Peter Cooper was an animal glue and industrial adhesive plant that operated in Gowanda, New York from 1904 to 1985. The site sits in Cattaraugus County and was added to the federal Superfund National Priorities List (NPL) in March 1998 after investigations confirmed contamination in soil, groundwater, and surface water. Between 1925 and 1970, the company disposed of cookhouse sludge from chrome-tanned hides on the northwest portion of the property. That waste raised contamination concerns near Cattaraugus Creek, a local fishing area.
EPA identified arsenic, carbon tetrachloride, and chloroform in soil across the site as the main contaminants of concern. Chromium, zinc, and organic compounds were also found in the manufacturing waste. In 1997, EPA ordered the site owner to build a retaining wall to keep contaminants away from the creek. EPA issued a cleanup plan, called a Record of Decision (ROD), in September 2005. That plan called for capping the landfill, installing a gas venting system, controlling leachate, stabilizing the shoreline, and restricting future land use. Contaminated material was excavated and consolidated on site, then treated in an aeration basin before discharge. Construction of the cleanup wrapped up in September 2010, with about 8.26 million tons of waste contained under the cap.
Human exposure to contamination is under control. Groundwater migration is also under control, with no unacceptable discharge to surface water detected. The landfill cap is well maintained and functioning as designed. Long-term monitoring and maintenance are ongoing, and no further cleanup action is expected beyond cap upkeep and groundwater monitoring. EPA completed its most recent five-year review on December 19, 2024. The site achieved a status called "sitewide ready for anticipated reuse" on July 8, 2016, and was deleted from the NPL on September 30, 2019.
Community members can review site records at the Town of Persia Town Hall at 8 W. Main Street in Gowanda, the Village of Gowanda Village Hall at 27 E. Main Street in Gowanda, or the EPA Superfund Records Center at 290 Broadway, 18th floor, in New York City.
