# -- --- JOE MARTENS ANDREW M. CUOMO COMMISSIONER GOVERNOR STATE OF NEW YORK DEPARTl4EHT Of ENV I RONMENTAL 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 ofNew 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 ofcontaminated 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 ofpower. 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 ofpolychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and other contaminants throughout most of Eighteenmile Creek, but specific sources ofcontamination have not been definitively identified. Possible sources ofcontamination 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 ofpollutants, 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 ofthe Emergency and Remedial Response Division ofthe United States Environmental Protection Agency in Region 2 has initiated an evaluation ofexisting 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)