Applied Environmental Services

Overview

The Applied Environmental Services site sits on the shore of Hempstead Harbor in Glenwood Landing, New York. It operated as a petroleum terminal from 1939 through the late 1970s, then as a chemical solvent storage and repackaging facility from 1974 to 1980, and finally as a hazardous waste storage and blending operation from 1980 to 1983. EPA added it to the Superfund National Priorities List in June 1986. The site is now in long-term monitoring, overseen by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

Eleven contaminants pose unacceptable risk at the site. They include benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, tetrachloroethene, naphthalene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, and lead. Benzene, ethylbenzene, and toluene were found in air. Groundwater, soil, and sediment each contain multiple contaminants from that list. A separate operable unit addresses PFAS contamination, with a combined investigation and feasibility study estimated for late 2027 to early 2028.

Cleanup has been extensive. Since 1984, workers have removed contaminated tanks, drums, and soil. A groundwater extraction and treatment system ran for more than 20 years and removed 99 percent of contaminants. In 2004, a steel underground barrier was installed along Hempstead Harbor to stop contamination from spreading into the water. In 2022, the groundwater treatment system was shut down and contaminated soil hot spots were removed and replaced with clean soil containing nutrients to support natural breakdown of remaining contaminants. Twenty-one responsible parties funded the work under a 1992 Consent Judgment, but a 2019 court order ended their responsibility for the site.

Physical construction of the cleanup is complete. Human exposure is under control, and groundwater migration is stabilized with no unacceptable discharge to surface water. However, groundwater has not yet met drinking water standards. An environmental easement restricts groundwater use to treated sources only and limits future development to commercial or industrial use. A 2023 Explanation of Significant Differences also prevents exposure to vapors that may enter structures on the site. The most recent five-year review was completed in January 2026. The site has been partially restored ecologically, with a salt marsh, coastal shoreline, and habitat now supporting marsh plants, invertebrates, fish, and birds.

Community members with questions can contact the EPA staff assigned to the site. Documents and reports are available in person at the Glen Cove Public Library Reference Desk in Glen Cove, New York, or at the EPA Superfund Records Center at 290 Broadway, 18th floor, New York, New York 10007.