North Sea Municipal Landfill operated from 1963 to 1995 in North Sea, New York, accepting municipal solid waste, construction debris, and septic system waste. The site was added to the Superfund National Priorities List in June 1986 after disposal activities contaminated groundwater, surface water, and soil with heavy metals. Leachate was also detected from the landfill. Cleanup is now complete, and EPA deleted the site from the list in September 2005.
Contaminants of concern include ammonia, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, manganese, nickel, zinc, antimony, barium, beryllium, iron, and vanadium. These were found in soil, groundwater, surface water, and sludge, spread across two areas: Cell 1 and the lagoons, and a separate groundwater zone.
Cleanup actions addressed those two zones. Residents with contaminated private wells received alternative water supplies until 1981, when homes were connected to public water. Sludge lagoons were decommissioned in 1986, with 100,000 cubic yards of material removed. Cell No. 1 received an engineered cap and a perimeter gas venting system, completed in January 1995. All three landfill cells were permanently closed. For groundwater, EPA issued a no further action decision in September 1992 because contaminant levels fell within acceptable risk ranges.
Human exposure is currently under control, and contaminated groundwater migration is stabilized with no unacceptable discharge to surface water. The site has achieved sitewide ready for anticipated use status. Restrictive covenants filed in 2003 prevent future development that could pose unacceptable health or environmental risks without EPA and state approval. The Town of Southampton performs routine maintenance and conducts groundwater and leachate sampling twice a year. The most recent five-year review was completed on March 20, 2023, with the next review estimated between March and May 2028. The property now hosts a recreation center, recreation-related businesses, and a community recycling center, with five businesses operating on site as of December 2024.
Community members with questions can contact EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator or the Remedial Project Manager. Site records are available for public review at Southampton College's Reference Department or by appointment at the EPA Region 2 Superfund Records Center in New York City.
