Hazardous waste management activities at the Rouses Point facility were regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and NYSDEC under a RCRA Corrective Action Permit most recently modified in October 2014.
The former manufacturing site historically consisted of two operations, the Main Plant and the Chemical Development Plant. In 2006, as part of its Hazardous Waste Management Permit requirements, Wyeth notified the NYSDEC of 10 Areas-of-Concern (AOC) and 26 Solid Waste Management Units (SWMU) on the site. A series of soil and groundwater investigations identified a limited number of compounds, including volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds, metals and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) detected in soil or groundwater at the site.
No Further Action status was approved by NYSDEC on four AOC and one SWMU at the Main Plant, and similar approvals are pending from NYSDEC on 13 additional SWMUs and one AOC. No Further Action status was approved for two AOC, as well as one SMWU and a portion of two other SWMU at the former Chemical Development Pilot Plant.
A Draft Corrective Measures Study Report was submitted to NYSDEC which proposes final Corrective Measure Alternatives at the site. More information can be found on the Corrective Measures page.
Comprehensive groundwater investigations have been conducted on and around the site. Certain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have been reported as detected in groundwater samples collected from select locations. Between 2013 and 2016, based on NYSDEC’s recommendation, In-Situ Chemical Oxidation was performed at specific locations to facilitate the breakdown of these VOCs. Post remedial monitoring of groundwater continues to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment. In 2016, the NYSDEC issued a positive Environmental Indicator Determination related to groundwater signifying that the migration of impacted groundwater has stabilized and is under control.
In 2008 and 2009, Pfizer conducted a series of investigations to evaluate the potential for vapors from impacted groundwater to affect the residential neighborhood east and south of the site. A total of 66 properties were included in the studies. Sub-slab soil vapor concentrations of several volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were detected beneath some structures during the sampling program; however, indoor air results were generally within the range of expected background concentrations and were comparable to outdoor air samples collected at the same time.
No further action was determined at 25 of the off-site properties as a result of the sampling data collected in February or July 2009. As a precautionary/preventative measure and in consultation with the NYSDEC and the NYSDOH, sub-slab depressurization systems have been installed at 36 properties to date. Wyeth continues to operate and maintain these systems through a contractor.
Indoor air sampling conducted at the Rouses Point Elementary School in 2008 and again 2014 found samples to be within the range of acceptable results.
Following the implementation of In-situ Chemical Oxidation to address groundwater impacts, Pfizer reassessed the properties with existing systems to evaluate the necessity of continued operation. To date, four systems have been shut-down and evaluations on other properties are performed on a periodic basis.
In 2020, at the request of the NYSDEC and NYSDOH, Pfizer completed an evaluation for potential soil vapor intrusion at additional off-site properties to the north and south of the Site. The evaluation, as approved by NYSDEC and NYSDOH, concluded that sub-slab depressurization systems in additional off-site properties to the north and south of the Site were not needed.