USA: Onondaga Lake Dredging Continues

After a three-week shutdown, Honeywell will resume the Onondaga lake dredging project today.

The slight delay on the project was caused by residents’ complaints over the bad odors.

These odors were a nuisance but never a health threat, said John McAuliffe, Honeywell’s Syracuse program director.

Over the past two weeks, the company has undertaken some corrective measures that should greatly reduce the bad smell, according to syracuse.com.

About project

The cleanup plan, which was issued by DEC and EPA, calls for removing material from the lake bottom, installing a new bottom cap in some areas, improving habitat, and transporting and containing dredged materials.

A hydraulic dredge is used to remove material from the lake bottom. It is then transported via a double-walled pipe through non-residential areas to the consolidation area where it is processed and pumped into geotextile tubes inside a lined facility for drying and safe isolation long-term.

Water is collected and treated to meet DEC standards before being returned to the lake.

[mappress]

Dredging Today Staff, October 11, 2012; Image: lakecleanup