
Green Sustainable Remediation (GSR)
Earth day (April 22) is a time to recognize the importance of keeping our air, water, soil, and overall environment protected and clean. DEC’s Division of Environmental Remediation is committed to the principles and practices of Green Sustainable Remediation (GSR) - related to site cleanups. This approach employs strategies to:
reduce energy use;
employ more renewable resources;
reduce air pollutants and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions;
decrease water use and preserve water quality;
conserve material and reduce waste; and
protect land and ecosystems.
GSR helps us all to keep “Living the Green life” by revitalizing our communities through sustainable remediation measures. The success of GSR can be seen firsthand in site cleanups. Highlights from a few completed and ongoing projects:
Former Geneva Foundry (Geneva, Ontario County)
Operational from the late 19th century until 1988 and manufactured a variety of metal products. Air emissions (fly ash) from the former foundry’s furnaces contained lead and arsenic, which were deposited onto the soil in the surrounding area. Site cleanup was conducted from April 2017 through July 2024.
Over 94,000 tons of contaminated soil and debris were removed from neighborhood properties – 73,755 tons of that soil was beneficially reused as alternate operating cover at a local landfill. This reduced the amount of clean cover materials that the landfill needed to import from other areas.
Clean soil used as backfill material was locally sourced, and an idle reduction plan was implemented. These measures reduced GHG emissions associated with trucking.
A Community Air Monitoring Plan required continuous air monitoring during all excavation and backfilling activities. This ensured that no additional contamination was released to the environment or adjacent properties during cleanup.
Asphalt millings from road repaving were provided to the city for reuse in local areas.
Enhancements made to Genesee Park: new sidewalks, additional seating areas, and a new community stage.
Trees of important were saved when feasible and non-native species were removed.
In total, 48.3 acres of land were remediated, and 244 private and community properties were cleaned up.