FACET
ENTERPRISE
INC.
NEW YORK
EPA ID# NYD073675514
EPA REGION 2
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 31
Chemung County
Elmira Heights
Site Description 	
From 1929 to 1976, the 39-acre Facet Enterprises, Inc. site was owned and operated by the Bendix
Corporation, which manufactured various products including bicycle parts, automobile engine
components, and small arms during World War II. In 1976, Facet Enterprises, Inc. was created to
carry on the manufacturing of engine components. In 1990, Facet Enterprises, Inc. changed its name
to the Purolator Products Company. Facet Enterprises however remains the site name. Disposal of
waste materials on the plant property is known to have occurred since at least the 1940s through
1978. The site contains numerous disposal areas, including eight dump sites and two open sludge
disposal areas. Wastes disposed of at the site include cyanide salts, heavy metal sludges, spent
solvents, and various oils. In addition to the eight known disposal areas, the open, flat area to the
northwest of Plant 2 has been used for material storage throughout the plant's operating history.
On-site disposal of wastes was discontinued by Facet in 1978. The site is adjacent to a residential
area and is less than 200 feet from the nearest home. The nearby wells, Sullivan Street public water
supply wells, which supply drinking water for more than 10,000 people, were closed due to
contamination by trichloroethylene (TCE). There are approximately 1,000 people living within a
1/4-mile radius of the site, and six schools are located within a mile of the site.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 10/01/81
Final Date: 09/01/83
Threats and Contaminants 	
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), inorganics, and petroleum were detected in on-site
monitoring wells and surface water at concentrations above NYSDEC standards. The
Elmira Water Board Sullivan Street public water supply wells have been contaminated
with TCE. In addition, EPA detected a layer of pure product floating on top of the water
table at one monitoring well located on the facility property. Perchloroethylene, TCE,
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1,1,1-trichloroethane, 1,1-dichloroethane, trans -1,2-dichloroethene, 1,2-dichlorobenzene,
trichlorofluoro methane, methylene chloride, acetone, PCBs, and polyaromatic
hydrocarbons (PAHs) were present in site soils.
Cleanup Approach 	
This site is being addressed in a single long-term remedial phase focusing on cleanup of the entire
site.
Response Action Status 	
r*\.	Entire Site: Under EPA direction, Facet initiated a hydrogeological investigation of the
Ny site in 1983, which confirmed groundwater contamination. In 1986, Facet initiated an
investigation to determine the extent of contamination at the site and to identify
alternatives for the cleanup. A Record of Decision (ROD) for the Site was signed on September 4,
1992. On May 14, 1996, EPA approved the final remedial design submitted by Purolator Products
Company. In August 1996, Purolator Products Company started the remedial action activities under
EPA oversight. The remedial construction was completed in May 2000.
Site Facts: Facet signed a Consent Order in 1983 to conduct a hydrogeological investigation of the
site. Facet entered into an Administrative Order in 1986 to conduct an investigation to determine the
extent of the contamination and to identify alternatives for the cleanup. In June 1993, a Consent
Decree between EPA and Purolator Products Company was entered in the Western District Court of
New York. The Consent Decree requires Purolator to conduct the remedial design and remedial
action required by the 1992 ROD, and to pay EPA's past and future oversight costs plus interest.
Cleanup Progress
On September 4, 1992, a Record of Decision (ROD) for the Site was issued for the excavation of
soils and sediments and the treatment of contaminated groundwater. 23,541 tons of contaminated
soils and sediments have been excavated and disposed of off-site during the construction completed
in May 2000.
Construction of the groundwater remediation system was completed in September 1997.
Groundwater contamination is addressed at Facet and Sullivan Street Wellfield by using air strippers
to remove the contaminants from groundwater. The groundwater pump and treat system located at
Site was completed and operational by the end of 1997.
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Site Repository 	
Town Clerk, Horseheads Town Hall, 150 Wygant Road, Horseheads, New York 14845
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