From the mid-1960s until 1987, Mattiace Petrochemical Co., Inc. ran a chemical distribution and drum-reconditioning operation on a 2.5-acre property in Glen Cove, New York. The company stored organic solvents in 56 tanks, blended and repackaged them, and generated contaminated wastewater that was discharged to leaching pools. After the company filed for bankruptcy in 1987, New York State seized the property for environmental violations. The EPA placed the site on the National Priorities List in March 1989, and cleanup has been ongoing since.
Contaminants include volatile organic compounds such as trichloroethene, tetrachloroethene, benzene, toluene, and xylene. Heavy metals including arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, and nickel have also been found, along with pesticides such as aldrin, chlordane, and heptachlor, plus chlorinated solvents and phthalates. These substances have been detected in groundwater, soil, free-phase liquid pools of chemicals (known as non-aqueous phase liquid or NAPL), and liquid waste.
The EPA divided the site into six operable units to tackle different contamination problems. Early emergency actions in 1988 removed over 100,000 gallons of hazardous liquids and about 400 buried drums. All tanks and piping were taken out by 1996. A groundwater and soil vapor treatment facility began operating in 1998, and construction of cleanup systems was completed in 2000. More recent work includes a subsurface barrier wall finished in 2017 to stop contaminated groundwater and soil gas from spreading offsite, and a bioventing system started in May 2022 that uses natural microorganisms to break down contaminants.
Human exposure to contamination is currently under control, with no unacceptable exposure pathways identified. Groundwater migration is also under control, with no unacceptable discharge to surface water. Physical construction is complete across the whole site. However, Operable Unit 1 still has active remediation underway, with an estimated completion between September and November 2026. The site has not yet been deleted from the National Priorities List and has not achieved sitewide ready-for-reuse status. The most recent five-year review was completed on February 26, 2025. Institutional controls remain in place to prevent inappropriate groundwater withdrawals and protect ongoing treatment systems.
Community members can review site records in person at the EPA Superfund Records Center at 290 Broadway, 18th floor, New York, NY, or at the Glen Cove Public Library at 4 Glen Street in Glen Cove. Questions about the site can be directed to the Community Involvement Coordinator or the Remedial Project Manager.
