The City of Rochester has established within the Division of Environmental Quality the Office of Environmental Remediation (OER). The primary objective of the OER is to provide services for environmental due diligence assessments, environmental cleanups, and to assist with Brownfield remediation and redevelopment projects located within the City of Rochester. Specific program areas are summarized below.
Site Assessment, Investigations and Cleanups
The Office of Environmental Remediation administers and manages contracts and programs for environmental site assessments, remedial investigations, remedial design, and the environmental cleanup of sites contaminated with hazardous substances, regulated solid waste, or hazardous wastes. The OER performs Phase I Environmental Site Assessments, remedial site investigations and estimates potential cleanup costs associated with the purchase or sale of contaminated properties. This Office also manages environmental cleanup projects ranging from small storage tank closures, Interim Remedial Measures (IRMs), to full-scale subsurface soil and groundwater cleanup projects using a wide variety of innovative cleanup technologies. This Office routinely works with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). Typical industrial and commercial sites investigated and remediated include:
- Gasoline Service Stations & Underground Storage Tank Sites
- Landfills & Waste Sites
- Dry Cleaners, Machine Shops & Scrap Yards
- Vehicle Service & Collision Shops
- Former Industrial & Manufacturing Facilities
- Tax Delinquent Brownfield Properties
Remediation System Operation & Monitoring
OER performs routine operation, maintenance and monitoring of remediation systems operating at cleanup sites located throughout the City. This program includes:
- Soil, groundwater, and waste water sample collection and laboratory analysis at sites where remediation is complete but long-term performance and compliance monitoring is required.
- Monitoring of soil vapor intrusion mitigation systems including sub-slab vapor mitigation systems.
- Routine operation and maintenance and performance monitoring of soil and groundwater remediation systems, including operation of a groundwater pump and treatment system.
- Preparation and submission of required NYSDEC Periodic Review Reports to ensure cleanup site remedies and environmental institutional and engineering controls are functioning as designed and still protective of human health and the environment.
Brownfield Redevelopment
Brownfields are properties where the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substances, pollutants, or contamination. Many Brownfield sites are abandoned or under-utilized commercial and industrial properties, but can include certain mixed use or residential properties also. DEQ supports other City departments in a collective effort to investigate, cleanup and re-use urban land. The DEQ Office of Environmental Remediation has completed dozens of investigations and cleanups at Brownfield project sites, including:
Brownfield Grants
The Office of Environmental Remediation solicits for State and Federal grant funding opportunities for environmental planning, site assessments, and cleanup projects. This Office also works with the New York State Office of the State Comptroller and the New York Environmental Protection and Spill Compensation Fund (Oil Spill Fund) to leverage Oil Spill Funding to assist with remediation of formerly tax delinquent gasoline stations owned by the City of Rochester. Brownfield grant programs include:
- NYSDEC Environmental Restoration Program (ERP) grants
- NYS Office of the State Comptroller Oil Spill Fund
- USEPA Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA ) Site Assessment grants
- USEPA Area Wide Planning grant
- USEPA Petroleum Assessment grant
- USEPA Revolving Loan Fund grant
- USEPA Brownfield Cleanup Grant
- NYS Department of State Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA) grants, including Vacuum Oil BOA
Further Information:
For further detailed information, please refer to the following webpages:
For additional information, contact:
Anne Spaulding, Division Manager, Division of Environmental Quality
Phone: 585-428-7474
Email: Anne.Spaulding@cityofrochester.gov