MASSENA — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is conducting its fourth five-year review of the Reynolds Metals Superfund site. The review “seeks to confirm that the implemented cleanup continues to protect human health and the environment,” EPA said in a news release.

In 2001, EPA began a dredging program to remove contaminated sediment from the St. Lawrence River adjacent to the Reynolds facility. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are the primary contaminant found in river sediment. Areas with high levels of contamination were dredged. A total mass of approximately 20,200 pounds of PCBs were removed from the St. Lawrence River. In areas where post-dredging sampling determined that the cleanup goal had not been met despite multiple dredging attempts, a cap was placed to isolate any remaining contamination. Dredging and capping of the contaminated sediments was completed in 2009. The caps are monitored for erosion and repairs are made, as necessary, according to EPA.

A summary of cleanup activities and an evaluation of the protectiveness of the implemented cleanup will be included in the five-year review report.

The reviews are to ensure that implemented remedies at Superfund sites function as intended and continue to be protective of human health and the environment, according to EPA. The agency says these regular reviews, which are required by federal law when contaminants remain at a site, include:

• Inspecting the site and cleanup technologies;

• Reviewing monitoring data, operating data, and maintenance records; and,

• Determining if any new relevant regulatory requirements have been established since EPA’s original cleanup decision was finalized.

EPA anticipates the five-year review report will be available at https://cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/cursites/csitinfo.cfm?id=0201465 in late spring 2021.

There are several ways to review information on this site. The administrative record, which includes EPA decision documents used for selecting the cleanup remedy, is available for public review at St. Regis Mohawk Tribe Environmental Division, 449 Frogtown Rd., Akwesasne, NY 13655 or Massena Public Library, 41 Glenn Street, Massena, NY 13662

People with questions or concerns can contact Pamela Tames, EPA remedial project manager at (212) 637-4255 or tames.pam@epa.gov; or Larisa Romanowski, EPA community involvement coordinator at (518) 407-0400 or romanowski.larisa@epa.gov