The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), in coordination with the State Department of Health (DOH), held an online Community Availability Session to provide updates and answer questions about cadmium contamination in West Islip. During the virtual community forum on April 24, DEC and DOH project managers provided information about the increased levels of cadmium in groundwater detected on and around the former Dzus Fasteners property, as well as increased levels of cadmium in the sediment and surface water of Willetts Creek.

Site History

The Dzus Fastener Co. site is a 1-acre site bounded by Union Avenue to the south, the former Dzus facility and Beach Street to the west, and Long Island Rail Road tracks to the north.

While the Dzus Fastener Co. Inc. produced fasteners and springs from 1932 to 2015, on-site leaching pools were used for disposing of wastes. These operations led to soil and groundwater chromium and cadmium contamination at the Dzus facility and downstream groundwater, sediment, and surface water contamination of nearby Willetts Creek and Lake Capri.

An asphalt cap engineering control was installed to prevent chromium and cadmium from infiltrating and further migrating through contaminated groundwater. Additionally, remedial action was completed in 2020 to remove impacted soil and sediment.

Buildings and foundations at the on-site former Dzus facility were demolished in 2020-2021 when the site was redeveloped into a commercial space. According to DEC project manager James Kruegler, the asphalt cap was illegally removed by the owner of the former Dzus Fasteners property, Island Associates Inc., sometime before April 2021. The removal prompted the DEC to issue a notice of violation in September 2021 for the removal of this important engineering control.

DEC and the owner entered into an order on consent in December 2021 with the required steps to address the cap removal. After those terms were not met, DEC issued a second notice of violation in September 2022 immediately requiring a temporary cap, which was installed in October 2022.  As of February 2024, the new permanent cap was installed by the owner.

In December 2023 and February 2024, DEC sent letters to the property owner summarizing recent sampling results and requesting that they carry out investigation and cleanup work to address the contamination. According to DEC, the owner refused.

“At that point, it was determined that DEC could proceed with the work as a state-led project under the State Superfund program,” explained Kruegler. “Earlier this month, DEC issued a notice of hearing and complaint to the site owners. This notice indicated there had been a violation of State Environmental Conservation Law and requested a penalty against the property owners.”

Ongoing monitoring shows increasing cadmium concentrations in groundwater downgradient of the former Dzus facility, and in sediment and surface water of Willetts Creek in the area behind Captree Plaza. Fish samples collected in June 2023 from Lake Capri and upstream of the lake in Willetts Creek show that elevated concentrations of cadmium remain present in most of the species sampled. DEC believes these increases are attributable to the removal of the asphalt cap.

Health concerns addressed

Based on recent concentrations detected by DEC, no immediate health effects are expected from exposure to cadmium or other contaminants in the Willetts Creek sediment or surface water.

DOH project manager Mark Sergott explained that in order for cadmium and contaminants in the Willetts Creek sediment or surface water to potentially cause a health problem, physical contact must occur in the form of direct contact or ingestion. There is no risk of exposure to site-related contaminants from drinking water as the area is served by a public water supply, though people can be exposed to sediment and surface water contaminants such as cadmium if they get sediment particles or water on their hands and ingest through hand-to-mouth activity.

“In order to minimize exposures, we’ve recommended that people avoid any unnecessary digging and wading in the creek for the time being,” explained Sergott. “We’d recommend that people follow good hygiene practices and thoroughly wash their hands after outdoor activities that are associated with the creek.”

Exposure may also occur by ingesting fish caught in Lake Capri, and there currently is a DOH health advisory in effect for Lake Capri due to cadmium contamination.

Next steps

In spring 2024, DEC, in coordination with DOH, will carry out a pre-design investigation that will provide information necessary to install an IRM (interim remedial measure) as soon as possible to prevent contaminated groundwater from continuing to reach Willetts Creek. The investigation will involve sampling groundwater-monitoring wells and some small-bore drilling in the area between 425 Union Boulevard and the west bank of Willetts Creek.

In summer 2024, the IRM will be designed and presented for public comment. The public comment period will include an in-person availability session.

In fall 2024, the IRM will be installed. The exact nature of the IRM and the installation will depend on the results of the spring 2024 investigation.

In fall and winter of 2024, once the IRM has been installed, DEC will carry out additional investigations to confirm the effectiveness of the IRM and determine the need for further remedial actions addressing impacted Willetts Creek surface water and sediment.

If you have further questions,  NYSDEC project manager James Kruegler can be contacted at james.kruegler@dec.ny.gov, and NYSDOH project manager Mark Sergott can be contacted at beei@health.ny.gov.

For more information, visit the project website: https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/site-cleanup/regional-remediation-project-information/region-1/environmental-cleanup-dzus-fastener-company