Consolidated Iron and Metal operated as a scrap metal processing and storage facility on a seven-acre parcel along the Hudson River in Newburgh, New York, for about 40 years before closing in 1999. The site processed whole automobiles, engines, transmissions, batteries, and other metal materials. A smelter that ran from 1975 to 1995 added lead-contaminated ash and slag to the mix. EPA placed the site on the National Priorities List (NPL) in June 2001, triggering a full federal cleanup process.
Fourteen contaminants of concern were identified in soil and groundwater. Soil contamination includes four types of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), arsenic, six polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), lead, and iron. Benzene and lead were also detected in groundwater. EPA determined all of these substances posed an unacceptable risk to human health or the environment based on the amounts found and potential exposure pathways.
EPA signed a Record of Decision in October 2006 calling for excavation of contaminated soil to about six feet deep, demolition of buildings, removal of scrap metal and debris, and shoreline restoration. From July 2009 through August 2010, contractors removed roughly 117,000 tons of contaminated soil and replaced it with clean fill. A geotextile fabric layer was placed to mark the boundary between any remaining potentially contaminated soil and the new clean backfill. The entire site was then covered with topsoil and vegetation. An environmental easement filed in September 2012 restricts excavation below six feet, new construction without a vapor intrusion check, and use of groundwater without quality verification.
EPA deleted the site from the NPL in December 2014 after confirming cleanup goals had been met. Human exposure is under control, and groundwater migration has stabilized with no unacceptable discharge to surface water. The site has achieved "Sitewide Ready for Anticipated Use" status. The City of Newburgh manages the property under an approved Site Modification Plan. EPA's most recent five-year review, completed in December 2023, confirmed the cleanup remains protective of public health and the environment, with ongoing monitoring continuing under EPA oversight.
Community members can review site documents in person at the EPA Superfund Records Center, 290 Broadway, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10007, or at the Newburgh Free Library, 124 Grand Street, Newburgh, NY 12550. For questions, two EPA staff members are available: Shereen Kandil, Community Involvement Coordinator, and Elizabeth McConnell, Remedial Project Manager.
