NEW YORK — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) wants to modify a 1996 plan to clean up the AVX property at the Olean Well Field Superfund Site, according to a press release.
The cleanup plan would address soil and groundwater contamination on the land, noted the release. Volatile organic compounds have contaminated the area, some of which can cause cancer.
EPA has proposed containing the soil pollution using existing barriers such as the building and pavement, stated the release. A groundwater collection trench would contain the groundwater contamination.
A public meeting hosted by EPA will be held June 23 at 7 p.m. to explain the proposal and accept public comments, reported the release. The public can submit comments until July 15.
The Olean Well Field contains 53 wells, homes and manufacturing facilities across 1.5 square miles, shared the release. The Allegheny River also flows through the area. Officials discovered he site was contaminated by industrial operations in 1981, and it was added to the Superfund list in 1983.
Under the Superfund program, polluters pay for the cleanups, not taxpayers, noted the release. AVX Corporation performed the initial cleanup, and EPA expects it to perform the proposed work as well.
Click here to read the entire release.
