The Johnstown City Landfill sits on 68 acres in Fulton County, New York, about 1.5 miles northwest of Johnstown. It operated as an unlined municipal dump from 1947 to 1960. From 1960 to 1977, it accepted industrial waste from local tanneries and textile plants. Between 1973 and 1979, it also received sewage sludge containing high concentrations of chromium, iron, and lead. EPA placed the site on the National Priorities List in 1986.
More than 70 contaminants have been identified at the site. These include metals such as lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, and chromium. Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, include benzene, toluene, trichloroethene, tetrachloroethene, and vinyl chloride. Phthalates, phenol, naphthalene, and pesticides like DDT are also present. Contamination affects soil, groundwater, and surface water. Before cleanup, about 10 homes within 1,000 feet of the site and 95 homes within one mile relied on private wells, and at least one well within 150 feet of the northern border was contaminated.
In 1993, EPA selected a cleanup plan covering two main areas: the landfill itself and a waterline extension. The plan called for capping the landfill, replacing affected private water supplies with a public waterline, and ongoing monitoring. Construction was completed in September 1997. The site has been in operation and maintenance since then. Institutional controls restrict land uses, including residential development, that would be inconsistent with the level of cleanup completed.
EPA has conducted six five-year reviews to confirm the cleanup remains protective. The most recent review confirmed that human exposure is under control and groundwater migration has been stabilized with no unacceptable discharge to surface water. The site achieved "sitewide ready for anticipated reuse" status in November 2016. Long-term monitoring of groundwater, surface water, and sediment continues. The site has not yet been deleted from the National Priorities List.
Community members can access site records at the Johnstown Public Library at 38 South Market Street in Johnstown, New York, or at the EPA Region 2 Superfund Records Center at 290 Broadway, 18th Floor, New York, New York. For direct questions, the EPA has designated a Community Involvement Coordinator and a Remedial Project Manager.
