News Releases from Region 02

EPA Finalizes Decision for Second Phase of Cleanup of the Peninsula Boulevard Superfund Site in Hewlett, Nassau County, N.Y.

(New York, N.Y.) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has finalized its plan to address the sources of groundwater contamination at the Peninsula Boulevard Groundwater Plume Superfund site in Hewlett, Nassau County, N.Y. The groundwater is contaminated with tetrachloroethylene, which is a chemical solvent used in dry cleaning operations that can harm people’s health.

“EPA is taking action to clean up groundwater contamination at this contaminated site in Hewlett,” said Acting Regional Administrator, Catherine McCabe. “EPA is using the best available technology at the Peninsula Boulevard site to protect residents of Hewlett.”

The Peninsula Boulevard Groundwater Plume Superfund site is an area of contaminated groundwater in Hewlett, N.Y. The site is in a densely developed neighborhood that contains multiple commercial and residential properties. Dry cleaning businesses in the area have been identified as sources of contamination of the groundwater with volatile organic compounds, such as tetrachloroethylene.

Residents in the area get their drinking water from the New York American Water Company, which operates a wellfield approximately 1,000 feet north of the Peninsula Boulevard site. The water delivered to area residents is a blend of water from several wellfields, including the wellfield nearest to the site. Drinking water supplies are monitored regularly to ensure that drinking water meets state and federal standards for protection of human health and treated to remove contaminants, as necessary. 

The EPA has divided the cleanup of the groundwater into two phases. During the first phase of cleanup work, which began in 2011, the EPA designed a pumping-well-extraction system that will bring the polluted groundwater to the surface where it can be treated. In addition, EPA designed a system of wells that will inject non-hazardous additives in areas of highly contaminated groundwater that will reduce contamination through bioremediation.

The second phase of the cleanup addresses the sources of groundwater contamination at and around the Cedarwood Cleaners and Piermont Cleaners. The EPA intends to apply non-hazardous additives to the groundwater to promote the breakdown of contaminants. The specific types of additives to be used will be determined by the EPA as part of the design of the cleanup. Throughout the cleanup, monitoring, testing and further studies will be conducted to ensure the effectiveness of the cleanup technology.  Groundwater will be sampled, and the results will be used to verify that cleanup goals are met. The EPA estimates the cost of this cleanup will be about $24.7 million. The EPA will conduct a review within five years to ensure the effectiveness of the cleanup.

The EPA held a public meeting in Hewlett on June 22, 2017 to explain its proposed remedy. The EPA accepted public comments for 30 days and considered public input before finalizing the plan.

To read the EPA’s final decision, outlined in a record of decision, please visit:

 www.epa.gov/superfund/peninsula-groundwater

The Superfund program is a cornerstone of the work that the EPA performs for citizens and communities across the country.  On July 25, 2017 Administrator Pruitt accepted recommendations from the task force established on May 22, 2017 to revitalize the Superfund program.  “My goal as Administrator is to restore the Superfund program to its rightful place at the center of the agency’s core mission.”

The task force’s recommendations focused on five overarching goals: expediting cleanup and remediation, reinvigorating cleanup and reuse efforts by potentially responsible parties, encouraging private investment to facilitate cleanup and reuse, promoting redevelopment and community revitalization and engaging with partners and stakeholders. Work to prioritize and reinvigorate the program by the task force has been initiated and will be ongoing into the future. The Superfund Task Force Recommendations can be viewed at

https://www.epa.gov/superfund/superfund-task-force-recommendations.

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