Craig Wolf • Poughkeepsie Journal
November 6, 2012
FISHKILL – Demolition at the former Texaco research center has moved into a key phase with the knock-down of the main building that has for decades fronted Old Glenham Road and been the face of the bygone center.
The future remains yet to be determined for the land, Town of Fishkill Supervisor Bob LaColla said.
The demolition is nearly complete and to see only the partial remains of buildings that were there for 60 or so years has changed the landscape considerably,” town resident Mary Ann Schetter said.
Chevron, the Houston-based oil company that took over Texaco in a 2001 merger, got this site in the deal and found no long-term use for it. Plans were made for demolition and remediation of petroleum or chemical pollution.
LaColla said Chevron has not offered formal plans for the site once it’s cleaned. It will need an approval from state environmental officials.
“We’re waiting to see what they propose,” LaColla said. “We will try to work with them to put in place a program that’s good for everyone.” He said the Town Board would “keep an open mind for proposals,” but doubted the land’s industrial designation would “be a good fit anymore.”
Since 1931, the site was used for research and development of fuels and lubricating oils. LaColla said he understands that some pollution plumes go down 120 feet.
“There’s traffic issues there for any type of high-density development,” he said. “I think there needs to be a thorough review process.”
South of the Fishkill Creek lies a second parcel, formerly a recreation site for employees and a waste dump for sludge. Texaco did two cleanups there. Former Town Supervisor Joan Pagones advocated that the site become a town park.
“I don’t know it to be a goal of the current Town Board,” LaColla said.
A bulletin from Chevron said that by October, 37 buildings had been removed to their lowest slabs and 59 borings had been done to chart the pollution.
Chevron spokesman Mark Hendrickson could not be reached Monday. Chevron’s Web page for the site said potential uses or timing of development is not known.
“Chevron has to work through the cleanup process with the state and federal regulatory agencies, so the earliest development would likely be in five years,” the page said.
Parsons Commercial Technology Group is overseeing the project.
Reach Craig Wolf at cwolf@poughkeepsiejournal.com or 845-437-4815.
