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ANDREW M. CUOMO JOE MARTENS

GOVERNOR COMMISSIONER

STATE OF NEW YORK 


DEPARTl4EHT Of ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION 


AUWO', NEW YORK 12233- 1010 


JUN 3 0 2011 

Ms. Judith Enck 

United States Environmental Protection Agency 

Region 2 - Regional Director 

290 Broadway-19th Floor, E38 

New York, New York 10007-1866 

Dcar Ms Enck: 

Under authority delegated by the Governor of New York in 1995 to the Commissioner of 

the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (Department), I am requesting 

that the Eighteenmile Creek Sediment Site be nominated to the National Priorities List (NPL). 

The Department understands that the proposed Eighteenmile Creek Sediment site in Niagara 

County, New York would consist of contaminated sediments and water of Eighteenmile Creek 

including any upland sources which may have contributed to sediment contamination. 

Eighteenmilc Creek has a long history ofindustrial use dating back to the 19th century 

where it was used as a source of power. In Lockport, NY, where the creek originates, four 

industrial or fanner industrial areas (i.e., Former Flintkote Plant Site; Fonner United Paperboard 

Company; Upson Park; and Former White Transportation property), known as the Eighteenmile 

Creek Corridor site, as well as the New York State Barge Canal (NYSBC), have been 

investigated. There arc several other industrial facilities and inactive hazardous waste sites 

located along or in the vicinity of Eighteenmile Creek. Investigations have confinned the 

presence of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and other contaminants throughout most of 

Eighteenmile Creek, but specific sources of contamination have not been definitively identified. 

Possible sources of contamination may include releases from hazardous waste sites or 

contaminated properties, industrial and municipal wastewater discharges, stonn water and 

combined sewer outfall (eSO) discharges, and contaminated water from the NYSBC. The Burt 

and Newfane Dams, both located on Eightecnmile Creek downstream ofthe Corridor Site, may 

serve as areas within the creek where contaminated sediments accwnulate. 

Sampling events have indicated that Eighteenmile Creek sediments are contaminated 

with a variety of pollutants, including the metals mercury, lead and copper; 

pesticidclinsecticides; PCBs; and dioxins and furans. PCBs and lead are the primary 

contaminants, with lotal concentrations as high as 1,400 and 15,000 milligrams per kilogram 

(mglkg), respectively in sediment samples collected from Eighteenmile Creek. Although the 

highest PCB concentrations have been reported within the Corridor Site, sampling data indicate 

that the sediment contamination extends for 12.71 miles downstream, just south of Burt Dam. 
Contaminated sediments are possibly impacting several wetlands and fishing access areas 

located along the contaminated portion of the creek. 

The Pre-Remedial Section, Special Projects Branch of the Emergency and Remedial 

Response Division ofthe United States Environmental Protection Agency in Region 2 has 

initiated an evaluation of existing site documents and a hazard ranking system scoring effort for 

this site. 

Please call me at (5 \8) 402-8540 if you have any questions. 

Sincerely. 

ec: W. Mugdan, USEPA (mugdan.waltcr@cpa.gov)