EPA Will Remove Contaminated Soil at Ithaca Falls Creek Gorge, N.Y.

(New York, N.Y – September 9, 2015) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will remove lead contaminated soil this month at a property between the base of a cliff wall and a walkway at the Falls Creek Gorge in Ithaca, N.Y. 

The EPA collected samples of soil at the site in May and July after receiving requests from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the City of Ithaca. The city and state wanted the sampling because they plan to improve the public access area to the park at the base of the Falls Creek Gorge area. Because the samples showed elevated levels of lead in the soil, the area was barricaded and signs were installed in June to prevent public access.