Three downtown Ithaca sites are slated for PCE (PERC) cleanup.

Tetrachloroethene (PCE or PERC) has been used in the dry cleaning operations as a cleaning solvent for a long time. At some of the sites where dry cleaning was performed, remnants of this solvent have been found to be migrating into neighboring properties. There are three such sites now identified in downtown Ithaca. Records of Decision have been issued for all of them:
Clinton West Plaza ROD
315 North Meadow Street ROD
Campagnolo Property

Clinton West Plaza     

Clinton West is the center of many concerns from neighbors about the wide variety of toxins which have been found in groundwater and soil vapor tests on and around the plaza.  Many of these are attributed to the dry cleaning operation housed there, but the list of toxins found is very familiar.

Investigations into these problems are being supervised by staff from the Kirkwood office of the DEC (rather than the Syracuse office which monitors the Emerson site), so the people involved are different, but the problems faced and the process for investigation and proposing remedial actions are very similar.  A Remedial Investigation / Feasibility Study Work Plan was released about a year ago by Fagan Engineers of Elmira.  A Public Meeting on this work and related concerns was held in August 2008.

Documents and maps related to these efforts and concerns are available at the Cleaner Clinton web site.

The Record of Decision for this site has been released - it's dated May 25, 2010.  The DEC has been updating their webpage for this site as well.

According to a report received the DEC in early June, 2011, the site status is:
1) Remedial design investigations completed
2) Groundwater data and indoor air data under State review
3) Remedial Design Investigation report anticipated in late August 2011

315 North Meadow Street

This site continues in operation as Angelo's Dry Cleaners, but no longer uses PCE for cleaning.  The DEC maintains a webpage of information for it.

According to a report received the DEC in early June, 2011, the site status is:
The Potential Responsible Parties (PRPs) have declined to enter into an Order on Consent with the State to perform the selected remedy.  The State will continue to implement the remedial program in accordance with applicable State and Federal Law.  Currently a new work assignment is being prepared to conduct the Remedial Design (RD).  Once approved the RD work assignment will be issued to one of the standby engineering consultants under contract with the State.    

Campagnolo Property

 The DEC maintains a webpage of information for this site as well.

According to a report received the DEC in early June, 2011, the site status is:
The Responsible Party (RP) entered into an Order on Consent (Order) with the State to perform the selected remedy.  The consultant for the RP is currently preparing the work plan and/or site management plan pursuant to the requirements specified in the Order.