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The state is investigating volatile organic compounds that have been found around the Honeywell plant on John Street.

The New York state Departments of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Health (DOH) announced Thursday that they have directed Honeywell to immediately conduct a soil vapor intrusion investigation after the detection of volatile organic compounds trichloroethylene (TCE) and 1,1,1-trichloroethane (111-TCA), at the company's former John Street facility.

According to a DEC news release, soil vapor intrusion is the "process by which contamination beneath the ground's surface moves into the indoor air of overlying buildings." Such investigations are routinely completed near sites where VOCs, or chemicals that can easily enter the air as gases from some solids or liquids, are detected to help determine if any actions are required to protect residents from potential exposure.

Residents have been asked to allow air sampling in and under their homes.

Under the supervision of DEC and DOH, Honeywell representatives have conducted a door-to-door outreach effort to reach property owners and tenants at around 39 properties near the former John St. facility, and asked them to participate in a sampling program.

All homes in the identified area are on the Village's drinking water system, according to the DEC, and all finished water samples on this system have consistently returned non-detect levels of these compounds and testing for VOCs is part of routine operations.

Honeywell's contractors will collect samples from these properties' basements, immediately beneath the basements' floors, and outside of each building. Air samples will be collected over a 24-hour period and requires installation of a sampling port through the basement floor and evaluation of whether volatile chemicals are used or stored within the home. Property owners will receive their results from Honeywell and its contractor within 30 days of validation.

Based on a review of the results, DOH will recommend appropriate actions for Honeywell to undertake, which may include no further action, resampling, ongoing monitoring, or mitigation.

Click here to see Honeywell's factsheet regarding their expanded sampling effort, here and here for more information on soil vapor intrusion. Some VOCs, which are chemicals that can easily enter the air as gases from some solids or liquids, are suspected or known carcinogens. Click here for more information on volatile organic compounds.

The Village Board will hold a discussion on the issue at its Feb. 14 meeting.

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