Hooker (S Area)

Overview

The Hooker (S Area) site is a former 8-acre landfill in Niagara Falls, New York. Occidental Chemical Corporation (OCC) disposed of roughly 63,000 tons of chemical processing waste there between 1947 and 1961, with additional waste and debris deposited until 1975. EPA placed the site on the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL) in September 1983 after sampling in 1969 and 1978 found chemical contamination in the city's drinking water treatment plant intake structures.

Seven contaminants of concern were identified in groundwater at the site. They are 1,1-dichloroethene, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), endosulfan, gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane (lindane), hexachlorobenzene, mirex, and tetrachloroethene. These are volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and persistent organic pollutants found in groundwater at the S-Area Landfill.

Cleanup work began in 1996 and physical construction was completed on September 18, 2002. The remedy included a containment barrier wall around the landfill, groundwater pumping wells and drains, and on-site treatment using carbon adsorption and incineration. A final cap was placed over the landfill in 2002. The old drinking water treatment plant was demolished by late 1997 and replaced by a new facility at a different location, which opened in 2000. Since 1996, remedial systems have treated over 600 million gallons of contaminated groundwater. Over 227,000 gallons of non-aqueous phase liquid chemicals were collected, with more than 210,000 gallons transported off-site for incineration.

Human exposure to contamination is currently under control. Contaminated groundwater migration has been stabilized, and EPA has found no unacceptable discharge to surface water. The site remains on the NPL and is not yet ready for all anticipated uses. Land-use restrictions and controls are still being put in place. EPA completed its sixth Five-Year Review in May 2024 to confirm that cleanup actions continue to protect public health and the environment. The site is estimated to reach readiness for anticipated reuse between October and December 2026. Long-term groundwater monitoring continues through quarterly sampling.

Community members can contact the EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator. Records about Superfund work at the site are available for public review at EPA's Buffalo office, located at 130 South Elmwood, Suite 475, Buffalo, New York.