Onondaga Lake
NPL SiteSyracuse, NY
According to the EPA Superfund Enterprise Management System, Onondaga Lake in Syracuse, NY is listed with NPL status NPL Site. Its Hazard Ranking System (HRS) score is 50.00. The public extract catalogs 238 contaminant records for this site. NPL listing is a cleanup-authority designation, not a measured health-risk score.
Superfund National Priorities List inclusion (status and HRS score shown above) is the EPA's formal designation that a contaminated site qualifies for long-term federal cleanup authority under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). A federal-facility classification means the site is owned or operated by a federal agency, which routes cleanup responsibility differently than a privately owned site.
"Construction Complete" (status shown above) is an EPA milestone marking that the physical remedy work is finished, not that the site has exited EPA oversight; long-term monitoring can continue afterward. Deletion from the NPL is a separate, later step the EPA takes only once it determines every planned response action is finished.
NPL listing is a cleanup-authority designation in the EPA record, not a quantitative health-risk score. HRS scores of 28.50 or above qualify a site for the NPL under the EPA screening model (toxicity, pathways, waste quantity, and affected population factors). For current site conditions and official community notices, see the EPA Regional Superfund profile and the New York environmental agency.
What is the cleanup status of this Superfund site?
NPL Status
NPL Site
Federal Facility
No
Construction Complete
No
HRS Score
50.00
Deleted from NPL
No
Contaminants
| Contaminant | Media |
|---|---|
| 1,1,1-TRICHLOROETHANE | Groundwater |
| 1,1-DICHLOROETHANE | Groundwater |
| 1,1-DICHLOROETHENE | Groundwater |
| 1,2,4-TRICHLOROBENZENE | Groundwater |
| 1,2-DICHLOROBENZENE | Groundwater |
| 1,2-DICHLOROBENZENE | Soil |
| 1,2-DICHLOROETHENE (CIS AND TRANS MIXTURE) | Groundwater |
| 1,2-DIHYDROACENAPHTHYLENE | Groundwater |
| 1,2-DIHYDROACENAPHTHYLENE | Soil |
| 1,2-DIMETHYLBENZENE (O-XYLENE) | Soil |
| 1,3-DICHLOROBENZENE | Groundwater |
| 1,3-DICHLOROBENZENE | Soil |
| 1,3-DIMETHYLBENZENE (M-XYLENE) | Soil |
| 1,4-DICHLOROBENZENE | Groundwater |
| 1,4-DICHLOROBENZENE | Soil |
| 1,4-DIMETHYLBENZENE (P-XYLENE) | Soil |
| 2,3,7,8-TETRACHLORODIBENZO-p-DIOXIN (TCDD) TOXICITY EQUIVALENTS (TEq) | Fish Tissue |
| 2,3,7,8-TETRACHLORODIBENZO-p-DIOXIN (TCDD) TOXICITY EQUIVALENTS (TEq) | Sediment |
| 2,3,7,8-TETRACHLORODIBENZO-p-DIOXIN (TCDD) TOXICITY EQUIVALENTS (TEq) | Soil |
| 2,3,7,8-TETRACHLORODIBENZO-p-DIOXIN (TCDD) TOXICITY EQUIVALENTS (TEq) | Surface Water |
| 2,4,5-TRICHLOROPHENOL | Groundwater |
| 2,4-DICHLOROPHENOL | Groundwater |
| 2,4-DIMETHYLPHENOL | Groundwater |
| 2-BUTANONE (METHYL ETHYL KETONE) | Groundwater |
| 2-BUTANONE (METHYL ETHYL KETONE) | Soil |
| 2-CHLOROPHENOL | Groundwater |
| 2-METHYLNAPHTHALENE | Groundwater |
| 2-METHYLPHENOL (O-CRESOL) | Groundwater |
| 2-METHYLPHENOL (O-CRESOL) | Sediment |
| 2-METHYLPHENOL (O-CRESOL) | Soil |
| 2-NITROPHENOL | Groundwater |
| 3,5,5-TRIMETHYLCYCLOHEX-2-EN-1-ONE | Groundwater |
