Fulton Terminals

Overview

Fulton Terminals is a 1.5-acre former roofing materials manufacturing facility in Fulton, New York. It operated from 1936 to 1960, then as a staging area for materials headed to incineration from 1972 to 1977. Those operations left groundwater, soil, and sediments contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs), a group of chemicals that evaporate easily and can pose health risks. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL), the federal Superfund list, on September 5, 1983.

EPA identified 16 contaminants of concern at the site, found in both soil and groundwater. These include benzene, trichloroethene, vinyl chloride, chlorobenzene, and 1,2-dichloroethene. Arsenic, barium, and nickel were also detected in both media, along with methyl isobutyl ketone and pyrene.

Cleanup started in 1986 with removal of tanks, visibly contaminated soil, and tar-like wastes. Workers also excavated storm drains that were carrying contamination into the Oswego River. A full remedy was selected in 1989. It used low-temperature thermal extraction to clean VOCs from soil and carbon adsorption to treat contaminated groundwater. Soil cleanup finished in March 1996. Groundwater treatment ran from February 1997 through May 1997. In total, more than 10,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil and roughly nine million gallons of contaminated groundwater were cleaned. The former facility portion was removed from the Superfund list on April 6, 2015, and the rest of the site followed on July 20, 2018.

Human exposure is under control, and groundwater migration is also under control. Groundwater samples collected in July 2016, June 2017, and September 2017 showed contaminant levels had dropped below cleanup standards. EPA determined no further monitoring or reviews are necessary. The site has achieved construction complete status and is sitewide ready for anticipated reuse, meaning all cleanup goals for current and expected future land uses have been met.

Community members who want to review documents related to the cleanup can visit the Fulton Public Library in Fulton or the EPA Superfund Records Center in New York City. Questions can be directed to the EPA staff assigned to the site, including the Community Involvement Coordinator and the Remedial Project Manager.