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EPA Proposes Site in Genesee County Be Added Toi The Superfund National Priorities List

Release Date: 07/27/1998
Contact Information:

(#98090) NEW YORK, N.Y. -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to add a site on Lehigh Valley Road in LeRoy, Genesse County, New York to the federal National Priorities List (NPL). In 1970, the site was contaminated by a chemical spill from a train derailment, which caused contamination in soils and drinking water wells in the area. This proposed addition to the NPL brings the total number of federal Superfund sites in New York to 81.

The NPL is the federal list of the nation's worst hazardous waste sites. The Agency periodically proposes sites to the NPL and designates proposed sites as final. Proposed sites are investigated further to determine the extent of the risks they may pose to human health and the environment. Sites that are placed on the final NPL are eligible for long-term "remedial action" financed under the Superfund Trust Fund.

According to EPA Regional Administrator Jeanne M. Fox, "The proposed listing of the Lehigh Valley Road site will guarantee the completion of a comprehensive and permanent solution to the contamination at the site. Without Superfund, there are no assurances that contaminated sites like this one in communties throughout the country will be properly addressed."

Despite cleanup measures undertaken by the responsible party immediately following the accident, the Lehigh Valley Road site still contains soils with elevated levels of primarily trichloroethylene (TCE) and a groundwater plume extending almost 4 miles east and southeast of the site, which has also contaminated drinking water wells in the area. In 1991, EPA installed individual treatment systems to remove contamination from the private wells of 37 affected residences in the area. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) installed a treatment system at another residence in October 1994.

The NPL rule is being published in the Federal Register today. For members of the public interested in obtaining copies of the notice, an updated NPL list or site descriptions and commenting on the proposed addition, please contact the RCRA/Superfund Hotline at 1-800-424-9346 or 703-412-9810.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Reporters should contact Rich Cahill at (212) 637-3666 for the above information.

For more information contact:
Richard Cahill, Press Office
EPA Region 2
290 Broadway
NY, NY 10007-1866
Voice: 212-637-3666 FAX: 212-637-5046 E-Mail: [email protected]