Tri-Cities Barrel Co., Inc.

Overview

Tri-Cities Barrel Co. operated a drum reconditioning facility on a 14.9-acre property in Port Crane, New York from 1955 to 1992. Workers cleaned used industrial drums by washing, incinerating, and scraping out chemical residues. Liquid wastes were discharged directly to the ground and later into unlined lagoons, contaminating soil and groundwater. The EPA placed the site on the National Priorities List in October 1989.

The site contains over 70 contaminants across groundwater, soil, sediment, and surface water. Volatile organic compounds include trichloroethene, tetrachloroethene, vinyl chloride, and trichloroethane. Metals found at the site include arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, nickel, and others. Pesticides such as aldrin, dieldrin, heptachlor, and DDT compounds are present, along with polychlorinated biphenyls, chlordane, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. All contaminants are tied to Operable Unit 1.

Cleanup began in 1996 with removal of hazardous containers and equipment. Between 2000 and 2003, contaminated soil and sediment were excavated and disposed of off-site. Where full excavation was not possible, workers installed a liner and covered it with clean fill. The EPA recorded a survey map in Broome County to protect the capped areas. The original plan called for pumping and treating groundwater, but monitoring showed natural processes were reducing contamination effectively. In 2011 the EPA switched to monitored natural attenuation, which lets contamination break down on its own while being tracked. A 2011 Record of Decision Amendment and a 2017 Explanation of Significant Differences also added an engineered cap and other engineering controls.

Physical construction of the cleanup is complete. Human exposure is under control, and contaminated groundwater migration has been stabilized with no unacceptable discharge to surface water. The site has achieved sitewide ready for anticipated reuse status, meaning all cleanup goals for current and future land uses have been met and required controls are in place. Five-year reviews in 2016 and 2021 confirmed the cleanup protects human health and the environment. The most recent five-year review was completed in March 2026. The site has not yet been deleted from the National Priorities List.

Community members can review site records at Fenton Town Hall in Port Crane, Fenton Free Library in Binghamton, or the EPA Superfund Records Center in New York City. Two EPA staff members are available for questions: Larisa Romanowski is the Community Involvement Coordinator and Tom Mongelli is the Remedial Project Manager. Their contact details appear in the contacts section below.