Cold Spring is a town in New York State, situated on the Hudson River

To the south of Cold Spring is: Foundry Cove – a small river inlet Constitution Marsh – a diverse wetland

A battery factory was established in 1952 between the town and the river

The resulting pollution caused devastating heavy metal contamination both inside and outside the plant facility, making it

"the most cadmium polluted site in the world”(Klerks, 1987)

Pollutants included:Cadmium Zinc Trichloroethylene (TCE)Nickel Cobalt

Cadmium is extremely toxic to humans – it is carcinogenic and has been banned from use in manufacturing by the EU

1952 - US Army constructs battery plant Polluted water starts contaminating the area

1965 - Treatment plant built after a series of owners

1969 - Marathon Battery Co. purchases the plant

1970 - Congress passes the Clean Water Act

1971 - NY State discovers Cadmium in Foundry Cove

1972 -EPA orders Marathon to dredge sediment. Sediments buried in underground vault

1975 - Discharge of Cadmium treated wastewater allowed

1976 - NY State discovers high levels of Cadmium and Nickel in Cove, Marsh and surrounding area

1979 - Marathon Company closes plant

The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) drew up a remediation plan, which they were to personally manage

In 1983 the area became a Superfund Site, due to the severity and extent of Cadmium contamination Superfund Site – a National Priorities List of abandoned hazardous

waste sites requiring long-term cleanup, under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, 1980 

Remediation plan split into 3 areas: The battery plant grounds Foundry Cove The surrounding areas including residential and recreational areas

Dredging, draining and treating contaminated sediments (removing 95% of Cd.)

Replanting acres of marshes along Foundry Cove

Excavating and treating contaminated soil in an underground vault (lined with clay and asphalt) on the plant property

Tearing down plant buildings and processing towers

Excavating contaminated soil from residential gardens near the site and landscaping these yards

1979 - Marathon Company closes plant and relocates

1980 - Site purchased for use as a storage site Congress passes CERCLA

1983 - EPA adds Foundry Cove site area as a Superfund Site

1986 - EPA orders the former plant owners to clean up the site

1989 - The Army and Marathon reimburse the EPA for the clean up

1992 - Agreement with Gould (previous facility tenant) for clean up

1993 - Army and Marathon set up trust fund

1994 - Dredging of marsh and cove Excavation and deposition of Cadmium

1995 - Marsh replanting

1995 - Clean-up completed

The responsible parties, Marathon Battery, Gould and the US Army were forced to pay $109 million

▪ Marathon - $9 million▪ Gould - $57 million▪ US Army - $43 million

The majority of Marathon’s and Gould’s costs were covered by their insurance

In 1995, the clean-up was completed

On 18th October 1996, the site was officially delisted from the Superfund program

The former battery site has been declared safe and is ready for redevelopment

In total 189,000 tonnes of contaminated soil and sediment was removed and treated off site

Today, Constitution Marsh is a Bird Conservation Area, Foundry Cove is a popular destination as an area of natural beauty, and nature education centres are located in the Cold Spring areaFoundry Cove & Constitution Marsh in 1995

after replanting and reintroduction of wildlife