Additional brownfield cleanup is recommended at the former Philips Lighting Company industrial site off state Route 54 in Bath.
That was the finding of a Remedial Investigation Report submitted in July.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is reviewing the report, which describes the results of a site investigation conducted over the past several years. The report recommends the development of an additional cleanup plan to address the contamination that was found.
Jamie Johnson, executive director of the Steuben County Industrial Development Agency, said brownfield cleanup at the 39-acre site was first permitted by the DEC in 2016.
“That’s when Philips first started getting the site cleaned up,” Johnson said. “This is just additional cleanup that needs to be done, but all identified and planned for by Philips. The DEC is approving the remediation plan.”
Why additional cleanup is needed
Based on the findings of the investigation, the DEC, in consultation with the New York State Department of Health, has determined that the site poses a significant threat to public health and the environment due to elevated levels of contaminants in both on-site and off-site groundwater and soil vapor.
The primary contaminants of concern are volatile organic compounds, primarily trichloroethene (TCE) and its associated breakdown products, according to the DEC. TCE is found in subsurface soils on-site at concentrations above use-specific soil cleanup objectives.
TCE is present at depths up to 35 feet below the existing ground surface, according to the DEC. Its presence is due to the historic uses of the site, likely including improper storage and handling of chemicals during operations.
The elevated levels of TCE have led to contamination of the regional groundwater aquifer leading to soil vapor intrusion issues for nearby off-site locations. As the cleanup moves to completion, DEC will continue to monitor, investigate, and if necessary, mitigate offsite soil vapor intrusion issues.
History of the Bath industrial site
The Bath site was first developed in 1951 by the Westinghouse Electric Corporation, which produced vacuum and receiver tubes, sodium-mercury vapor lamps, and molybdenum and tungsten filament wires.
Philips bought the site in the 1980s and manufactured quartz metal halide, high-pressure sodium, various metal halide arc tubes, halogen bulbs, and halophosphor coating powders.
The operation was shut down in phases between 2012 and 2014. The former superstructure was demolished in 2022.
Future of the site is uncertain
The site is currently vacant. No redevelopment plan for the property has been determined pending cleanup efforts to make the site safe for future use.
“Philips Lighting has not been actively marketing the site yet due to the ongoing cleanup,” Johnson said. “I know that there’s a level of frustration in the community, but you also can’t criticize the company for taking that stand. They want to make sure that whatever legacy that they’re leaving the community is a positive one.”
What are the next steps
DEC will complete its review, make any necessary revisions and, if appropriate, approve the investigation report.
If the plan is approved Philips will then develop a cleanup plan, called a Remedial Action Work Plan, according to the DEC. This plan describes how contamination will be addressed, with DEC and NYSDOH overseeing the work.
DEC will present the draft cleanup plan to the public for its review and comment during a 45-day comment period, officials said.
This article originally appeared on The Leader: Additional cleanup needed at former Philips Lighting Company site in Bath. What to know.
Reporting by Jeff Smith, Corning Leader / The Leader
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