DEC Site: Former Barbera Residence (a.k.a. Port Refinery)
Site Location: 55 Hillandale Road, Rye Brook, Westchester County
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), in coordination with the State Department of Health (DOH), is committed to the ongoing investigation of the Former Barbera Residence site and surrounding area and keeping the Village of Rye Brook community informed as work progresses.
The previous site owner operated an illicit mercury refinery business (Port Refinery Co., Inc.) inside of the two-story garage on site for 20 years until EPA's first contact in the early 1990s. The site underwent two (1991-1996, 2004-2007) EPA removal actions before transferring responsibility to DEC in early 2026.
Most Recent Community Newsletter: Former Barbera Residence Site (a.k.a Port Refinery) Remedial Investigation – August 2026
Please see the Frequently Asked Questions for the site.
Current Status:
August 2026 Update
DEC, through its contractor, CDM Smith, will collect soil, groundwater, surface water, sediment, and vapor/air samples onsite and to determine the current remaining levels of mercury in these media and the areal and vertical extent of remaining contamination associated with the site. DEC and DOH will utilize this information to determine if additional cleanup is warranted.
Soil borings will be advanced and groundwater monitoring wells will be installed in the public right-of-way to reduce impacts on the community. Co-located surface water and sediment samples will be collected from the nearby ponds and streams south and west of the site. The results of the soil, groundwater and surface water samples will inform the locations where indoor air sampling will be recommended.
Sampling is scheduled to start in September 2026. DEC expects all field work to be completed by Spring of 2027. Further sampling may be needed based on initial sampling results.
Summary of Previous Work Completed by EPA
On February 20, 1991, the Westchester County Health Department notified the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of a spill of one pound of mercury on the driveway of 55 Hillandale Road (the “site”). Following an initial assessment, EPA conducted a removal action at the site in which the swimming pool, cabana, and the two-story garage were demolished and the surrounding soil was excavated. Many containers of elemental mercury were found within the garage. Mercury-impacted sediment was also removed from two ponds at the adjacent 51 Hillandale Road residence. All building debris, containers, soil and sediment containing mercury were shipped off-site for disposal. EPA conducted this work using federal Superfund monies established by the 1980 Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation Liability Act (CERCLA).
Approximately eight years after the completion of EPA’s first removal action, on April 29, 2004, a mercury spill was reported along Blind Brook Meadowlark Path. EPA conducted a wider investigation of surface and subsurface soils, storm water drainage sediment, groundwater, and indoor air. EPA found mercury contamination throughout the 55 Hillandale Road property (the “site”), as well as on adjacent and hydrologically downgradient properties. EPA’s cleanup efforts took place from 2005 to 2007 and included the excavation, staging, transportation, and off-site disposal of mercury-contaminated soil; the demolition and off-site disposal of a residential structure located at the 55 Hillandale Road property, which included the temporary relocation of its occupants; the removal of source areas impacting groundwater contamination (i.e., a former drinking water well, metal vault, and septic tank structures and their contents located at the 55 Hillandale Road property); the removal and off-site disposal of mercury-contaminated sediment from four man-made ponds that are part of the neighborhood’s stormwater drainage system; groundwater and surface water monitoring; and site restoration. Post-excavation sample concentrations were below EPA’s site-specific action level of 10 parts per million (ppm) established based on their human health risk assessment.
In June 2022, EPA initiated a removal assessment that included indoor air screening and sampling of groundwater, indoor air, a basement sump headspace air, sump water, surface water, and sediment for mercury analysis. Based on the results, EPA determined additional removal actions were not warranted. Therefore, in early 2026, the site was referred to DEC for further evaluation.
Questions regarding EPA’s work should be directed to EPA. EPA’s Port Refinery website, documents and project contact information are found at: Site Profile - Port Refinery - EPA OSC Response.
Site Description and History
Site Location and Features
The site, located at 55 Hillandale Road, is a 0.67-acre residential property in the Village of Rye Brook, Westchester County. When discovered in 1991, the property consisted of a 2-story house, 2-story garage with a basement, and an in-ground pool. The house, garage, and pool have since been demolished and the home rebuilt after the second remedial action completed by EPA.
To the northwest of this residence is an asphalt walking path, Blind Brook Meadowlark Path, which leads from a single-family home community to the townhouse community called the Condominium Association of the Arbors at Rye Brook (The Arbors) and the Blind Brook Middle/High School complex.
Site History
The then-site owner of the property ran an illicit mercury refinery business (Port Refinery Co., Inc) in which mercury was repackaged for dental supply houses inside the two-story garage on-site for 20 years until EPA's first contact in the early 1990's.
In the early 1990's, the Rye Brook Police Department received complaints about a resident on Hillandale Road mishandling mercury. EPA was asked to investigate this residence and discovered extensive mercury contamination in a garage and cabana and in many areas on the property where the mercury had been illegally dumped.
