Asbestos at mills delays park launch
Hazardous material must be removed
By: Joe Malinconico
Paterson Press
PATERSON - Federal environmental officials on Monday [09/16/2024] will start removing asbestos and other hazardous materials from industrial ruins near the Great Falls, delaying indefinitely the opening of a $7.6 million national park expansion.
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The cleanup work comes after more than seven years of debate over how to protect the pubic from the toxins in the crumbling old mill buildings while also preserving historically significant structures at what many consider the birthplace of America's Industrial R Evolution.
..... The
area in question - generally known as the Allied Textile Printing site - once contained an early 19th century factory where Colt guns were built as well as the fabric mills that helped give the Silk City its nickname.
..... The contaminated ruins are located within the boundaries of the national park in a section that remains closed to the public. But the recently completed park expansion, known as the Quarry Lawn and River-walk project, would have allowed tourists to stroll less than 100 feet away from the hazards.
..... As a result, officials have postponed the new park area's opening until the cleanup is finished. The federal Environmental Protection agency said Friday. [09/13/2024] that the work would, take "several months."
..... Mayor Andre Sayegh had been scheduled to hold a press conference showing off the new park amenities on Monday, [09/16/2024] the same day the cleanup is scheduled to start. Sayegh, who repeatedly has said he expects tourism at the national park to become a catalyst for Paterson's revitalization, instead held the ceremony on Friday. [09/13/2024]
..... "I fully support the remediation work to address the contaminants at the Allied Textile Printing site because the health and safety of Paterson's residents and visitors is my top priority,' Sayegh said.
..... The mayor said the city has given the EPA "unfetted access" to the ATP site.
..... "We cannot afford further delays in the remediation work that may jeopardize both the safety of our community and the opening of a project that will enhance the aesthetic appeal of the Great Falls," Sayegh said.
..... "That is why my administration has been working closely with the EPA on a timeline for remediation to ensure we can open quarry Lawn to the public without compromising on safety."
..... At various times in the past six years, officials in the Sayegh administration emphasized the historical significance of the industrial ruins and pushed back against the EPA assertions that the crumbling structures should be removed.
..... The EPA detailed its plans in a letter sent to local officials and community leaders on August 30. [2024]
..... The federal agency plans to remove the top half of a deteriorating smoke-stack at the ATP site and many demolish three buildings that are part of what officials call the area's boiler complex.
..... The EPA letter called the project "time-critical" and said there has been "ongoing release of asbestos" at the site. Federal officials have not provided details on the asbestos release.
..... "EPA has determined that there is an imminent and substantial threat to human health posed by the potential release of asbestos or other hazardous substances at the site," said the August 20 [2024] letter. "The fact that the newly constructed Quarry lawn Park extends within 100 feet of the boiler complex presents a new urgency for EPA to initiate a time-critical removal action at the site."
..... "Due to the nature of the asbestos contamination present at the site, the entire action is considered time-critical until EPA is satisfied the cleanup goals have been achieved," the letter said. "The entire removal action will be performed on-site, except for disposal of removed hazardous substances and other materials that will occur off-site.
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The EPA said the cleanup would include dust control measures and air quality monitoring to avert health risks to the public during the work.
..... "We are grateful for the ongoing cooperation and work with local, state, and federal partners to balance historic preservation consideration," said EPA regional administrator Lisa Garcia in Friday's [09/13/2024] press release.
..... "Our goal is to complete this work efficiently and put this property on the path to productive reuse for the city of Paterson."
..... Darren Boch, superintendent of the Great Falls park, said the National Park Service would fully cooperate with the EPA's cleanup work.
..... "The national park will remain open to visitors for the duration of the project," Boch said. "We hope they will complete their work as safely and expeditiously as possible so the NPS and the city of Paterson can open the new Quarry Lawn park to the nearly 300,000 visitors who come to the great Falls each year."