Toxic cleanup begins at former Elmira Rail Yard

ELMIRA, N.Y. (WETM) – Driving along the Clemens Center Parkway, you may have noticed a lot of trees have been cut down at the site of the former Elmira Rail Yard. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Norfolk Southern Railway Company have started a “contamination” cleanup of harmful chemicals in the soil including arsenic, mercury, and PCB’s.

Experts say the chemicals can cause serious health problems and have been linked to cancer. Hazardous waste was first discovered buried at the site nearly 30 years ago.

The DEC says the 13-acre vacant lot at 152 East 5th street is a “”Brownfield” site. The Environmental Protection Agency says:

“A brownfield is a property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. It is estimated that there are more than 450,000 brownfields in the U.S. Cleaning up and reinvesting in these properties increases local tax bases, facilitates job growth, utilizes existing infrastructure, takes development pressures off of undeveloped, open land, and both improves and protects the environment.”

The DEC says: “The 13-acre site is vacant and secured with a locked fence. All above ground buildings and structures have been razed and underground storage tanks have been removed. An operating Norfolk Southern rail line runs along the western property line outside the fenced area. The Site will be cleaned up to restricted industrial soil cleanup standards and redevelopment of the site is undetermined at this time.”

In a statement to 18 News, a DEC spokesperson said:

“The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is committed to ensuring the protection of public health and the environment. Under DEC’s Brownfield Cleanup Program, Norfolk Southern Railway Company is leading the environmental cleanup work underway at Pennsylvania Lines, LLC, at the152 East 5 ^th Street site in Elmira. The cleanup overseen by DEC (Remedial Action Work Plan) to clear the site includes the removal of trees, installation of erosion and sediment controls, surveying work, and construction of an access road. The work (tree removal) began last month and is 90 percent complete with an estimated 0.5 acres of tree clearing remaining. Please contact the property owner/developer for additional information about any redevelopment plans.”

A spokesperson from Norfolk Southern told 18 News:

“You are correct – the Elmira 5th Street Yard is a parcel of land formerly owned by Pennsylvania Lines LLC and now owned by Norfolk Southern. We are doing remediation work there, which we hope to be finished with by the end of the year.”

In September of 2018, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the New York State Department of Health approved a “Pre-Design Investigation Work Plan for the Pennsylvania Lines LLC, 5th Street Yard Site #c808050, dated March 2018, revised July 27, 2018.”

Pennsylvania Lines LLC is limited liability company that owned railroad lines in the U.S. that are owned and operated by Norfolk Southern. The agreement says the “Norfolk Southern Railway Company, is participating in the BCP as a Volunteer as defined in ECL 27-1405(1)(b).”

Public records show hazardous chemicals were found at the site nearly 30 years ago.

The DEC says, “Prior to entering the Voluntary Cleanup Program (VCP) in 2002, preliminary investigations in 1996-97 discovered the presence of underground storage tanks (USTs), buried drums, solid wastes including railroad ties, scrap metal, tires, electrical components and switches. A 2001 cleanup effort at the site included excavation and removal for appropriate disposal of: two USTs with 63 gallons of heating oil and 330 tons of petroleum-impacted soil; two intact drums containing liquids exceeding hazardous waste threshold for lead; and a large quantity of scrap metal.”

On December 30, 2016, the New York State DEC sent Norfolk Southern a letter stating:

“The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (Department) and the
New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) have reviewed the Final Remedial
Investigation/Remedial Alternatives Report (RI/RAR) for the Pennsylvania Lines LLC, Elmira 5th
St. Yard dated December 9, 2013 and prepared by Gannett Fleming on behalf of Norfolk
Southern. The RI/RAR is hereby approved.”

In July of 2023, the NYSDEC said the cleanup was “expected to begin in August of 2023 and last about 7 months.”

In August of 2024, 18 News noticed a large number of trees had been cut down at the site.

The DEC says cleanup activities will include:

• Excavation and off-site disposal of a soil hotspots contaminated with
  arsenic, mercury and PCBs near the central and northeast portions of the
  site to about 4 feet bgs;
• Collection and analysis of post remedial soil samples to evaluate the
  effectiveness of the remedy;
• Importing clean soil that meets the established Soil Cleanup Objectives for
  use as backfill; and
• Restoring the site cover with placement of a 2-foot clean soil cover and turf

The DEC says: “A site-specific health and safety plan (HASP) and a Community Air Monitoring
Plan (CAMP) will be implemented during remediation activities. The HASP and
CAMP establish procedures to protect on-site workers and residents and includes
required air monitoring as well as dust and odor suppression measures.”

After the cleanup is finished, the DEC says it is possible to redevelop the property. Right now, the future of the former rail yard is undetermined.

“When NYSDEC is satisfied that cleanup requirements have been achieved or will be achieved for the site, it will approve the Final Engineering Report. NYSDEC will then issue a Certificate of Completion to the applicant(s). The applicant(s) would be able to redevelop the site in conjunction with receiving a Certificate of Completion. In addition, the applicant(s) would be eligible for tax credits to offset the costs of performing cleanup activities and for redevelopment of the site.”

You can view the full “Fact Sheet” from the Department of Environmental Conservation below:

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