BioClinical Laboratories operated on a 2.6-acre property in Bohemia, New York, from 1978 to 1981, formulating and repackaging industrial chemicals and hazardous wastes. Workers discharged rinse water from contaminated containers onto the ground, into septic systems, and into storm drains. A fire in July 1981 destroyed much of the inventory and triggered removal of damaged containers and industrial wastes from the sanitary systems. The site was proposed for the National Priorities List (NPL) in June 1986, formally listed on March 31, 1989, and later deleted on September 9, 1994.
Contamination affected both groundwater and soil. Groundwater contains solvents such as trichloroethene, tetrachloroethene, benzene, chloroform, and dichloromethane, along with metals including arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, nickel, and zinc. Soil contains arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, lead, manganese, mercury, and nickel, among others. In total, EPA identified 54 contaminants of concern at the site. Municipal and private wells serving about 10,000 residents lie downgradient of the site.
EPA studies beginning in 1988 found low levels of contamination in groundwater, soil, and septic tanks. The property owner and tenant cleaned the contaminated west sanitary system. EPA issued a No Further Action decision on June 30, 1992, determining no additional cleanup was needed to protect public health or the environment. A Record of Decision dated September 30, 1992, formally selected No Further Action for Operable Unit 1, which covered site evaluation and disposal.
Human exposure and groundwater migration are both under control. Physical construction of the cleanup is complete, and the site has achieved sitewide readiness for anticipated reuse, a status first recorded on June 15, 2006. EPA continues monitoring to confirm that contaminated groundwater stays within the original contamination area. As of December 2024, four businesses operating on the site employ 30 people and generate roughly $4.66 million in annual sales.
Community members can review site documents at the Connetquot Public Library at 760 Ocean Avenue in Bohemia, New York, or at the EPA office at 290 Broadway, 18th floor, in New York City. The Superfund Records Center can be reached at (212) 637-4345. The EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator and Remedial Project Manager handle public inquiries.
