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Cayuga

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Site Identification
  • EPA Site ID: NYN000204289
  • Township: Between City of Auburn and Village of Union Springs
  • County: Cayuga
  • Congressional District: 31
  • National Priorities List
    • Proposed: September 13, 2001
    • Final: September 5, 2002

The Cayuga County Groundwater Contamination site consists of a plume of contaminated groundwater from an unknown source or sources. The suspected extent of the plume covers an area of approximately 3,050 acres (4.8 square miles) and falls within three townships: Aurelius, Fleming and Springport. The plume extends from the Village of Union Springs to the Auburn city limits, a distance of seven miles, and has approximately 120 homes within its boundaries. 

Routine testing of the Village of Union Springs' municipal drinking water prompted referral to EPA. EPA and the New York Departments of Health and Environmental Conservation have sampled more than 300 drinking water supplies.  The samples revealed 51 residential wells contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in concentrations above the Federal maximum contaminant levels (MCLs). Contact with or ingestion of contaminated groundwater may cause an increased risk of adverse health effects from long-term exposure.

EPA is addressing the site in two stages, with emergency response actions followed by a long-term remedial phase. As part of the initial emergency response action, from January 2001 to March 2001, EPA installed 54 point-of-entry treatment (POET) systems in homes where the well was contaminated at or above MCLs.  In June 2001, EPA began an Expanded Site Inspection/Remedial Investigation, which concluded in August 2004.  EPA began its Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) in June 2002.

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