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Environmental Investigations Endicott, New York
This site presents key documents relating to environmental investigations and cleanup relating to the IBM manufacturing facility in Endicott, New York. Groundwater contamination by toxic VOCs (volatile organic compounds) has affected both the facility site and surrounding areas.
Although most of these toxic compounds are no longer in use, they persist in the environment. The Endicott area has been the subject of numerous technical and public documents, including study plans and reports, legal consent orders and non-technical fact sheets. Public meetings and other citizen participation opportunities relating to the studies and to remedial measures occur periodically.
IBM Investigations
IBM has accepted responsibility for much of the solvent contamination in Endicott. The company is conducting investigations to determine the degree to which off-site groundwater contamination has impacted indoor air quality in the area south of its facility, and to evaluate potential enhancements to the groundwater remedial program.
In addition to technical data reports, the company and the state have prepared fact sheets to brief citizens on study results. These fact sheets and some reports of study data are available through the links on this page.
Endicott Area Wide Study
To identify any other industries that may have contributed to Endicott's groundwater contamination, DEC has undertaken a large comprehensive study, titled the Endicott Area Wide Study, covering the upper aquifer west of Jefferson Avenue and east of Arthur Avenue in Endicott, and other areas to the north, west and east of the IBM solvent plume.
The Area Wide Study, which may take three or more years to complete, includes sampling of indoor air, soil gas and groundwater, as well as extensive review of records to determine how properties were used. Because IBM has done similar types of work in the Endicott area, readers who want to determine whether data were taken by the department or by IBM should check the title page of any report of study results. Both Area Wide Study and IBM reports are available at the information repository at the library in Endicott.