The Onondaga Lake cleanup continues with the installation of 25-foot steel sheets on the southwestern shore of Onondaga Lake. The sheets will create a temporary wall that will facilitate the installation of underground piping associated with the construction of the second phase of the barrier wall, a one and one-half mile long and 30-foot to 50-foot deep underground wall, which will prevent contaminated groundwater from entering the lake.
Pile Foreman Mark Clapp attaches a vibratory hammer to one of the temporary barrier wall sections. This hammer drives the metal sheet into the ground.
 The hammer creates a vibration, liquefying the ground below the sheet allowing it to slide easily into place. |
 Pile Foreman Mark Clapp checks a newly-installed metal sheet. |
Specialists from Atlantic Testing are on hand during the installation process to monitor the level of vibration that reaches underground pipes and infrastructure.
The barrier wall is being built in three phases under the supervision of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Phase one, the Semet section, extends from the West Side Pump Station (near Exit 7 on Interstate 690) to the Causeway Bridge. The second section, the Willis/Causeway section, will extend from the Semet section to the East Flume and the third section, the Harbor Brook portion, will extend from the East Flume to Harbor Brook.
The Semet section of the wall was completed in the summer of 2007. The construction of the Willis/Causeway section is scheduled for spring 2008.
Contaminated groundwater that is collected behind the barrier wall is pumped under I-690 to the Willis Avenue Groundwater Treatment Plant. Treated groundwater will be tested to ensure it meets DEC guidelines and returned to Onondaga Lake via piping under I-690.
These construction activities represent another step in Honeywell’s efforts to stop contamination from reaching Onondaga Lake – work that must be completed before direct work on the lake cleanup can begin.
For more information on the Onondaga Lake cleanup, visit www.onondaga-lake-initiatives.com.
