Liberty Industrial Finishing sits on 30 acres in Farmingdale, New York, in Nassau County. The site was used for aircraft parts manufacturing and metal finishing during World War II and the Korean War. Improper disposal of industrial waste led to widespread contamination, and EPA placed the site on the National Priorities List in June 1986. Cleanup has moved through multiple phases over several decades, and the site reached sitewide ready for anticipated reuse status in February 2014.
EPA identified eleven contaminants of concern across the site. Aroclor 1260, benzo(a)pyrene, and dibenzo(a,h)anthracene were found in liquid waste. Cadmium and chromium turned up in sediment. Groundwater contains cadmium, chromium, manganese, trichloroethene, and chloroethene (vinyl chloride). Cleanup actions have included removing contaminated soil, sludge, and PCB-containing materials between 1978 and 2008, excavating a soil mound in 2003, addressing underground sumps and tanks between 2004 and 2008, cleaning pond sediments in March 2009, and completing soil excavation in September 2011. A groundwater pump-and-treat system has been fully operational since September 2010 and continues running to address both organic and inorganic contamination. Vapor intrusion investigations at nearby homes and Woodward Parkway Elementary School from 2006 through January 2017 found no impacts.
EPA assessments show that human exposure is under control and groundwater migration is stabilized with no unacceptable discharge to surface water. The agency continues monitoring to confirm contaminated groundwater stays contained. An initial remedy was selected in March 2002, and a final remedy amendment was issued in September 2012, shifting the focus to monitoring and no further action for the main operable unit. The most recent five-year review was completed in June 2022, and the next is estimated for June through August 2027. The site has not yet been deleted from the National Priorities List.
Parts of the site have already been put back to community use. The Town of Oyster Bay acquired 15 acres starting in 2003 to expand Ellsworth Allen Park. After additional soil cleanup in 2010 and 2011 to meet state residential reuse standards, the town began planning a community center, ball fields, a multi-purpose sports field, and green space. The eastern portion was redeveloped in 2010 with a supermarket, bank, and parking lot. As of December 2024, two on-site businesses employed 95 people and generated about $22.4 million in annual sales.
Community members who want to learn more or ask questions can contact the Remedial Project Manager. Site records are available at the Farmingdale Public Library at 116 Merritts Road, Farmingdale, NY, or at the EPA Superfund Records Center at 290 Broadway, 18th Floor, New York, NY.