| 3-NITROANILINE | Soil |
| 4-METHYLPHENOL (P-CRESOL) | Groundwater |
| 4-METHYLPHENOL (P-CRESOL) | Soil |
| 4-NITROPHENOL | Groundwater |
| 9H-FLUORENE | Groundwater |
| 9H-FLUORENE | Soil |
| ACETONE | Groundwater |
| ACETONE | Soil |
| ALPHA-CHLORDANE | Soil |
| ALPHA-HEXACHLOROCYCLOHEXANE | Groundwater |
| ALUMINUM | Sediment |
| ALUMINUM | Soil |
| ANTHRACENE | Groundwater |
| ANTHRACENE | Soil |
| ANTIMONY | Groundwater |
| ANTIMONY | Sediment |
| ANTIMONY | Soil |
| ANTIMONY | Surface Water |
| AROCLOR 1016 | Soil |
| AROCLOR 1242 | Soil |
| AROCLOR 1248 | Fish Tissue |
| AROCLOR 1248 | Soil |
| AROCLOR 1254 | Fish Tissue |
| AROCLOR 1254 | Groundwater |
| AROCLOR 1254 | Sediment |
| AROCLOR 1254 | Soil |
| AROCLOR 1260 | Fish Tissue |
| AROCLOR 1260 | Sediment |
| AROCLOR 1260 | Soil |
| ARSENIC | Fish Tissue |
| ARSENIC | Groundwater |
| ARSENIC | Sediment |
| ARSENIC | Soil |
| BARIUM | Groundwater |
| BARIUM | Soil |
| BARIUM | Surface Water |
| BENZENE | Groundwater |
| BENZENE | Sediment |
| BENZENE | Soil |
| BENZENE | Surface Water |
| BENZO(B)FLUORANTHENE | Groundwater |
| BENZO(B)FLUORANTHENE | Sediment |
| BENZO(B)FLUORANTHENE | Soil |
| BENZO(GHI)PERYLENE | Soil |
| BENZO(K)FLUORANTHENE | Groundwater |
| BENZO(K)FLUORANTHENE | Soil |
| BENZO[A]ANTHRACENE | Groundwater |
| BENZO[A]ANTHRACENE | Sediment |
| BENZO[A]ANTHRACENE | Soil |
| BENZO[A]PYRENE | Groundwater |
| BENZO[A]PYRENE | Sediment |
| BENZO[A]PYRENE | Soil |
| BETA-HEXACHLOROCYCLOHEXANE | Soil |
| BIS(2-ETHYLHEXYL)PHTHALATE | Groundwater |
| BIS(2-ETHYLHEXYL)PHTHALATE | Sediment |
| BIS(2-ETHYLHEXYL)PHTHALATE | Soil |
| CADMIUM | Fish Tissue |
| CADMIUM | Groundwater |
| CADMIUM | Sediment |
| CADMIUM | Soil |
| CADMIUM | Surface Water |
| CARBON DISULFIDE | Groundwater |
| CARBON DISULFIDE | Sediment |
| CARBON DISULFIDE | Soil |
| CHLORDANE | Sediment |
| CHLORDANE | Soil |
| CHLORIDE | Groundwater |
| CHLORIDE | Surface Water |
| CHLORINATED DIOXINS AND FURANS | Sediment |
| CHLOROBENZENE | Groundwater |
| CHLOROBENZENE | Soil |
| CHLOROETHANE | Groundwater |
| CHLOROETHENE (VINYL CHLORIDE) | Groundwater |
| CHLOROETHENE (VINYL CHLORIDE) | Soil |
| CHLOROFORM | Groundwater |
| CHROMIUM | Groundwater |
| CHROMIUM | Sediment |
| CHROMIUM | Soil |
| CHROMIUM | Surface Water |
| CHROMIUM (III) | Soil |
| CHROMIUM(III) SULFATE | Surface Water |
| CHROMIUM(VI) | Soil |
| CHRYSENE | Groundwater |
| CHRYSENE | Soil |
| CIS-1,2-DICHLOROETHENE | Groundwater |
| CIS-1,2-DICHLOROETHENE | Soil |
| COPPER | Fish Tissue |
| COPPER | Groundwater |
| COPPER | Sediment |
| COPPER | Soil |
| CUMENE | Groundwater |
| CYANIDE | Groundwater |
| CYANIDE | Soil |
| DIBENZO(A,H)ANTHRACENE | Sediment |
| DIBENZO(A,H)ANTHRACENE | Soil |
| DIBENZOFURAN | Soil |
| DICHLOROBENZENE (MIXED ISOMERS) | Sediment |
| DICHLOROBENZENE (MIXED ISOMERS) | Soil |
| DICHLOROMETHANE (METHYLENE CHLORIDE) | Groundwater |
| DICHLOROMETHANE (METHYLENE CHLORIDE) | Sediment |
| DICHLOROMETHANE (METHYLENE CHLORIDE) | Soil |
| DIELDRIN | Fish Tissue |
| DIELDRIN | Sediment |
| DIELDRIN | Soil |
| ENDOSULFAN (I OR II) | Sediment |
| ENDOSULFAN (I OR II) | Soil |
