For the first twenty years that the General Motors Plant was open in Massena, NY it unknowingly released harmful pollutants into the surrounding waterways. These contaminants were harmful to the wildlife and the community. GM is now classified as a Superfund (NPL History List). To understand what a Superfund project is and why GM is called that we must first understand the history of GM.
The General Motors Plant was founded on September 16, 1908 in Flint Michigan as a holding company for Buick. The company soon acquired more businesses such as Oldsmobile, Cadillac, Elmore, and Oakland to establish a much more predominant establishment.(NPL History List) In 1959 General Motors built a plant in Massena New York. The plant was used to make engines, transmissions, and cylinder heads for GM products. During the first twenty years of production the plant used polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the hydraulic fluid for the die casting process. Die casting is a process in which molten aluminum is forced into molds under hydraulic pressure to create casts (Department of Health).
Up until 1980 these harmful contaminants were stored in four on site lagoons. When the wastes settled to the bottom, the remaining surface water was released into the St. Lawrence River. The PCBs were also transported to on site landfills. Some of these contaminants migrated from the site during the transportation to off-site areas including waterways. (GM, Central Foundry Division) This was a potentially large problem because the surrounding Mohawk Community used the waterways as a source of food and drink. Because of this, the site was registered on the New York State Registry of Hazardous Waste Sites and on the federal National Priority List (NPL) in 1983. The Mohawk Community and all other persons were directed to not consume any fish or wildlife from the rivers. (Arquette) Ultimately the site was classified as a superfund project, and is considered a priority clean up. (GM, Central Foundry Division)
What are the effect of PCB’s on people and animals? Polychlorinated Biphenyls are a man made substance including up to 209 different chlorinated compounds. There are no known natural sources of these substances. PCB’s can be colorless, odorless, and tasteless. It is hard to know that they are there without looking for them. PCB’s are used as insulators and coolants because they do not burn easily. The manufacturing of PCB’s was stopped in 1977 after studies indicated that they could be harmful to humans and wildlife. (EPA)
PCB’s enter the environment by air, water, and land. They bind to soil and wildlife in water very well. High levels of these contaminants accumulate in fish and when consumed by humans or animals can be very dangerous. The levels in fish can be thousands of times higher than in the surrounding water. PCB’s remain active in the environment for very long periods of time. (EPA)
The most common health effect of the elements is acne-like rash on the skin, but much more serious side effects may occur. Studies in exposed workers show changes in blood and urine indicating liver damage. Animals that ate large amounts of PCB’s for a short period of time showed mild liver damage and some died. Other animals that ate small amounts over a long period of time showed signs of acne-like rash, anemia, liver damage, stomach damage, and thyroid gland injuries. Other effects in animals include behavioral problems, reproductive problems, and changes in the immune system. (Health Consultation)
Very few studies of workers indicated that PCB’s were associated with cancer of the liver, and of the biliary tract. Rats that ate moderate levels for two years developed liver cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has concluded that the PCB’s may be carcinogenic to humans. There are tests to be conducted to see the levels of PCB”S in your blood, body fat, and breast milk but they are not conducted regularly. Almost everyone has small amounts in their bodies because they were exposed to a contaminated substance in their life at some point. (Clearwater)
So why is General Motors classified as a Superfund? A Superfund is defined as a United States government program established for toxic waste cleanup. General Motors was put on the EPL list in 1983 making it a Superfund site. The Comprehensive Environmental Response, commonly known as Superfund, was enacted by Congress on December 11, 1980. This law created a tax on the chemical and petroleum industries and provided Federal authority to respond directly to releases or threatened releases of hazardous substances that may endanger public health or the environment. Over five years, $1.6 billion was collected and the tax went to a trust fund for cleaning up abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous waste sites.
