Plattsburgh Air Force Base

Overview

The former Plattsburgh Air Force Base covers 3,440 acres in Plattsburgh, New York. It operated from 1955 until its closure in 1995 and was added to the EPA's Superfund National Priorities List in November 1989. Aircraft maintenance, firefighting exercises, munitions discharge, and landfill operations left behind hazardous waste in groundwater, soil, surface water, and sediment. The Air Force leads cleanup efforts under a Federal Facilities Agreement signed in 1991, with oversight from the EPA and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).

Contamination at the site includes over 150 chemicals. Groundwater contains volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as trichloroethene, benzene, and vinyl chloride. Soil holds heavy metals including arsenic, lead, chromium, and cadmium, along with pesticides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a group of industrial chemicals used in firefighting foam from 1970 to 1995, have been detected in groundwater, surface water, soil, and sediment both on and off the base. Four off-base residences had PFOA and PFOS levels at or above EPA Health Advisory Levels. The Air Force provided bottled water and treatment systems to affected homes and is extending a municipal water line to three of those residences, with construction expected during 2025. The New York State Department of Health has issued fish consumption advisories for Lake Champlain and the Salmon River due to PFAS contamination.

Over 20 cleanup plans called Records of Decision have been approved across the site's 21 operable units. Cleanup methods include pump-and-treat systems, soil vapor extraction, engineered caps on landfills, and institutional controls that restrict land use. Most cleanup decisions were made between the 1990s and 2010s. A sitewide removal action began in October 2023, with estimated completion between September and November 2026. A focused PFAS investigation began in April 2021 and is still ongoing. Under current conditions, human exposures are under control. The most recent five-year review was published April 2026 and is available online on the EPA's site profile page.

The former base has been redeveloped into a mixed-use community supporting over 500 jobs across roughly 80 companies. It includes an active airport, commercial and industrial zones, residential areas, and 120 acres of recreation facilities. Institutional controls are in place across much of the property to limit land uses that could increase exposure to remaining contamination.

Community members can stay involved through the Restoration Advisory Board (RAB), an independent group that reviews cleanup activities and costs. RAB meetings are open to the public and announced in the Plattsburgh Press Republican.