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Gillette Outlines Sleepy Hollow Duracell Cleanup

SLEEPY HOLLOW, N.Y. – The necessary soil remediation that will be done to 78 properties near the former Duracell battery plant in Sleepy Hollow won't begin until the spring, Gillette Global External Relations Manager Kurt Iverson said at a recent public meeting on the contamination.

Gillette and AECOM officials first want to discuss and agree to individual site remediation plans with property owners. Gillette has contracted with AECOM to complete the actual remediation.

AECOM will also be doing additional sampling on properties the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation wants to look at, as well as properties that were missed during the first round of sampling because the homeowners weren't there or refused to get their soil tested.

“In the winter months, when it may not be appropriate to dig, we'll start doing that groundwork to talk to you about those plans,” Iverson said.

Soil remediation will probably start closest to the former plant and then move out in a logical fashion, Iverson said. Officials hope to keep the project at a manageable level so that there is as little impact as possible on residents in regards to noise and traffic, Iverson said.

Soil remediation consists of taking contaminated dirt away and bringing in new dirt. Iverson said landscaping would also be done to return everything to the way it looked before remediation.

Iverson said each remediation plan would be property specific and agreed upon by all parties that are involved.

“We realize this is your house, your property rights, and we're doing to respect that as much as possible,” he said.

Village officials will have little to do with the actual cleanup, although Village Administrator Anthony Giaccio has noted the village will be issuing permits to AECOM.

Gillette, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the New York State Department of Health will continue to be available for questions. The DEC will be accepting written comments on the proposed work plan until November 22.

Iverson said Gillette would also be looking into setting up a community storefront so that residents will have a place locally to get their questions answered.

For project-related questions, residents can contact DEC Project Manager Dan Lanners at 866-520-2334 or drlanner@gw.dec.state.ny.us.

For health-related questions, residents can contact Fay Navratil at the DOH at 518-402-7880.

Document repositories for the former Duracell site have been set up at Warner Library and Sleepy Hollow Village Hall.

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