Soil contamination has added delays and expense to a synthetic turf field construction project at Brighton High School in Rochester, N.Y.
As reported by local NBC affiliate WHEC, a pit filled with hazardous materials will be covered following a recommendation from the state Department of Environmental Conservation.
The pit was expected to be covered with plastic by the end of last week, the Brighton Central School District said.
Contractors working on a planned new turf field found the pit filled with ash, glass and chemicals such as mercury, lead and arsenic. The turf field project was paused to allow the hazards to be addressed.
Environmental testing revealed the contamination posed by materials left at the district athletic field, halting a project to convert grass into artificial turf.
The district told the community about the contamination at a school board meeting last week. Contractors discovered the contaminants two days after construction on the field began Jan. 6.
“Arsenic is common all over the place, but, yea, it was present at concentrations above the regulatory standards,” an official said at the school board meeting, as reported by WHEC.
The district released the following statement in regard to funding the new solutions:
The District is proposing a capital project to be paired with the budget vote in May. Part of that referendum is to request reauthorization for work that was approved in February of 2024. This is necessary due to budget overages attributable to the rising cost of construction. The proposed referendum also asks voters to replenish construction contingency specifically in the amount to $3.36 million to fund unforeseen matters as they arise in construction. If approved, a portion of this contingency would be needed to address the unforeseen issue with the soil. In addition, the District will have to evaluate current available resources, existing reserve funds, or request an additional reauthorization for construction in other areas that have not yet been started and where contracts have not been awarded. The District still needs to consult with the State Education Department to determine allowable financing strategies.