The GM plant is classified as a Superfund because of the high levels of PCB’s surrounding the plant and in the local environment. The high levels in the St. Lawrence River have made it dangerous for people to eat sport fish and to drink the water. A lot of the Mohawk community still uses the river as a means for food and drink and traces of PCB’s have already been detected in the breast milk of some nursing Mohawk mothers. Without classifying the site as a Superfund and establishing cleanup programs then the safety of the community is at stake. The substances have proven to be carcinogenic and harmful to exposed humans. (Health Consultation)
There are three steps in the remediation process, one short term, and two long term approaches. The one immediate action was taken in 1987 when GM placed a cap on the onsite landfills. This was done to prevent any contaminants from migrating to off site locations. The surrounding waterways to the plant were of particular concern when deciding the clean up approach. General Motors completed dredging of the St. Lawrence River in 1995 for the first time. The hazardous sediments were shipped to a processing plant by rail. From July 2000 through August 2004, remediation of two inactive onsite lagoons took place. Contaminated sludge and soils from a 1.5-million gallon lagoon and a 350,000 gallon lagoon were excavated and taken to an offsite disposal area. In October 2004 GM started the cleanup of Turtle Cove, which included the dredging of the cove and the excavation of surrounding tribal land. The cleanup of Turtle Cove concluded in March 2005. There were also cleanup efforts being done on two other tribal sites. These sites cannot be addressed until permission is given by land owners. (GM, Central foundry division)
Underground water was also affected by the PCB’s. In order to monitor the underwater condition eighteen wells were drilled on site and are monitored on a quarterly basis. It was anticipated that the groundwater remediation would be complete in late 2009. The remedy selected by the EPA in 1992 for the East Disposal Area included excavating heavily contaminated areas. The EPA also put a cap on the disposal area to prevent outside contamination. (EPA)
The Mohawk Community was affected the most by the contaminated waterways and airspace. The majority of the Mohawk community’s diet consists of fish caught in the St. Lawrence River. When these fish became contaminated and potentially dangerous to eat, the tribe had to switch to less healthy alternatives to fresh fish. Fish is an important part of the Mohawk diet because it is a low fat, high protein meat. The GM overseer for the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe, Craig Arquette, commented by saying, “Our community stopped eating fish and turned to a diet of less healthier food like mac and cheese.” Many Mohawk citizens are concerned for their health. Traces of PCB’s have been found in the breast milk but the chemicals have not been linked to any negative effects in infants. (Arquette)
Although the PCB problem is the biggest concern with the site, other problems arise with the GM plant. The original estimated time for the clean-up was seven years. This was disappointing to some local officials because the plant was planned to be reused and to supply jobs for local residents. This area has seen a sharp rise in unemployment following the closing of the General Motors plant. A group called the D’Arcinoff Group was interested in leasing the plant to manufacture wind turbines. This could not be made possible until the site was finished with the remediation process. The proposed windmill project would not only create jobs in the region and make the plant a productive industrial site again, but would be involved in creating a green energy source, which could help offset carbon emissions and pollution elsewhere. CEO Michael Darcy said, “We’re not planning to turn them into condos, we want to put the same people back to work running the same types of equipment they’re used to.”(Watertown daily times)
The remediation process on the GM plant is slow, but is taking effect. We cannot expect the Superfund site to be rid of contaminants over night. The EPA is doing everything they can as quickly as possible to make the environment safe again. The EPA project manager, Anne E. Kelly said the cleanup of the Massena site is considered to be one of the most complex and most expensive remediation projects facing General Motors Liquidation out of their approximately 190 locations. “This site is at the top of their list, not only for proper cleanup but for redevelopment,” says Ms. Kelly. First stages of the remediation process have been completed on the St. Lawrence River and on some lagoons. Officials have estimated the site cleanup to cost about $60 million. “The St. Regis Mohawk Tribe believes that once the costs of annually maintaining sediment caps and other contained pollution remaining on the site are factored in, the cost of solving pollution problems at the Massena site is closer to $225 million.” (Watertown daily times)
The GM Superfund site was put on the NPL for the high level of PCB’s. Like any other Superfund site, the GM situation is being handled with care and haste to ensure that life in this area can be put back the way it was before the contaminants invaded our waterways and environment.
Bibliography
Health Consultation, General Motors/Central Foundry Division Update
New York State Department of health, General Motors Central Foundry Division
NPL History list, Congressional District 24,
Final Date:9/1/1984
The Hudson River PCB story,
Health Effects of PCBs, Environmental Protection Agency
Arquette, Craig
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