Background
Tecumseh Redevelopment, Inc. (Tecumseh)
owns an approximately 1,100-acre parcel of land located on the
west side of NYS Route 5 in the City of Lackawanna, NY. The
property was formerly used for the production of steel, coke and
related products by Bethlehem Steel Corporation (BSC). Steel
production on the property was discontinued in 1983. The coke
oven closed down in 2000. Tecumseh acquired the property, along
with other Bethlehem assets, out of bankruptcy in 2003. A number
of solid waste management units (SWMUs) are present on the
property. A RCRA Facility Investigation (RFI) of these SWMUs
was initiated by BSC under an Administrative Order issued by the
United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) in 1990.
Tecumseh completed the RFI in December 2004. USEPA and the New
York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) are
reviewing the RFI for completion. Tecumseh is currently
negotiating an Order on Consent with the NYSDEC to undertake
corrective measures at certain SWMUs on the western portion of
the property.
Tecumseh has signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) with Erie County and the City of Lackawanna
to promote and implement redevelopment of the former BSC
property following cleanup. The conceptual redevelopment plans
for the entire 1,100-acre site. The Redevelopment Master Plan
incorporates a Business Park area along NYS Route 5. Phase I of
the Business Park, encompassing approximately 102 acres, will be
completed first. Phases II and III, encompassing approximately
173 and 128 acres, respectively, will follow.
Applications have been submitted
to the NYSDEC for the investigation, cleanup and redevelopment
of the Phase I, II and III Business Park under the NYSDEC
Brownfield Cleanup Program.
