4 AUGUST 3, 2017 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
Feds to demolish buildings at radioactive R’wood block
BY ANTHONY GIUDICE
AGIUDICE@RIDGEWOODTIMES.COM
@A_GIUDICEREPORT
The U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) is ready to
begin cleaning up the former
Wolff-Alport Chemical Company
Superfund site on the Ridgewood/
Bushwick border, but they want to
hear from the community fi rst.
The EPA recently proposed $39.4
million cleanup plan of the Superfund
site located on the corner of Cooper and
Irving avenues. But before the plan can
be put into action, the EPA will hold a
30-day public comment period that’s
now open through Aug. 28 in order to
get community input on the plan.
There are currently several buildings
on the site along with soil and sewers that
have been contaminated with radioactive
materials from the industrial activities
that took place when the Wolff -Alport
Chemical Company was in operation
between 1920 and 1954.
Previous actions taken by the EPA,
along with state and city agencies, removed
any immediate threats to the
long-term health of nearby residents,
employees and visitors to the site at the
corner of Cooper and Irving avenues,
according to the EPA. But more needs
to be done.
The proposed plan involves permanently
relocating fi ve commercial
businesses; the demolition of all contaminated
buildings at the site; cleaning and
replacing contaminated sewers; and the
excavation, removal and off -site disposal
of an estimated 24,300 cubic yards of
contaminated soil, sediment and debris.
“The EPA has used the Superfund program
to successfully address shorter
term risks posed by the radiation at
this site, and this proposed plan moves
us closer to a permanent fi x that will
protect those who live and work in the
area over the long term,” said Catherine
McCabe, acting regional administrator
with the EPA. “While we recognize that
relocation will be a stress on these businesses,
we are weighing that against the
long-term risks from radiation, which
include an increased risk of cancer. EPA
believes that this proposal off ers the
best course of action.”
Before the plan can get going, the
public is asked to comment on the
proposed plan.
The EPA will hold a public meeting
on Aug. 16 at 7 p.m. at the Audrey
Johnson Day Care Center, located at
272 Moff at St., Bushwick, to explain
the cleanup proposal. Comments will
be accepted until Aug. 28, when the
EPA will review all public comments
and prepare detailed responses.
Written comments may be mailed
or emailed to Thomas Mongelli, Remedial
Project Manager, U.S. EPA, 290
Broadway, 20th Floor, New York, N.Y.
10007. Comments can also be e-mailed
mongelli.thomas@epa.gov.
To view the proposed cleanup
plan, visit www.epa.gov/superfund/
wolff -alport.
The former Wolff -Alport Chemical
Company used to process imported
monazite sand and extract rare
earth metals. According to the EPA,
monazite contains approximately 6 to
8 percent thorium, which is radioactive.
Until 1947, the company disposed
of their thorium waste into the sewer
and on its property. In 1947, the U.S.
Atomic Energy Commission ordered
Wolff -Alport to stop those practices.
Photo courtesy of the EPA
The EPA is ready to begin the cleanup of the Wolff -Alport Chemical Company
Superfund site in Ridgewood, but needs community input fi rst.
Kiwanians honor volunteer
with service award
Members of the Queens
West Kiwanis Foundation
recently presented local
volunteer Erick Morocho with the
Angelo Maltaghati Kiwanis Foundation
Community Service Award.
He received a $250 check from the
foundation as a token of their appreciation.
Shown at the ceremonial
check presentation are (from left to
right): New York District Kiwanis
Governor Stephen Sirgiovanni,
Angelo Maltaghati Queens West
Kiwanis Foundation Community
Service Award Recipient Erick
Morocho, Queens West Kiwanis Division
Lieutenant Governor Rebecca
Ovadia and Queens West Kiwanis
Division Lieutenant Governor-elect
Carol Masiello.
Thursday August 10, 8pm
Maspeth Pizza House
5560 60th Street
