CLOTHIER
DISPOSAL
NEW YORK
EPA ID# NYD000511576
EPA REGION 2
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 24
Oswego County
Granby
Other Names:
PAS Clothier Site
Site Description 	
The Clothier Disposal site is a 15-acre privately-owned dump site, 6 acres of which were used from the
early 1970s to 1984 to dispose of demolition debris, household wastes, junk vehicles, and approximately
2,200 drums of hazardous chemical waste from the Pollution Abatement Services, Inc. (PAS) site, which
is also listed on the National Priorities List (NPL). In 1973, the Oswego County Health Department
discovered drums containing various amounts of waste from the PAS site at the Clothier Disposal site,
and reported it to state authorities. In 1976, the New York State Department of Environmental
Conservation (NYSDEC) brought suit against the owner of the property for operating an illegal dump.
Subsequently, a temporary permit was granted for a period of one year to clean up the site. In 1977, the
owner made an attempt to bury or cover the waste materials dumped on the site. In doing so, drums were
broken open and drained. Between early 1978 and 1980, additional efforts were made by the owner to
clean up the property. Again these efforts largely entailed burying or covering previously exposed
wastes. In 1985, NYSDEC staged and characterized the wastes and drum contents. During these
activities, it was discovered that approximately 80 drums were in danger of rupturing; these drums had
to be placed in new containers immediately. It was also reported that prior to staging and sampling, up
to 90 drums had already ruptured and their contents had leaked onto the ground. The site was listed on
the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL) on June 1, 1996.
Approximately 160 people live within a 1 -mile radius, with the nearest residence located 2,000 feet from
the site. Residents in the area rely on private wells for drinking water. A wetland passes through the site
to the west of the area used for waste disposal. Ox Creek flows through the site, feeding into the Oswego
River, and a portion of the site is located within a 100-year flood plain.
Site Responsibility: This site was addressed through
federal and potentially responsible par-
ties actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 10/01/84
Final Date: 06/01/86
Deletion Date: 02/08/96
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Threats and Contaminants
Initially, volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds, and high concentrations of heavy
metals were found in the soil; barium in Ox Creek sediments; and heavy metals including
cadmium, chromium and manganese in the ground water. Subsequent to a drum and visibly-
contaminated soil removal action, the main contaminants found in the soil were low residual
levels of poly chlorinated biphenyls and carcinogenic polyaromatic hydrocarbons. Samples
of on-site ground water and surface water and sediment collected from an adjacent wetland
showed few and isolated instances of organic constituents, and when found, their
concentrations marginally exceeded standards or guidelines.
Cleanup Approach
This site was addressed in two stages: initial actions and a long-term remedial action focusing
on the cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status 	
Initial Actions: During 1986, drums were moved to a centralized on-site location. A
number of potentially responsible parties (PRPs) subsequently removed 1,858 drums of
waste. In 1987 and 1988, EPA removed the remaining drums and visibly-contaminated soil
and debris associated with the drums.
W
Entire Site: In 1989, following the completion of aremedial investigation and feasibility
study to determine the nature and extent of the contamination at and emanating from the site
and to evaluate remedial alternatives, a Record of Decision was signed, selecting a remedy
for the site. The selected remedy called for regrading and placement of a 1-foot soil cover over the
residually-contaminated areas and revegetating the site, installation of erosion control devices, as needed,
on the embankment sloping toward Ox Creek, implementation of institutional controls to prevent the use
of the underlying ground water or any land use involving significant disturbance of the soil cover, and
long-term ground-water, soil, sediment, and surface-water monitoring. During grading activities for the
soil cover, seven drums were uncovered. The drums and soil surrounding them were loaded into
dumpsters which were removed in October 1992. A Close-Oat Report, documenting the completion of
the remedial action, was approved in December 1993. Long-term monitoring and inspection of the site,
which commenced in April 1994, led to the discovery of three buried drums. The drums were excavated,
overpacked, and removed from the site. As a precaution, a limited-area geophysical investigation was
undertaken to determine the possible presence of other buried drums. This investigation led to the
discovery of buried metallic debris, which was subsequently removed from the site.
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The site was deleted from the NPL on February 8, 1996.
In March 1998, EPA issued a Five-Year Review Report, which concluded that the remedy at the site was
implemented in accordance with the remedy selected in the ROD and that the remedy set forth in the ROD
is fully protective of human health and the environment. EPA will conduct another Five-Year Review in the
spring or summer of 2002.
Site Facts: In 1986, a Consent Order was signed with several PRPs requiring them to dispose of a
number of drums located on-site. In 1989, the PRPs signed a Consent Decree to design and implement
the remedy and to provide long-term monitoring and inspections at the site.
Cleanup Progress
(Threat Mitigated bv Physical Clean Up Work)
The removal of 2,207 drums and visibly-contaminated soil significantly reduced the potential for
exposure to contaminated materials at the Clothier Disposal site. The installation of the soil cover over
the residually-contaminated areas provides additional protection.
Site Repositories
Fulton Public Library, 160 South First Street, Fulton, New York 13069
EPA Region II Superfund Records Center, 290 Broadway, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10007-1866
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