Syracuse, NY
Onondaga Lake is listed in the EPA Superfund Enterprise Management System with an NPL status of NPL Site and a Hazard Ranking System (HRS) score of 50.00. The site is located in Syracuse, NY. Superfund National Priorities List inclusion 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.
EPA Superfund records catalog 238 contaminants associated with this site, documented through the remedial investigation process. Construction of the cleanup remedy has not yet been designated as complete in the EPA record.
NPL listing does not, by itself, establish a health risk to nearby residents, it triggers federal authority to investigate, score, and remediate. HRS scores of 28.50 or above qualify a site for the NPL; the ranking weighs contaminant toxicity, release pathways, waste quantity, and affected population. For current site conditions and community health guidance, contact the New York environmental or health agency and the EPA Regional Superfund office listed on the official site profile.
What is the cleanup status of this Superfund site?
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 | - |
| 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 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Onondaga Lake Superfund site? ▼
Is Onondaga Lake dangerous to live near? ▼
What is the HRS score for Onondaga Lake? ▼
What contaminants are at the Onondaga Lake site? ▼
What is the cleanup status of Onondaga Lake? ▼
About Superfund
The National Priorities List (NPL) is the list of sites of national priority among the known releases or threatened releases of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants throughout the United States. The NPL is intended primarily to guide the EPA in determining which sites warrant further investigation.
The Hazard Ranking System (HRS) score is the principal mechanism the EPA uses to evaluate sites for placement on the NPL. Sites with an HRS score of 28.50 or greater are eligible for the NPL. Higher scores indicate greater potential risk.
The EPA's Superfund cleanup process typically follows these phases: preliminary assessment, site inspection, NPL listing, remedial investigation/feasibility study, remedy selection, remedial design/action, construction completion, post-construction completion, and NPL deletion. Some sites remain on the NPL for decades.
PlainEnviro presents this data without advocacy framing. The presence of a site on the NPL does not by itself indicate an immediate health risk to nearby residents. For site-specific health questions, consult your local environmental or health agency.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.