EPA Superfund site
EIGHTEENMILE CREEK
Human exposure is NOT currently under control
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 Eighteen Mile Creek Superfund site is considered “Current Human Exposure Not Under Control” (HENC). Residents are known or reasonably anticipated to be exposed to lead‑contaminated soil on residential properties through direct contact and incidental ingestion, including indoor dust tracked in from yards. Additional exposure may occur through contact with contaminated floodplain soils and creek sediments. Sediments in the creek contain polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), as well as mercury, lead, copper, pesticides/insecticides, dioxins, and furans.
Currently, the planned activities to address this pathway include:
- Implementing the 2018 remedy to clean up lead‑impacted residential properties; contracts have been awarded and cleanup of some properties is underway.
- Continuing implementation of the 2017 remedy for the most contaminated portion of the creek and adjoining properties; contracts have been awarded and work has been initiated.
- Designing the September 2024 remedy for the Sediment Transitional Area (STA), which addresses approximately 5.4 miles of downstream reaches; evaluation of the remainder of the creek is ongoing.
- Completing investigations at additional Operable Unit 4 (OU4) residential properties and performing soil sampling to determine whether additional cleanups are needed.
If you may be affected, you can reduce your exposure by keeping children and pets off bare soil, covering bare areas with clean mulch or sod, avoiding contact with floodplain soils and creek sediments, removing shoes at the door, wet‑mopping and damp‑dusting indoors, washing hands after outdoor activities, and following any posted signs and local health advisories. For assistance, contact the EPA Community Involvement Coordinator Michael Basile via the site webpage or at (716) 551-4410 or [email protected].
EPA currently anticipates that human exposure will be under control by September 2037 because cleanup of the OU4 residential properties will be finished, the STA remedy and the remedy for the most contaminated creek reaches and adjoining properties will be implemented, and confirmation sampling and institutional/engineering controls will demonstrate achievement of risk‑based cleanup goals, as reflected in the Superfund Enterprise Management System (SEMS).
EPA will continue to meet with residents and stakeholders, issue public notices and updated fact sheets, and keep the site profile on EPA’s website up to date.