NORWICH – Cleanup and decontamination efforts at a former New York State Electric and Gas plant – located behind Front and Birdsall Streets and adjacent to the Tops parking lot – continue to remain on target for completion in June of 2011, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

Originally utilized for the manufacturing of natural gas from 1863 to 1953, well over 50,000 gallons of coal tar-water mixture, containing nearly 25,500 gallons of coal tar, have been successfully removed from the site. Pumping for the remaining contaminants, as part of phase two of the project, is expected to resume this spring.

In November of 2010, NYSEG Manager of Regional Outreach and Development James Salmon said that “NYSEG will resume pumping in April of 2011 and continue pumping until no more coal tar can be removed.”

Following a sufficient period of coal tar oil removal at a second, off-site location south of Front Street, any remaining contaminants would be treated by in-situ chemical oxidation, which will destroy any remaining coal tar and break it down into carbon dioxide and water.