EPA Superfund Site

NEW CASSEL/HICKSVILLE GROUND WATER CONTAMINATION

NY | EPA ID NY0001095363

About this site’s exposure pathways: As of January 2025, there is insufficient information to determine the site-wide human exposure status at the New Cassel/Hicksville Ground Water Contamination site. The site consists of contaminated groundwater in the vicinity of industrial areas near Hicksville, New Cassel, Westbury, Hempstead and Salisbury. EPA has conducted an initial investigation of the Site and confirmed the presence of elevated levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including tetrachloroethylene (PCE), trichloroethylene (TCE), cis-1,2-dichloroethene (cis-1,2-DCE), and vinyl chloride in 11 public water supply wells: six in Hicksville, four in Hempstead, and one in Westbury. This is a very large complex site with numerous sources of contamination. New York State is addressing the sources of contamination, while EPA is addressing the large area wide groundwater that includes several plumes emanating from these sources. The public water supply is treated so no one is currently drinking contaminated water.

While EPA has selected a remedy for two areas of the groundwater contamination, investigations, and risk assessments for other portions of the groundwater contamination have yet to be completed. It is anticipated that risk assessments that address all areas of contamination at the site to determine the potential impacts to human health and the environment will not be completed before 2026; as a result, a human exposure determination cannot be made before 2026.

EPA ensures community participation throughout the remedial process by meeting with residents and affected stakeholders, issuing public notices and updating fact sheets. A site profile has been established on the EPA website to keep the community informed of recent progress at the site. Additionally, an EPA Community Involvement Coordinator is assigned to the site and can address specific community concerns as they arise.