12    GROUNDWATER AND VAPOR EXTRACTION, SITE
REMEDIATION IN LOW PERMEABILITY SOILS:
A CASE STUDY
David A. Crosby, Environmental Engineer
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
Albany, New York 12233
Kevin H. Earley, Hydrogeologist
Unisys Corporation
Paoli, Pennsylvania 19301
INTRODUCTION
Over the last four decades our rapidly changing and maturing industrial processes have produced
materials that, if improperly handled, will threaten public health and the environment. The New York
State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) is tasked by the State legislature to
protect the State's water, air and land resources. As directed by the State's Environmental Conservation Law, the Division of Hazardous Waste Remediation (DHWR) is responsible for planning,
implementing and managing remediation of sites on the Registry of Inactive Hazardous Waste Sites
with the goal of remediating these sites, if technically possible, to pre-release condition.
One of the more prevalent threats to the environment is the release of volatile organic contamination from leaking underground storage tanks. This paper provides a case study of a successful Interim
Remedial Measure (IRM) utilizing a combined Groundwater/Vapor Extraction System (GW/VE). By
utilizing IRMs, a responsible party can expedite a remedial program, decrease potential liability and
mitigate an environmental pollution that threatens local groundwater. GW/VE systems combine the
effects of removal of volatile organics compounds (VOCs) from both the vapor phase in the unsaturated zone and the water phase below the water table. In addition, when utilized in a well defined
source area, as we have at this site, GW/VE provides a means of controlling contaminant migration
by dewatering the water table and controlling groundwater flow direction.
This presentation is a case study of a successful implementation of an IRM which utilizes GW/VE
technology in glacial lacustrian soils of western New York. Close coordination of the NYSDEC with
various regulatory agencies and the proactive conduct of Unisys Corporation has resulted in an
innovative approach to remediate a groundwater system in an efficient and timely manner.'-9
SITE BACKGROUND
The Burroughs-Unisys site is a New York State Inactive Hazardous Waste Disposal Site located in
the City of Rochester, New York (See Figure 1). The 4.1 acre industrial facility (Figure 1) was utilized
by Unisys Corporation (Unisys) from 1976-1986 to manufacture typewriter ribbons. The operation
included five underground storage tanks which stored isopropyl alcohol (IPA), methanol, methyl
ethyl ketone (MEK) and toluene. In 1986, the tanks were removed. A subsequent hydrogeologic
investigation indicated a release of chemicals to the shallow groundwater system. The investigation
noted elevated levels of IPA, MEK, toluene and acetone. Of these four site-specific indicator chemicals (SSIC), only toluene has a NYS Groundwater Standard and the site's groundwater contamination
exceeded this standard.
Unisys presented the findings of the groundwater investigation to the NYSDEC in July 1988. After
review, the NYSDEC listed the site on the NYS Registry of Inactive Hazardous Waste Disposal Sites.
The site was listed as a class 2, which indicates the release of hazardous waste into the environment
and is considered a significant threat to the environment and/or public health. The designation
requires remedial action. The NYSDEC then actively negotiated with the Unisys Corporation's Corporate Environmental Affairs for a remedial program.
47th Purdue Industrial Waste Conference Proceedings, 1992 Lewis Publishers, Inc., Chelsea, Michigan 48118.
Printed in U.S.A.
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