DEC Announces $7 Million Settlement to Support Cleanup of C&D Power Systems State Superfund Site in Orange County

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar today announced a $7 million settlement with Avnet, Inc., for costs associated with the remediation of the C&D Power Systems (C&D Batteries) State Superfund Site in the town of Deerpark, Orange County. As part of a recent Order on Consent and Administrative Settlement negotiated by DEC in partnership with the Office of the New York State Attorney General, the former owner and operator of the site will pay $6.3 million towards the cost of remediation activities already underway and $700,000 for Natural Resource Damages (NRD).

"DEC is committed to cleaning up contamination at the C&D Power Systems site to ensure the protection of the public's health and the environment for the surrounding community," InterimCommissioner Mahar said. "The settlement with Avnet, Inc., negotiated in partnership with Attorney General Letitia James and her team, is a major accomplishment and demonstrates that New York will not back down when it comes to holding responsible parties accountable."

New York Attorney General Letitia James said, "Our state's environment and natural resources should be clean and available for all New Yorkers to enjoy, which is why protecting them is a sacred duty. I applaud the work my team did to ensure Avnet was held accountable and paid its fair share of the C&D Power Systems State Superfund Site remediation costs. I thank Interim Commissioner Mahar and the DEC staff for their close coordination, and for their shared goal of ensuring our state's natural beauty is protected for generations to come."

The 17-acre C&D Power Systems Site is listed in the Registry of Inactive Hazardous Waste Disposal Sites in New York State (DEC Site No. 336001). DEC issued an amended Record of Decision for the site in 2015 outlining remedial actions to address site-related contamination.

A State-funded cleanup of the site began in December 2023 and is scheduled for completion in early 2025. DEC will continue to provide oversight of the cleanup work to ensure protection of public health and the environment.

Additional details regarding this project and the DEC remediation plan can be found on the DEC website.