Overview

EPA released two documents during the cleanup approach decision process - the Proposed Plan (2012) and Record of Decision (ROD; 2013). EPA also released an Explanation of Significant Differences (ESD; 2020) to supplement the Record of Decision as additional dredging was needed. Please select one of these documents from the above menu for more information. The Record of Decision and Explanation of Significant Differences described the cleanup plan to be followed at the Grasse River.

USEPA Record of Decision (ROD)

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Grasse River on April 5, 2013 following a review of comments received as part of a public comment period held in the fall of 2012. The cleanup plan is consistent with the Proposed Remedial Action Plan EPA released in October and includes some near-shore dredging, capping and armored capping in a 7.2-mile stretch of the lower Grasse River between Massena, New York and the St. Lawrence River. EPA also has a fact sheet summarizing the cleanup plan. (By clicking the above links, you will leave the Arconic Grasse River remediation project website.)

USEPA Explanation of Significant Differences (ESD)

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the Explanation of Significant Differences (ESD) on April 7, 2020. (By clicking this link, you will leave the Arconic Grasse River Project website.) The ESD includes required dredging in Snug Harbor due to the acquisition of a larger tug boat by St. Lawrence Seaway Corporation. The new tug boat must transit this section of the river to access equipment that is used to maintain the gates on the St. Lawrence Seaway lock system. This is a change in scope for this section of the river from the 2013 Record of Decision (ROD), and the basis for this change has been documented in the Explanation of Significant Difference.

Proposed Plan

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the Proposed Plan for the Grasse River on October 1, 2012. (By clicking this link, you will leave the Arconic Grasse River Project website.) The alternative proposed by the EPA in the plan is one of the 10 cleanup options evaluated in the Analysis of Alternatives Report that Arconic submitted.