The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) announces that the printed Record of Decision (ROD) for the 75-09 Woodhaven Boulevard (Home Depot Off-site) site (“site”) located at 75-09 Woodhaven Boulevard, Rego Park, Queens, NY is available for public review.

On Monday, March 11, 2019 NYSDEC held a public meeting presenting the Proposed Remedial Action Plan for the site. The comments received at this meeting and during the public comment period (February 27, 2019 through March 29, 2019), along with the administrative record, were considered in preparing the final ROD for the site. The ROD presents the remedy selected to address contamination related to the site and the rationale for the chosen remedy. The ROD also includes a Responsiveness Summary that addresses public comments received about the selected remedy. The estimated cost to implement this remedy is $5,000,000.

Record of Decision: The following is a summary of the selected remedy described in the ROD:
In-Situ (In-Place) Chemical Oxidation (ISCO) treatment, with Site Management, for the off-site contaminated groundwater plume. ISCO treatment of the off-site plume involves the injection of chemical oxidizers directly into groundwater to destroy the contamination in place. NYSDEC anticipates that this action, combined with now completed the on-site work, natural attenuation and degradation processes, will significantly reduce contaminant concentrations in the off-site plume. NYSDEC believes that this remedy is protective of public health and the environment.

Development and implementation of a Site Management Plan, which includes the following:
Monitoring Plan to assess the performance and effectiveness of the remedy implemented under the Home Depot On-Site project. The plan includes, but may not be limited to:
– monitoring of groundwater and soil vapor in the off-site area to assess the performance and effectiveness of the on-site remedy; and
– soil vapor intrusion sampling of potentially impacted buildings, as determined to be necessary by the New York State Department of Health, with provision for implementing actions recommended to address exposures related to soil vapor intrusion.

Site Description: The 75-09 Woodhaven Boulevard (Home Depot Off-Site) site, referred to as Operable Unit 1, comprises a portion of the Home Depot Voluntary Cleanup Program site (No. V00095) and is 0.692 acres. Operable Unit 1 is currently used as part of a home improvement/building supply retail business and makes up a small portion of the overall store complex.

The off-site area, referred to as Operable Unit 2, is approximately 90 acres and is bounded by 88th Street to the west, Forest View Crescent building and 81st Road to the east, and Forest Park to the south. Operable Unit 2, which is the subject of this ROD, consists of mostly residential and some commercial uses to the west and southwest across Woodhaven Boulevard.

Summary of the Investigation: Soil, groundwater and soil vapor were analyzed for multiple parameters including volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Based upon the investigations conducted to date, the primary contaminant of concern is tetrachloroethylene (PCE).
PCE is present in groundwater at concentrations up to 1,900 parts per billion (ppb) and 230 ppb, which were detected at approximately 2,000 and 2,600 feet downgradient from the source, respectively. The depth of contamination from these sample locations are approximately 150 feet below the ground surface.

Soil vapor data confirmed that elevated concentrations of PCE exist southwest of the site. Low levels of PCE degradation products, trichloroethene (TCE) and vinyl chloride (VC), were also detected in several soil vapor samples southwest of the site.

Additional site details, including environmental and health assessment summaries, are available on NYSDEC's Environmental Site Remediation Database (by entering the Site ID, 241036) at:
http://www.dec.ny.gov/cfmx/extapps/derexternal/index.cfm

Where to Find Information:
Project documents are available at the following location(s) to help the public stay informed.

Queens Public Library
North Forest Park Branch 98-27 Metropolitan Avenue
Forest Hills, NY 11375 (718) 261-5521, Call for hours

Queens Borough Community Board #5
61-23 Myrtle Avenue Glendale, NY 11385 (718) 366-1834

Queens Borough Community Board #6
104-01 Metropolitan Avenue Forest Hills, NY 11375 (718) 263-9250

The ROD also can be reviewed on the NYSDEC website at: https://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/37550.html

Who to Contact:
Comments and questions are always welcome and should be directed as follows:

Project-Related Questions
Sadique Ahmed, Project Manager NYSDEC
625 Broadway
Albany, NY 12233
(518) 402-9767
sadique.ahmed@dec.ny.gov

Project-Related Health Questions
Arunesh Ghosh NYSDOH
Empire State Plaza Corning Tower, Room 1787 Albany, NY 12237
(518) 402-7860
beei@health.ny.gov
For more information about New York’s State Superfund Program, visit: www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/8439.html