Niagara Mohawk Power Corp. (Saratoga Spings Plant)

Overview

The Niagara Mohawk Power Corp. Saratoga Springs Plant operated as a manufactured gas facility from 1868 to 1929, producing gas from coke, coal, and petroleum oils. That process left coal tar and a mix of hazardous waste materials in the soil, sediment, and groundwater across the former plant site, a nearby skating rink property, Spring Run Creek, and surrounding areas. The EPA added the site to the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL) in February 1990. The site is organized into three operable units covering sitewide conditions, soil and groundwater, and a specific project area.

Contaminants found at the site include metals such as lead, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, mercury, and nickel. Organic chemicals including benzene, toluene, xylene, naphthalene, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are also present, along with chloroform, phenol, cyanide, and various phthalates. These substances appear in soil, groundwater, and sediment across multiple parts of the site.

Cleanup happened in two main phases. The first phase ran from May 2001 through 2002 and removed more than 68,400 tons of contaminated soil and 16,700 tons of contaminated sediment. Workers installed underground barriers and placed protective caps over remaining contaminated soil. After additional contamination was found near Excelsior Avenue and the Old Red Spring area in 2006, the EPA finalized a separate cleanup plan in 2013. The second phase ran from December 2018 to August 2019, using soil solidification, underground barriers, and surface restoration. In September 2021, oxygen-releasing materials and nutrients were applied to treat groundwater and subsurface soil in the Old Red Spring area. Construction across the entire site was completed in September 2022. National Grid, which succeeded Niagara Mohawk Power Corp., continues to operate groundwater treatment systems and monitor the site. Environmental easements and use restrictions were recorded in October 2024, and the site has reached "Sitewide Ready for Anticipated Use" status, meaning all cleanup goals for current and expected future land uses have been met. Restrictions prohibit well use and any activities that could disturb cleanup work.

The site's redevelopment reflects community priorities. A century-old brick roundhouse was preserved and relocated rather than demolished. Cleanup design also protected Spring Run Creek, enabling construction of the 1.2-mile Spring Run Trail, a pedestrian and bicycle path connecting downtown Saratoga Springs with recreation areas and shopping centers.

The EPA is currently conducting its fifth Five-Year Review, with the report expected between June and August 2026. Community members with questions can contact the EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator, Larisa Romanowski, or the Remedial Project Manager, Daniel Wiener. Site documents are available at the Saratoga Springs Public Library at 320 Broadway and at the EPA Region 2 Superfund Records Center in New York City.