Region 2 Superfund

EPA added the Tri-Cities Barrel site, located in the Town of Fenton, Broome County, New York, to the Superfund National Priorities List on October 4, 1989 due to high levels of hazardous chemicals found in the soil and ground water. The 14.9-acre site contained a facility that cleaned and reconditioned the interior and exterior of drums and barrels. Wastewater from the process was discharged into unlined lagoons. Following cleaning, the drums and barrels were reformed, if necessary, and repainted for future use. Barrel reclamation operations ceased in 1992 and all commercial operations at the site had ended by 1994.

As part of an initial response from 1996 to 1997, EPA removed over 350 drums, as well as all containers, tanks, process equipment, and site buildings from the site. Also, all of the equipment that was used while the drum reconditioning business was still in operation was decontaminated. All structures located on-site were demolished, and the debris was disposed of off-site.

An investigation to determine the nature and extent of the contamination at the site found that the soil, sediment and ground water were contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs), pesticides, and metals. In 2001, EPA selected a remedy for the site based on the results of a feasibility study identifying and evaluating remedial alternatives. The selected remedy consisted of the excavation and off-site disposal of contaminated soil and sediment and the extraction and treatment of the contaminated ground water. In 2003, 74,969 tons of contaminated soil and sediment were excavated and removed from the site.

As a result of the above-described actions, not only have the site ground water contamination levels decreased, but the potential for exposure to contaminants at the site have been greatly reduced. EPA stemmed the flow of contaminants by removing or reducing the pollution’s source from October 2000 to January 2003. Construction was completed in November 2003.