EPA Superfund site
ARSENIC MINE
Exposure status: insufficient data
Data limitations: Proximity to a Superfund site boundary does not mean your property is contaminated. EPA site boundaries show the area designated for cleanup, not the full extent of contamination. Groundwater plumes can extend beyond site boundaries. This tool shows publicly available EPA federal data. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by EPA, and is not a substitute for a professional environmental assessment.
About this site's exposure pathways
As of May 2026, the Arsenic Mine Superfund site is considered “Insufficient Data to make a Human Exposure evaluation” (HEID). This status does not necessarily mean that unacceptable exposures are occurring. EPA has taken actions to reduce exposure, including a 2020 early‑action Record of Decision (ROD) offering acquisition and permanent relocation of six affected properties. The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has acquired five properties and relocated the residents. One property owner declined the relocation offer; interim measures implemented in 2019 (e.g., installation of indoor and outdoor doormats, boot brushes, wood‑chip or stone walkways, and paving or stone on driveways, plus targeted soil removal in pet areas) remain in place to reduce contact with arsenic‑contaminated soil. Additional information is still needed to determine whether actual or reasonably anticipated human exposures are occurring above acceptable risk‑based levels across all pathways and areas pending completion of the Operable Unit 2 (OU2) investigation.
Planned activities to collect sufficient information include conducting the OU2 Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) to define the nature and extent of contamination, beginning fieldwork in 2027; collecting additional soil samples; evaluating off‑site migration and any relevant surface water or sediment areas; and preparing a Human Health Risk Assessment (HHRA) and ecological risk assessment to evaluate exposure pathways. EPA will use the RI/FS and risk assessment findings to determine the need for further actions and to support a Human Exposure determination.
EPA currently anticipates there will be sufficient data to make a Human Exposure determination by September 2031 because the OU2 RI/FS and risk assessments are expected to be completed and the OU2 ROD will be issued by that time.
If you live or work near the site, you can reduce your exposure by avoiding contact with bare soils, using doormats and removing shoes before entering the home, keeping pets from bare soil areas, washing hands after outdoor activities, and following any instructions provided by EPA and local health authorities. For more information, contact the EPA Community Involvement Coordinator Shereen Kandil via the site webpage or at (212) 637-4333 or [email protected]. EPA will continue to meet with residents and stakeholders, issue public notices and fact sheets, and keep the site profile on EPA’s website up to date.