Hooker (102nd Street)

Overview

The Hooker (102nd Street) site is a 22.1-acre former landfill in Niagara Falls, New York. From the 1940s to the early 1970s, two companies deposited roughly 89,500 tons of mixed chemical waste there. That waste contaminated soil, groundwater, sediment, and structures. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in September 1983.

More than 60 chemical substances were identified as contaminants of concern. They include volatile organic compounds such as benzene, trichloroethene, and toluene, as well as metals like arsenic, cadmium, and mercury. Other contaminants include hexachlorocyclohexane compounds, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxins, chlorinated benzenes and phenols, mirex, and pentachlorophenol. These contaminants were found in groundwater, soil, sediment, and buildings across the site's primary cleanup area.

EPA selected a cleanup plan in September 1990. The plan called for a synthetic-lined cap over the landfill, a slurry wall surrounding the waste, dredging and treating contaminated sediments from a nearby embayment, and a leachate collection and pumping system. Construction ran from April 1996 to March 1999. The slurry wall and cap were finished by 1997, and the leachate pumping system reached steady operation in November 2000. These measures virtually eliminated public exposure to contaminants and stopped contamination from reaching the Niagara River.

Human exposure and groundwater migration are both currently under control. All cleanup goals for current and expected future land uses have been met, and required land-use controls are in place. EPA deleted the site from the NPL in August 2004. The site participates in EPA's Superfund Redevelopment Program, which helps return cleaned-up properties to productive community use. The site reached readiness for anticipated reuse in March 2009.

EPA continues to conduct five-year reviews to make sure the cleanup remains protective over time. The most recent review was completed in June 2021, and the next is estimated for June through August 2026. Operation and maintenance oversight for the main cleanup area began in September 2000 and remains ongoing. Community members with questions can contact the EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator or Remedial Project Manager.