Watervliet Arsenal

Watervliet Arsenal is an active U.S. Army manufacturing installation on the Hudson River in Watervliet, Albany County, New York. Established in 1813 during the War of 1812, it is the Army's oldest continuously operating arsenal and is widely known as "America's Cannon Factory." Since the late 1800s the facility has specialized in the production of large-caliber cannon, mortars, and related components, and it continues to manufacture gun tubes and tube assemblies, including the main gun tube for the M1 Abrams tank. For cleanup purposes the roughly 140-acre site has been divided into a Main Manufacturing Area and a separate parcel known as the Siberia Area. Decades of metalworking, electroplating, and degreasing operations are tied to the environmental concerns described below.

Investigations at Watervliet Arsenal have documented contamination of both soil and groundwater linked to past industrial activities, including the storage of oil-coated metal chips and scrap directly on the ground surface. The substances of concern fall into several categories described in the regulatory record.

1. Chlorinated solvents (TCE and PCE). Trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene are industrial solvents that were used in degreasing operations to clean metal parts. Both TCE and tetrachloroethylene have been detected in soil and groundwater at the arsenal, and exposure to these chlorinated solvents has been associated in scientific literature with a range of potential health concerns.
2. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). PCBs are man-made chemical mixtures once common in electrical equipment, hydraulic fluids, and oils. They were detected in soil samples at the site. PCBs are persistent in the environment, and concerns about potential exposure have been raised in connection with long-term health effects.
3. Heavy metals (chromium and lead). Chromium and lead are metals associated with electroplating and metal-finishing work. Groundwater and soil samples contained levels of these metals that exceeded federal drinking-water standards, and exposure to certain heavy metals has been linked in studies to a variety of potential health effects.
4. Benzene. Benzene is a volatile compound found in fuels and petroleum products. It was measured at levels exceeding health-based limits in site samples. Benzene exposure has been associated with concerns about blood-related health effects.
5. Methylene chloride and other volatile organic compounds. Methylene chloride is a solvent used in industrial cleaning and stripping. It was detected above health-based limits, and along with other volatile organic compounds it has contributed to concerns about potential exposure through groundwater and soil vapor.

The arsenal is not on the National Priorities List. Instead, cleanup is being conducted under the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) corrective action program with oversight by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. In 1990 the Army signed a joint Order on Consent with EPA and NYSDEC to investigate and remediate contamination. Remedies have included permeable reactive barriers in the Siberia Area and chemical treatment in the Main Manufacturing Area, and in 2007 the state approved work to evaluate soil vapor and indoor air for potential vapor intrusion from former solvent use.

Veterans and others who served or worked at Watervliet Arsenal may wish to stay informed as monitoring and corrective measures continue. Anyone with questions about possible exposure is encouraged to speak with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and a personal health care provider, who can offer guidance based on individual circumstances.