The Arsenic Mine site sits in Kent, New York, centered on a historic mine with multiple shafts on and near private property. EPA added it to the National Priorities List in November 2019. The site is still in active cleanup, with construction not yet complete and broader contamination investigation ongoing.
Arsenic is the contaminant of concern. It has been found in shallow soil at residential properties downslope from the mine, and in drinking water. In 1987, residents near the northern mine entrance were hospitalized after drinking arsenic-contaminated water. Testing in 2017 and 2018 confirmed elevated arsenic levels at nearby homes. In 2019, the New York State Department of Health concluded that children's short-term exposure to the most contaminated surface soil posed an immediate and significant threat to human health, and that long-term exposure posed a significant threat to both children and adults.
EPA finalized a cleanup plan in June 2020. The plan centers on permanently relocating residents by purchasing contaminated properties and demolishing the homes. As a short-term measure, EPA installed doormats, boot brushes, walkways, and driveways to reduce contact with contaminated soil, and began quarterly drinking water assessments. Five of six property owners accepted relocation offers, and all five households have relocated. As of October 2023, three of four vacated houses had been demolished, with remaining demolition anticipated for late summer or early fall 2024.
The site is divided into operable units, which are separate areas or problems EPA addresses one at a time. Operable Unit 1 covers residential homes and already has a cleanup decision in place. Operable Unit 2 covers the entire site, and EPA is currently conducting a combined investigation and feasibility study for it, started in April 2020. Human exposure status and groundwater migration are both listed as having insufficient data, meaning assessments have not yet generated reliable information to determine whether people are currently exposed to unsafe contamination or whether contaminated groundwater movement is stabilized.
Community members can get involved through EPA's Community Involvement Program, which is designed to promote public participation early in the cleanup process. EPA released a community update fact sheet in June 2020 outlining upcoming activities. Residents with questions can contact the Community Involvement Coordinator or the Remedial Project Manager.
