EPA Finalizes Cleanup Plan for Cayuga County Superfund Site (USA)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has finalized a plan to address contaminated ground water at the Cayuga County Ground Water Contamination Superfund site in Cayuga County, New York.

Ground water at the site is contaminated with volatile organic compounds, which can cause serious damage to people’s health and the environment.

The EPA held a public meeting in Union Springs, New York on August 2, 2012 to explain the ground water cleanup plan. The EPA accepted public comment for 60 days and considered public input before finalizing the plan.

The site contains contaminated ground water that covers approximately 4.8 square miles extending from Auburn to the Village of Union Springs within portions of the townships of Aurelius, Fleming and Springport. The site was added to the federal Superfund list in 2002.

The final cleanup plan divides the ground water beneath the site into three areas. For Area 1, which is the most contaminated area, the EPA will use bioremediation, a technique that involves adding chemicals and biological enhancements to the ground water to promote the breakdown of the volatile organic compounds. The specific type of chemical and process to be used will be determined by the EPA as part of the design of the cleanup.

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Press Release, April 10, 2013