EPA Extends Public Comment Period for Hopewell Precision Superfund Site Cleanup Proposal
NEW YORK – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is extending the public comment period for its proposed updated groundwater cleanup plan at the Hopewell Precision Superfund site in Dutchess County, New York. The comment period will now remain open until September 28, 2026. EPA is extending the comment period at the request of a member of the community.
The proposed change to the cleanup approach focuses on naturally occurring processes to reduce contamination over time, along with long-term groundwater monitoring and controls to prevent exposure to contaminated groundwater. EPA has already addressed drinking water wells contaminated with volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, at the site by connecting affected homes to the public water supply. Under the proposed plan, EPA will continue to monitor groundwater and maintain protections that require connection to the municipal public water system, limit use of nonmunicipal water sources, and require testing for private water sources outside the municipal system.
EPA selected a groundwater cleanup plan for the former manufacturing site in 2009, which focused on bioremediation, a process by which oxygen and naturally occurring microorganisms break down contaminants into less harmful substances. Since then, EPA conducted additional groundwater studies that revealed that concentrations have steadily declined. Based on the study findings, EPA has now determined that bioremediation is not needed. Naturally occurring processes will restore groundwater over a similar timeframe as the original approach while maintaining protection for the community.
EPA held a virtual public meeting on August 4, 2026, to discuss the proposed change to the cleanup plan and answer community questions. The presentation from that meeting, along with additional background and site documents, is available on the Hopewell Precision Superfund site profile page.
The public may submit written comments on the proposed plan to Ashley Similo, Remedial Project Manager, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2890 Woodbridge Avenue, Building 205, Bay B, Edison, NJ 08837 or by email to similo.ashley@epa.gov.
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