Indian Time - A Voice from the Eastern Door

By Aimee Benedict, Environmental Planner

The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe Environment Division's Brownfields Project team are finishing up the 2022 season with the removal of three homes suspected of containing asbestos.  The sites, located on State Route 37 west, State Route 37 east and Cook Road, are scheduled to be removed over several weeks beginning November 7th. During previous demolition this year, four homes were removed: two with suspected asbestos. Air monitoring was conducted during demo on the two homes with suspected asbestos and lab results indicated no air impacts during or after demolition.

The Brownfields Abandoned Homes project began in 2012.  Brownfields Redevelopment Specialist, Julia Jacobs, who has been with the project since the beginning, has recently retired.  Thanks to her and others efforts over the years, a grand total of 18 structures have been removed.  Removing abandoned homes is a Tribal priority because they could become a place for garbage dumping, drug houses, habitats for wild animals, graffiti, trespassing issues, arson, theft of items and are a magnet for young kids to explore and possibly be injured.

Funding for the Abandoned Homes Project is provided by SRMT Tribal General Fund and grants from the US EPA Brownfields 128a and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.  The funding pays for demolition, hauling, landfill fees, environmental assessments, asbestos surveys and sand.  The Environment Division Remediation & Restoration Program manages the Brownfields Project and partners with other Environment programs including the Transfer Station, Water Resources, Agriculture Program, Tribal Administration's Safety Officer, Planning & Infrastructure and Communications Department. 

Many things were found during the demolition of the houses.  Some of them were good, old photographs, toys, signs and statues.  Some bad; drug paraphernalia, cans and drums containing oil, paint, and other chemicals. In addition to items, several uninvited guests took up residence. Birds, rodents, bats, opossums, foxes, groundhogs and even a fisher were seen scurrying away from the homes during demolition. 

Pending funding, abandoned home demolitions will resume in the spring of 2023.   If you are on the waiting list, feel free to contact the Environment Division offices to make sure all of your forms and information have been received.  This process could take multiple years.  If there is an urgent need to remove a structure, the owner(s) should consider removal on their own.  The Brownfields project has a waiting list of 30 structures and will not be accepting any new applications at this time.