TONAWANDA -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers signed the Record of Decision selecting the final remedial action plan to clean up contaminated soils at the former Linde Site on March 3, 2000.

The former Linde Site is currently owned by Praxair Incorporated and is located at 175 East Park Drive, Tonawanda, New York.

Soils at the facility became contaminated as a result of Manhattan Engineering District activities that involved separation of uranium ores. Contaminants of concern include radium, thorium and uranium.

With the exception of soils beneath Building 14, the selected cleanup remedy includes:

• excavation and off-site disposal of Manhattan Engineering District contaminated soils that exceed relevant and appropriate criteria identified in 40 CFR 192 and 10 CFR 40 App A, Criterion 6 (6).
• demolition of buildings, foundations and slabs associated with Buildings 57, 67, 73, 73B, 75, 76, and former Buildings 30 and 38,
• removal of tank saddles north of the Building 30 slab,
• removal of a wall in Building 31 to access contaminated sub-slab and sub-footing soils,
• removal of contaminated sediments in underground drain lines,
• removal of contaminated soils in the blast wall structure located east of Building 58, and
• remediation of a subsurface vault structure located just west of Building 73.

This remedy is protective of human health and the environment, complies with Federal and State requirements that are legally applicable or relevant and appropriate to hazardous substances that are subject to this response action and is cost-effective.

Responses to comments received on the Proposed Plan that was released for public comment on March 28, 1999 are addressed in the Record of Decision Responsiveness Summary.

Remediation of the former Linde Site is authorized for cleanup under the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The Record of Decision is available for review in the Administrative Record File at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1776 Niagara Street, Buffalo, New York, and is also available at the Tonawanda Library, 333 Main Street, Tonawanda, New York.