| ENDRIN | Sediment |
| ETHYLBENZENE | Groundwater |
| ETHYLBENZENE | Soil |
| FLUORANTHENE | Groundwater |
| FLUORANTHENE | Soil |
| HEPTACHLOR | Groundwater |
| HEPTACHLOR | Sediment |
| HEPTACHLOR | Soil |
| HEPTACHLOR EPOXIDE | Fish Tissue |
| HEPTACHLOR EPOXIDE | Sediment |
| HEPTACHLOR EPOXIDE | Soil |
| HEXACHLORO-1,3-BUTADIENE | Groundwater |
| HEXACHLOROBENZENE | Fish Tissue |
| HEXACHLOROBENZENE | Groundwater |
| HEXACHLOROBENZENE | Sediment |
| HEXACHLOROBENZENE | Soil |
| INDENO(1,2,3-CD)PYRENE | Groundwater |
| INDENO(1,2,3-CD)PYRENE | Sediment |
| INDENO(1,2,3-CD)PYRENE | Soil |
| IRON | Fish Tissue |
| IRON | Groundwater |
| IRON | Sediment |
| IRON | Soil |
| LEAD | Groundwater |
| LEAD | Sediment |
| LEAD | Soil |
| LEAD | Surface Water |
| MAGNESIUM | Groundwater |
| MANGANESE | Groundwater |
| MANGANESE | Sediment |
| MANGANESE | Soil |
| MANGANESE | Surface Water |
| MERCURY | Fish Tissue |
| MERCURY | Groundwater |
| MERCURY | Other |
| MERCURY | Sediment |
| MERCURY | Soil |
| MERCURY | Surface Water |
| METALS | Soil |
| METHYLMERCURY DICYANDIAMIDE | Fish Tissue |
| METHYLMERCURY DICYANDIAMIDE | Sediment |
| METHYLMERCURY DICYANDIAMIDE | Soil |
| METHYLMERCURY DICYANDIAMIDE | Surface Water |
| METHYLPHENOL (CRESOL MIXED ISOMERS) | Soil |
| NAPHTHALENE | Groundwater |
| NAPHTHALENE | Soil |
| NICKEL | Fish Tissue |
| NICKEL | Sediment |
| NICKEL | Soil |
| NITROBENZENE | Groundwater |
| P,P'-DDD | Fish Tissue |
| P,P'-DDD | Groundwater |
| P,P'-DDD | Soil |
| P,P'-DDE | Fish Tissue |
| P,P'-DDE | Soil |
| P,P'-DDT | Fish Tissue |
| P,P'-DDT | Groundwater |
| P,P'-DDT | Sediment |
| P,P'-DDT | Soil |
| PESTICIDES | Soil |
| PHENANTHRENE | Groundwater |
| PHENANTHRENE | Sediment |
| PHENANTHRENE | Soil |
| PHENOL | Groundwater |
| PHENOL | Sediment |
| PHENOL | Soil |
| POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS (PCBs) | Fish Tissue |
| POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS (PCBs) | Groundwater |
| POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS (PCBs) | Sediment |
| POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS (PCBs) | Soil |
| POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS (PCBs) | Surface Water |
| POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS (PAHS) | Sediment |
| POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS (PAHS) | Soil |
| PYRENE | Groundwater |
| PYRENE | Soil |
| SELENIUM | Fish Tissue |
| SELENIUM | Sediment |
| SELENIUM | Soil |
| SILVER | Soil |
| SODIUM | Groundwater |
| SODIUM | Surface Water |
| STYRENE | Groundwater |
| SULFATE | Groundwater |
| TETRACHLORODIBENZOFURAN (TCDF) | Fish Tissue |
| TETRACHLORODIBENZOFURAN (TCDF) | Sediment |
| THALLIUM | Groundwater |
| THALLIUM | Sediment |
| THALLIUM | Soil |
| THALLIUM | Surface Water |
| TOLUENE | Groundwater |
| TOLUENE | Soil |
| TRICHLOROETHENE | Groundwater |
| TRICHLOROETHENE | Soil |
| VANADIUM | Fish Tissue |
| VANADIUM | Sediment |
| XYLENE (MIXED ISOMERS) | Groundwater |
| XYLENE (MIXED ISOMERS) | Soil |
| ZINC | Fish Tissue |
| ZINC | Sediment |
| ZINC | Soil |
Location
Other Superfund Sites in New York
