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EPA Adds Hopewell Junction Site to the Superfund List

Release Date: 04/26/2005
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For Release: Tuesday, April 26, 2005

(#05041) NEW YORK -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced the listing of the Hopewell Precision Area Contamination site in Hopewell Junction, New York to its National Priorities List (NPL) of the most hazardous waste sites. EPA has already installed drinking water treatment systems at 37 homes and air ventilation systems at 42 homes to address the worst contamination at the site.

"Hopewell Junction is a community where we were able to take quick action to protect people from an immediate risk," said Acting EPA Regional Administrator Kathleen C. Callahan. "This listing ensures that this site will continue to get the attention it needs."

The Hopewell Precision Area Contamination site is in a predominantly residential area, which is served by private wells and septic systems. In February 2003, EPA began sampling tap water of homes served by private wells in the vicinity of Hopewell Precision, Inc., a manufacturer of sheet metal parts and assemblies.

The Agency found volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including trichloroethylene (TCE), at concentrations up to 250 parts per billion, which is above the federal drinking water standard of 5 parts per billion. Additionally, the TCE levels found in the drinking water at 37 homes were either above or close to the federal drinking water standard. To address the immediate threat at the 37 homes, EPA installed carbon filter treatment systems for removing VOCs from the well water.

The Agency also found 1,1,1-trichloroethane (1,1,1-TCA) in the tap water at concentrations up to 11.7 parts per billion, which is below the federal drinking water standard of 200 parts per billion but above the New York State ground water standard of 5 parts per billion. EPA provided the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) with the Agency's sampling results for 1,1,1-TCA, and the NYSDEC responded by installing treatment systems at 14 homes where the levels of 1,1,1-TCA exceeded the state ground water standard.

EPA has more recently sampled vapors beneath homes where VOCs from the ground water could enter from underneath the house slab. Based on the concentrations of TCE under the homes, EPA installed air ventilation systems at 43 residences, and is continuing to evaluate the need to install additional air ventilation systems.

EPA periodically proposes sites to the NPL and, after responding to public comments, designates proposed sites as final. Sites that are designated as final are eligible for funds to conduct long-term cleanups. The addition of this site brings the total number of NPL sites in New York to 90.

The notice of the listing of the Hopewell Precision Area Contamination site, as well as other site-related information, can be found at https://www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/npl/current.htm.