GE/Housatonic River Site in New England

Former Filled Oxbows

During the late 1930s and early 1940s, portions of the Housatonic River in Pittsfield were rechannelized by the City (with the help of the Army Corps of Engineers) to straighten that stretch of the river for flood control purposes. The rechannelization process isolated former bends in the old river channel, creating a number of oxbows. These ponded or swampy oxbow areas were subsequently backfilled with various materials, including industrial wastes. A total of 11 former oxbow areas have been identified near the GE facility in Pittsfield. One of the 11 oxbows (oxbow H) is located within the GE Plant Area and it is covered under the East Street Area 2 - South RAA.

Former Oxbow Areas A and C - Former Oxbow Area A is approximately 5 acres in size and occupies a large open field on the south side of the Housatonic River north of Elm Street and Newell Street. The majority of this area is undeveloped and covered with grass and low brush, although commercial businesses occupy a portion of the parcels containing the former oxbows. Former Oxbow Area C is approximately 2 acres in size and located immediately east of Former Oxbow Area A, along the south side of the Housatonic River, near the end of Day Street. This area consists mostly of an undeveloped field surrounded by trees and brush. GE has completed the sampling as required in the Consent Decree and the Final Remedial Design/Remedial Action Work Plan was approved during 2006. The remedial action for this area was substantially completed in 2006. The final Consent Decree documentation designating this site as complete should be issued in 2008.

The riverbank portion adjacent to this area will be subject to a separate Removal Action associated with the 1 1/2 Mile Reach of the Housatonic River, as described in the CD.

Lyman Street Area - This approximately 9-acre area is located immediately west of East Street Area 2 - South and is generally bounded by the Housatonic River to the south, East Street and several commercial/residential properties to the north, and Cove Street to the west. Approximately 3 acres of the area is composed of the GE-owned Lyman Street Parking Lot, which is paved. Former Oxbow Area D lies under the parking lot. The remaining GE-owned portions of this area are partially paved and undeveloped. The non-GE portion of the area consist of an undeveloped right-of-way for high tension electricity transmission lines (containing Former Oxbow Area E) and Former Oxbow Area B. Former Oxbow Area B is approximately 3 acres in size and located north of and across the Housatonic River from Former Oxbow Area C, west of Lyman Street, and immediately east of Cove Street. Nearly all of this former oxbow area is used for parking in support of local commercial businesses, although a commercial use building occupies a small portion of the area. The remaining portions are undeveloped.

The riverbank portion adjacent to this area will be subject to Removal Actions associated with the Upper 1/2 Mile Reach and the 1 1/2 Mile Reach of the Housatonic River (as described in the CD), as well as NAPL source control activities.

Newell Street Area II - This approximately 8-acre area is located immediately west of Newell Street Area I and is generally bounded by the Housatonic River to the north, Newell Street and residential property to the south, and Sackett Street to the west. Approximately 3 acres of this area is composed of the GE-owned Newell Street Parking Lot, which is paved. The remaining GE-owned portions of this area are wooded. The non-GE-owned portions of this area consist of an undeveloped right of way for high tension electricity transmission lines, and undeveloped private property. The remedial action for this area was substantially completed in 2006. The final Consent Decree documentation designating this site as complete should be issued in 2008.

The riverbank portion adjacent to this area will be subject to a separate Removal Action associated with the Upper 1/2 Mile Reach of the Housatonic River, as described in the CD.

Newell Street Area I - This approximately 11-acre area is generally composed of 10 commercial/industrial properties and three recreational properties located along Newell Street. This area is bounded by the Housatonic River to the north, Newell Street to the south, the Hibbard School playground to the east (including the northwest corner of that playground within this area), and Ontario Street Extension and the GE-owned Newell Street Parking Lot to the west. The remedial action for this area was initiated in 2003 and substantially completed in 2006. The final Consent Decree documentation designating this site as complete should be issued in 2008.

The riverbank portion adjacent to this area will be subject to a separate Removal Action for the Upper 1/2 Mile Reach of the Housatonic River, as described in the CD.

Former Oxbow Areas J and K - These areas are located approximately 2,500 feet upstream of the Newell Street bridge. Former Oxbow Area J measures approximately 4 acres in size, and is located on the north side of the Housatonic River near Fasce Place. Former Oxbow Area K occupies approximately one acre and is located on the south side of the Housatonic River across from Former Oxbow Area J near Ventura Avenue. While Former Oxbow Area K is undeveloped, Former Oxbow Area J is composed of residential property to the west and commercial property to the north along East Street. Remediation was conducted at the former Oxbow areas during 2006 and GE has submitted a draft Completion Report for the removal action.

Contact information regarding the GE Housatonic River Site.