Topic: Important Announcement

A new feature has been added to the home page of this web site.

At the upper right portion of the home page there now is a big blue Comment button. Click on the button to bring up your E-mail client and send the MCIG your comment about the remediation project in Middleport, about this web site, or any other related subject. You can also use the button to send the MCIG a question. Comments and questions may be discussed at MCIG meetings.

Comments and questions will be posted after a review either on the home page, in the Share an Opinion section of the site or in the FAQ section.

As part of the Corrective Measures Study to be performed in Middleport by FMC under guidance by the government agencies (USEPA, NYSDEC and NYSDOH) there was a risk assessment study conducted by Dr. Rosalind Schoof of Integral Consulting. The assessment will be used to determine how the arsenic contamination in Middleport soils affects the residents and at what levels contamination becomes a concern.

The result of the survey can be viewed by clicking here.

Dr. Schoof is an internationally recognized expert on arsenic in the environment and has performed past studies on the arsenic contamination in Middleport.

Dr. Schoof held information workshops on November 4th and 5th. A flyer was delivered door to door in the CMS study areas. That flyer can be viewed by clicking here.

The final versions of RFI Volumes 1, 2 and 4, agreed to by the government agencies with oversite responsibilities of the Middleport RCRA project, is available in the Document Repository of this site. Click here to go to the category containing the volumes.

Volume 1 contains background and historical information, Volume 2 has the Facilities Investigation of the Air Deposition Area of the village which is that area south of the Erie Canal to Route 31 (Rochester Rd.) and Main St. east to the Niagara/Orleans County line. Volume 4 has the Facilities Investigation of Culvert 105 which is a drainage pathway starting at the railroad tracks north of the FMC plant running to the sewage treatment plant on N. Hartland St.

The draft version for Volume 5 is also there however this volume is currently undergoing revisions negotiated between FMC and the Agencies. This volume has the Facilities Investigation of the Jeddo Creek Tributary (Tributary #1) from Francis St., north to Pearson Rd.

These volumes report on the investigation of the extent of arsenic contamination in soils and creek beds in their respective areas.

A letter has been sent to Mr. Brian McGinnis of FMC signed by Mr. Matt Mortifolio of the NYSDEC for himself and Mike Infurna of the USEPA dated September 14, 2009, stating the Agencies (NYSDEC, USEPA and NYSDOH) are in agreement with the CMS Work Plan for the Air Deposition Area and Culvert 105 and that the Work Plan is consistent with the Agencies' Final Corrective Action Objectives.

In conjunction with the FMC proposed schedule, the agencies have set June 15, 2010, as the target date FMC will submit the draft version of the Corrective Measures Study report to the Agencies. August 16, 2010, is the target date for the submission of the final version of the Corrective Measures Study report.

There are three clarifications specified in the letter.

1. The CMS Work Plan describes using "Probabilistic Risk Assessment" to evaluate site-specific human health risks associated with arsenic in soil. The agencies reserve the right to comment on the applicability of these types of risk assessments for the Middleport project, in conjunction with the Agencies' review of FMC's submission entitled "FMC Middleport Risk Management Approach for the CMS Suspected Air Deposition Area 1 and Culvert 105 Study Area" required under Task 2 of the CMS Work Plan.


2. The performance of site-specific risk assessments are considered, by the Agencies, to be one tool but not the only appropriate evaluation method upon which judgments are made regarding human exposure to environmental contaminants and the need for corrective measures.


3. The agencies approval of the CMS Work Plan should not be interpreted as relieving FMC of their obligation under the AOC to satisfy the requirements set forth in an attachment to the AOC (Scope of Work for the CMS).

The document referenced in clarification #1 is targeted for submission by FMC to the Agencies on October 30, 2009. The Agencies will publish their comments on it by December 30, 2009.

Therefore, at this time with the draft version of the CMS report due for submission in June of next year, it appears it should be known by next summer the properties which will probably be recommended for remediation. Although it must be reviewed and agreed to by the Agencies.

The draft investigation report for the Jeddo Creek tributary between Francis St. and Pearson Rd. (RFI Vol 5) has a target date of October 23, 2009. There will be a 45 day open public comment session scheduled at this time between November 9 and December 24, 2009 with an approval of the final version of the report scheduled for February 15, 2010. The CMS work plan for the tributary will follow.

The Middleport Community Input Group has been recognized by the EPA receiving their Environmental Quality Award. This is one of the highest awards given by the EPA and recognizes the MCIG's effort to achieve an environmentally safe community while trying to maintain the character of the village. This award was be presented to the MCIG by Mike Infurna from the EPA at the June 9th MCIG meeting.

RFI Volume 5 is now available in the Document Repository.

This volume covers the investigation of Jeddo Creek Tributary 1 from Francis St. to the Pearson and Stone Roads in the Town of Hartland.

You can go directly to the download section by clicking here. Look for the Volume 5 references. Volumes 1, 2 and 4 are also in this section. Volume 1 has background and history of the entire area, Volume 2 covers the investigation of the Air Deposition Area and Volume 4 has the investigation of Culvert 105.

The Middleport Community Input Group's web site has instituted a semi-automated registration procedure.

Click on the EZ Sign Up link in the Main Menu or below. A form will appear with the entry fields for the required information to send to the CIG. Within 24 hours, you will receive an E-mail with your logon name and requested password.

Please keep in mind all information will be kept in strict confidence. Nick names and initials are typically used for logon names not full names.

Once registered, you will be able to logon and leave comments and vote in polls.

The MCIG regrets requiring registration. An open web site was used for several months but spammers and hackers were defeating the purpose and intent of the site.

Go to EZ sign up

Beginning September 1st


Since this web site was redesigned earlier this year it has been open to anyone, registered or not, to leave comments and vote in polls. This has allowed hackers and spammers to interfere with what we are trying to do with the site.

It is important to note that this site will always be available to readers to see our news, read and download documents and to learn what the CIG is about. You do NOT need to be registered to read news stories or polls on the site or download items. These things will always be visible.

As discussed and agreed to at the August CIG meeting, beginning September 1, the web site will require anyone who wants to leave a comment or vote in polls to be registered and logged in. In the past these functions could be done as an unregistered, anonymous user. You can still leave comments anonymously or with another name by over typing your registered name when it is displayed in the leave a comment form. Polls do not show names or addresses of those who have voted.

Again, this will NOT affect the ability for unregistered users to read stories, look at comments or polls and download files.

Any registered user who has problems loging in or doesn't remember their name and password should contact the CIG at feedback@middleport-future.com. Anyone wishing to be registered should also contact the CIG at the same E-mail address. We need your name, address and the name you wish to use for your ID on the site. All information will be kept confidential.