been a long-term process that we've done in conjunction with the state, and there's been an enormous amount of investigation and data, so that we would leave no stone unturned," said city Public Works Commissioner Joseph "Bud" Nicoletti.
The 40-acre landfill was used from 1948 to 1979 to dump many forms of waste, mostly ash from the city's former incinerator on Kensico Avenue. Since the dumping ended, the site has been used for composting leaves, yard waste, stumps and brush, and also as a Public Works storage area.
Since 1986, the DEC, city and city environmental consultant AKRF have been investigating the grounds to document its contents and see if contamination existed around the site.
Contaminated groundwater was found on site, as well as in two stormwater lines and stormwater manholes beneath the site, according to a report attached to the public meeting notice.
Other than that — despite the presence of ash, leachate, methane, and drums of chemicals and cleaning solvents — little to no air, water or soil contamination was found around the site, including in an adjacent stream and in nearby homes.
The city had capped the site with dirt, though inconsistently.
Some portions were buried under much more than 2 feet of soil; others had far less, Nicoletti said.
The DEC is requiring the city to create a minimum of 2 feet of dirt throughout the property, while also making other fixes — with a total cost expected to be $8 million.
The project is part of the city's capital improvements plan and will likely be paid for through borrowing.
Nicoletti said the city will bid out the project after next Thursday's meeting. He said he hoped for Common Council approval in July, so construction could start that month.
The project is expected to last from six months to a year, he said.
Local activists have pushed for another option at the landfill, saying for years they wanted the land to be converted into a park.
Resident Don Hughes said a full remediation would likely cost much more money, but would be a more long-term solution for the site.
"We really abused the area over the last 63 years," he said. "It would be nice to do more than just cover it up. I would really like more of an effort to remediate and undo some of the damage that's been done."
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