black river pcbs

END OF HEWITT DRIVE

The Black River PCBs Superfund site (Site) is located along the Black River in Champion, Carthage and West Carthage, Jefferson County, New York. The Site was proposed for inclusion on the National Priorities List on March 4, 2010. The Site is currently delineated as a reach of the Black River approximately 1/2 mile long. State Route 3 runs along the northern edge of the river in the vicinity of the site. The Site consists of PCB-contaminated sediment that was at least in part the result of wastewater discharge from the Carthage/West Carthage Water Pollution Control Facility [i.e., the sewage treatment plant (STP)]. Historical information indicates that tanneries, paper mills, and other industries have operated along the Black River in the Villages of Carthage and West Carthage since the 1890s. Two active paper mills, one inactive paper mill, a machine shop, the Carthage/West Carthage STP, and a hydroelectric power plant are currently located along the Black River in the Villages of Carthage and West Carthage. Various sediment samples have been taken from the river bottom. Hazardous substances, including PCBs and dioxins have been detected in sediment. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has collected sediment samples from the riverbed in a number of locations since 2001. The EPA collected sediment samples in 2009 and 2010.