Olean Well Field

Overview

The Olean Well Field site sits beneath residential areas and manufacturing facilities in Olean, New York. Industrial operations at four properties left volatile organic compounds and other chemicals in the groundwater. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List in September 1983, after local officials discovered the contamination in 1981 and shut down public wells. Today the site is divided into seven operable units, each targeting a specific area or type of contamination. Physical cleanup is not yet complete across the entire site, though human exposure and groundwater migration are both considered under control.

Over 130 chemical substances have been identified as contaminants of concern. These include volatile organic compounds such as trichloroethene, tetrachloroethene, and vinyl chloride. Heavy metals including arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, and mercury are also present. Petroleum-related compounds like benzene, toluene, and xylene, along with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, phthalates, and phenolic compounds, have been detected. Both soil and groundwater are affected across multiple areas of the site.

Early cleanup steps included installing carbon filtration on 32 private wells and reactivating a surface water filtration plant. In 1989, a responsible party installed air strippers at public wells to remove trichloroethylene, and the city extended water lines to 93 households that had relied on contaminated private wells. Current and recent cleanup methods vary by area and include pump-and-treat systems, chemical oxidation using activated persulfate, bioremediation, soil excavation, and monitored natural attenuation. In fall 2023, EPA finalized cleanup plans for contaminated soil and groundwater at the KYOCERA AVX Components Corporation property. The Cooper Industries groundwater treatment system is operating, work is underway at Alcas and AVX facilities, and groundwater monitoring continues at the former Loohn's Dry Cleaners property. Two operable units covering the Loohns Property and Eastern Site Groundwater are scheduled to begin combined remedial investigation and feasibility studies in 2026.

EPA conducts semiannual groundwater sampling across the site. No vapor intrusion concerns have been found at nearby residences, except for one building where elevated trichloroethene levels were detected in soil gas and continue to be monitored annually. Four businesses currently operate on the site, employing 1,078 people and generating roughly $353.7 million in annual sales.

Community members can get involved through EPA's Community Involvement Program. Site records are available for public review at the Olean Public Library at Second and Laurens Streets, Olean, New York 14760, by calling (716) 372-0200. Residents with questions can contact the Community Involvement Coordinator or the Remedial Project Manager.