Carroll & Dubies Sewage Disposal

Overview

Carroll & Dubies Sewage Disposal is a 3-acre former septic and industrial waste disposal site northeast of Port Jervis, New York, owned by the cities of Port Jervis, Carroll, and Dubies. From 1970 to 1989, operators dumped septic and industrial wastes into seven unlined lagoons, contaminating soil, lagoon sludge, and groundwater. The EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1990. About 2,000 residents live within a mile of the site, and nearby homes rely on private wells for drinking water.

Over 100 chemicals have been identified as contaminants of concern at the site. These include metals such as arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, and mercury. Organic compounds include benzene, trichloroethene, tetrachloroethene, toluene, and xylene. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons such as naphthalene, anthracene, and pyrene are also present, along with phthalates, phenol, chloroform, and various chlorinated compounds. Contaminants were found in sludge, soil, and groundwater.

Cleanup was organized into three operable units. Source area work, completed by March 2000, involved excavating and disposing of roughly 34,000 tons of contaminated material off-site and treating remaining subsurface soils with soil vapor extraction. Testing of Gold Creek, about 1,500 feet east of the site, showed no impact to that waterway. Groundwater cleanup relies on monitored natural attenuation, meaning regulators track contamination over time to confirm it naturally decreases without active treatment. Institutional controls restrict new groundwater well installations in the affected area. Recent monitoring shows the groundwater plume is stable and benzene concentrations are declining with distance from the former lagoons.

EPA has determined that human exposure is currently under control and that contaminated groundwater migration is stabilized with no unacceptable discharge to surface water. Physical construction of the cleanup is complete across the entire site. The site achieved sitewide ready for anticipated use status in January 2012. Today, part of the property hosts a sand and gravel operation, an Orange County solid waste transfer station, and a Port Jervis Police Department firing range. As of December 2024, two on-site businesses employed three people combined. The site has not yet been deleted from the NPL.

EPA completed its fifth five-year review in February 2025. These reviews happen every five years to confirm that completed cleanups continue to protect human health and the environment. Community members with questions can contact the EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator or Remedial Project Manager directly using the information below.