Administration Building (SCU 4)

Phase1 - Environmental Site Assessment
Report

5.3.4	Administration Building (SCU 4)
	Located near the Cape Breton Street entrance to the Sydney Steel Plant property, this parcel of land is bounded to the north and east by the former Tie Plate Shop and Bar Mill locations (Figure 5-1). The abandoned Cooling Pond and Coke Ovens Brook are located to the south and west. An undated SYSCO plan, apparently from the 1930s, shows a large building to the northeast of the present day Administration building. According to the plan, this “mystery building” appears to contain rolling motor equipment, but no other evidence of this building has been identified during the course of this study.
	Administration Building looking to the East	The parcel was vacant from about 1940 to the 1980s with the exception of the General Offices Annex located in the northwest corner of the area. In the 1980s, a temporary construction office was apparently located in what is now the parking lot for the Administration Building. The Administration Building was constructed in 1989 and houses a halon fire suppression system in the first floor computer room.
	Potential Environmental Issues
	Hazardous building materials associated with the Administration Building may include ozone depleting equipment, chemical storage and mercury containing equipment and lighting. Potential environmental issues consist of petroleum hydrocarbon, heavy metal, PAH, HNC and PCB impacts to soil and groundwater related to impacts from Coke Ovens Brook and the Cooling Pond area.
5.3.5	North of No.3 Gate House (SCU 5)
	SCU 5 is located to the south of the former Tie Plate Shop location (Figure 5-1). Roadways, railways, parking lots, a security station and outdoor storage have historically occupied the area. The main rail lines entering the Sydney Steel Plant traverse this area. The southern end of the Bar Mill and Rod Storage Warehouse were located in northern part of this area, and a stables building was located near the roundabout inside the No. 3 Gate. As mentioned in Section 5.3.4, an undated SYSCO plan, apparently from the 1930s, shows a large building to the northeast of the present day Administration building. According to the plan, this “mystery building” appears to have rolling motor equipment inside, but no other evidence of this building has been identified during the course of this study.
	Section of drawing, C. 1936, showing the "Mystery Building", with the stables in the upper right corner.	No storage tanks are known to have existed on this parcel. It is suspected that underground sewer lines cross this parcel. The area currently remains in use as the security and main gate entrance for the Sydney Steel Plant property. Minor surface debris and litter were noted at various locations. In the past, used oil was often used for dust suppression on roadways on the steel plant property.
	The majority of open space in this area is covered with granular materials. Stormwater catchbasins are located throughout the area, presenting the possibility of siltation and sediment impacts to receiving waters. Potential Environmental Issues Potential environmental issues consist of petroleum, heavy metal, and PAH impacts to surface soils as a result of historic parking and rail activities, as well as atmospheric deposition from industrial operations and locomotives.

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