| Site Name | Status | HRS Score |
|---|---|---|
| Action Anodizing, Plating, & Polishing Corp. | Deleted NPL Site | 34.72 |
| American Thermostat Co. | NPL Site | 33.61 |
| Anchor Chemicals | Deleted NPL Site | 37.20 |
| Applied Environmental Services | NPL Site | 41.15 |
| Arsenic Mine | NPL Site | 0.00 |
| Batavia Landfill | Deleted NPL Site | 50.18 |
| BEC Trucking | Deleted NPL Site | 30.75 |
| BioClinical Laboratories, Inc. | Deleted NPL Site | 32.91 |
| Black River PCBs | NPL Site | 48.03 |
| Brewster Well Field | NPL Site | 37.93 |
How does this site's HRS score compare in New York?
Of the 122 New York Superfund sites with a scored Hazard Ranking System (HRS) evaluation, Onondaga Lake ranks #36 by score (50.00).
Either side of it: Newtown Creek (50.00), Old Roosevelt Field Contaminated Ground Water Area (50.00), Peninsula Boulevard Ground Water Plume (50.00), Peter Cooper (50.00)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Onondaga Lake Superfund site? ▼
Onondaga Lake is one of the higher hazard-ranked Superfund sites EPA tracks in New York (HRS 50.00, rank #36 of 122 scored sites in the state), located in Syracuse, NY. Superfund sites are contaminated locations identified by the EPA for long-term cleanup under CERCLA; a higher HRS rank reflects the EPA's scoring model, not a certified danger level.
What does NPL listing mean for Onondaga Lake? ▼
According to the EPA, National Priorities List (NPL) listing designates a site for long-term federal Superfund cleanup authority. It is a programmatic status in the Superfund Enterprise Management System, not a quantitative health-risk score for nearby residents. Construction-complete status is not marked in the EPA record for this site. Site-specific conditions and community guidance are published by EPA Regional Superfund offices and the relevant state environmental agency.
What is the HRS score for Onondaga Lake? ▼
Onondaga Lake's Hazard Ranking System (HRS) score is 50.00, placing it #36 of 122 New York Superfund sites with a scored HRS evaluation -- among the higher-scored sites in the state. Sites with a score of 28.50 or greater qualify for the NPL; the model weighs contaminant toxicity, waste quantity, release likelihood, and affected population, and is not a community health diagnosis.
What contaminants are at the Onondaga Lake site? ▼
The EPA public Superfund extract catalogs 238 contaminants at Onondaga Lake, documented through the remedial investigation process. Counts reflect listed records in that extract, not a complete inventory of every substance ever present.
What is the cleanup status of Onondaga Lake? ▼
Onondaga Lake is currently NPL Site on the National Priorities List. The EPA Superfund cleanup process includes phases from preliminary assessment through post-construction completion.
NPL listing is a cleanup-authority designation in the EPA record, not a quantitative health-risk score. See Superfund Sites Explained for how the National Priorities List, Hazard Ranking System, and cleanup phases work.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
Data sourced from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainEnviro