Niagara County Refuse

Overview

The Niagara County Refuse site is a 65-acre inactive landfill in Wheatfield, New York. It operated from 1969 to 1976, accepting municipal and industrial solid and chemical wastes. The site was added to EPA's National Priorities List (NPL) in September 1983 after an initial assessment in 1979. The Town of Wheatfield acquired the property in 1976.

The landfill contains over 170 contaminants of concern spread across soil, sediment, groundwater, and leachate. These include metals such as lead, chromium, cadmium, and mercury. Volatile organic compounds like benzene, toluene, and trichloroethene are also present. Pesticides including aldrin, dieldrin, DDT, and lindane have been identified, along with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzo(a)pyrene and naphthalene. Many of these contaminants appear in more than one medium at the site.

EPA selected a cleanup plan in September 1993 covering the landfill as a single operable unit. The plan called for regrading the landfill, building a cap with a gas venting system beneath it, installing a leachate collection system, treating collected leachate off-site, and putting deed and access restrictions in place. Construction of the perimeter collection system was completed in 1998 and 1999, and cap construction finished in 2000. The cleanup contains roughly 3.1 million tons of contaminated material and treats about 35,118 pounds of leachate per year. EPA confirmed all construction was complete in June 2000, and the site was deleted from the NPL in July 2004.

The site is currently in long-term operation and maintenance. Human exposure is under control, with no current unacceptable exposure pathways identified. Groundwater migration is also under control, with no unacceptable discharge to surface water. The site has achieved sitewide ready for anticipated use status, meaning all cleanup goals for current and expected future land uses have been met and required land-use restrictions are in place. Five-year reviews were completed in 2003, 2008, 2014, 2019, and most recently in June 2024, all confirming the remedy remains protective of human health and the environment. The next five-year review is scheduled for completion by June 2029.

Community members who want to learn more or ask questions can contact EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator or the Remedial Project Manager directly. Site records are also available for public review at the North Towanda Public Library in North Towanda, New York, and at EPA's Superfund Records Center in New York City.