F M C Corporation

EPA Identification Number:	NYD002126845
Facility Location:	100 Niagara Street, Middleport, New York
Facility Contact Name:	Brian McGinnis, P.E., (215) 299-6000
EPA Contact Name:	Michael Infurna, (212) 637-4177, infurna.michael@epa.gov
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) Case Manager:	Matt Mortefolio, (518) 402-8594, mjmortef@gw.dec.state.ny.us Denise Radtke, (518) 402-8594, dmradtke@gw.dec.state.ny.us
Last Updated:	January 2002
Environmental Indicator Status	Human Exposures Under Control: No status has been recorded. Groundwater Contamination Under Control has been verified.

Site Facts

The FMC facility occupies approximately 91 acres and is located in the southwest corner of the Village of Middleport. It is surrounded by commercial properties to the south, farms to the east, and residential properties to north and west. Niagara Sprayer manufactured pesticides at this facility from 1928 to 1943, when it was purchased by FMC. Current operations at this facility are limited to pesticide formulation and packaging.

Past waste management practices resulted in the on-site land disposal and spills of various pesticides and other chemicals involved in the manufacturing process. In addition, the manufacturing of inorganic pesticides in the past resulted in air emissions of hazardous metals (such as arsenic, lead). Hazardous waste and/or hazardous constituents from past on-site land disposal and air emissions have impacted soil, groundwater, surface water and sediments both on and off-site.

Site Responsibility and Legal Instrument

The responsibility for corrective action at this site is shared between the USEPA and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC.) The legal instrument is a joint 1991 Federal and State Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Order on Consent [USEPA 3008(h) (Docket No.II RCRA-90-3008(h)-0209) & NYS Section 71-2727(3) of the New York State Environmental Conservation Law].

Potential Threats and Contaminants

Soil - Investigations have indicated that soil both at and beyond the facility property contains elevated levels of inorganic metals and pesticides. The primary contaminant in the soil is arsenic. In 1998, EPA conducted a risk assessment of the arsenic at a school yard to the north of the facility and it identified a potential threat to student athletes (See Cleanup Approach below).

Groundwater - Monitoring has identified elevated levels of inorganic metals, pesticides and certain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the groundwater underneath the facility. Although groundwater movement is slow, the contamination has migrated minimally beyond the facility boundaries. However, the groundwater in the vicinity of the site is not currently being used as a drinking water supply.

Surface Water & Sediment - Sampling of surface water and sediment along an intermittent stream and a drainage path near the facility has identified elevated levels of inorganic metals and pesticides, primarily in the sediment. Studies indicate that this contamination poses a potential threat to sediment-dwelling organisms. There is also a potential for human exposure to contaminated surface water and sediment.

Cleanup Approach and Progress

Environmental investigations are currently being completed. While they are being conducted, a number of interim corrective measures have been implemented to control soil, groundwater and surface water contamination.

Soil - In 1986, contaminated surface soils were removed from ditches to the north of the facility and the contaminated soil below was covered with clay to limit the chance of human exposure. In 1996, contaminated soils were removed from a portion of the nearby school yard, the football bleacher area. As a result of the aforementioned 1998 school yard risk assessment, a corrective measure was implemented in 1999 to remove arsenic-contaminated soil from a larger area of the same school yard, which included excavation and restoration of football and soccer fields. These school yard corrective measures were implemented to alleviate the potential human health threat posed by arsenic exposure.

Groundwater - In 1988 FMC set up an on-site system to pump and treat contaminated groundwater. In 1994 blast-fractured trenches were created in the bedrock to enhance the removal of contaminated groundwater and to control its migration to the east. Since 1994, additional blast-fractured trenches have been created in the bedrock across much of the facility's northern property line. Currently, the pumping of groundwater from these trenches has halted the migration of the contamination to the east, and slowed its migration to the north.

Surface Water - In 1977 a system was instituted to collect and treat contaminated on-site surface water. In 1988 a clay/asphalt cover was constructed over on-site wastes and contaminated soil to minimize the contamination of on-site surface water. Together, these corrective measures serve to control further contamination of off-site surface water bodies.

Potential human exposure pathways remain for surface water, sediments, on-site and off-site soils.

Permit Status

This facility is subject to Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) regulations, but does not have a permit for three surface impoundments and is in the process of closing these units. A post-closure permit will be required. Five container storage areas have been certified "clean closed," meaning that no contamination remained after they were closed.

Site Repository

Copies of supporting technical documents and correspondence cited in this fact sheet are available for public review at:

Middleport Public Library
9 S. Vernon Street
Middleport, New York 14105

and

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC)
Division of Solid & Hazardous Materials
625 Broadway, 8th Floor
Albany, New York 12233-7250
(518) 402-8594

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) makes its public records available for a review under the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL).