Town Hires Consultant Watchdog for Chappaqua Brownfield

CHAPPAQUA, NY — New Castle town officials have hired an environmental consultant to help them stay on top of the odor problem at Hunts Place. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation ordered the suspension of soil excavation and removal at Conifer Realty's affordable-housing site in Chappaqua last week due to "unacceptable" odors.

The site, located at 54 Hunts Place, was once used for the handling of coal and oil, according to town records. A remediation of the site, pursuant to the Brownfield cleanup program, was a condition for the New Castle Town Board's 2013 approval of a special permit for the housing development. (SIGN UP: Click here to get Patch’s daily newsletter, news alerts and updates.)

Town officials and many residents have been opposed to the 28-unit apartment building, voicing concerns that the people who would live there would be marginalized by the community as well as endangered because the building would be so close to tracks and roads.

Now many residents are concerned about the smell and the potential health risks the excavation could be causing themselves. The odor problem did not respond to initial efforts, which is why the DEC stopped the remediation work temporarily.

But because the DEC approved the remediation plan which it is overseeing, town officials decided to do more. On Wednesday, they hired environmental consultant WCD Group, LLC.

"I also spoke with NYSDEC who agreed to allow our environmental consultant the opportunity to review and comment on the air monitoring plan and revised odor control plan before the developer’s contractor is allowed to resume additional excavation associated with the remediation," Town Supervisor Rob Greenstein told residents in an email. "We requested, and NYSDEC agreed to provide, their investigation report & remediation work plan. We also requested that the air sensor reports be provided to us. We have requested that the NYS Department of Health review the air sensor reports on a daily basis. We will also be sampling the air, and reviewing the sensor reports. We are seeking assistance from other agencies, such as the EPA and the Westchester County Department of Health.

"Today, we are constrained to making the project as safe as possible. We will continue to do everything in our power to protect residents from any health hazards."

Photo: Excavation activity at the Conifer Realty site in Chappaqua. Image was taken by Ed Frank.

SEE ALSO: DEC Halts Work At Chappaqua Affordable-Housing Site Due To Odors