New York State's Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced a significant environmental remediation agreement on December 2, 2025, marking a major step forward for Rochester's Plymouth-Exchange neighborhood and its connection to the Genesee River. The Order on Consent with ExxonMobil Corporation will drive investigation and cleanup of contamination at the former Vacuum Oil Refinery site, an approximately 33-acre property that has been a legacy industrial site in downtown Rochester.
The cleanup agreement removes a critical barrier to a transformative riverfront revitalization project and sets the stage for the construction of a new riverwalk along the Genesee River, representing one of the most significant environmental and economic development initiatives in Rochester's recent history.
The former Vacuum Oil Refinery represents one of Rochester's most significant industrial legacy sites. The facility operated as a petroleum refinery, blending operation, and bulk storage facility beginning around 1866, continuing through the early 1890s. From the early 1890s until its closure in 1935, the site operated as a crude petroleum distillery producing petroleum products including crude oil, kerosene, naphtha, and finished lubricants.
The historical operations resulted in substantial chemical and oil contamination, including:
Most above-grade structures have been demolished and removed, with some remnants remaining. The extensive contamination has prevented productive redevelopment of this prime riverfront property.
The new Order on Consent requires ExxonMobil Corporation—the successor to Vacuum Oil Company—to investigate and remediate the extent of contamination within the remaining areas of the historical Vacuum Oil facility footprint. Specifically, the order covers areas not already being addressed under separate sites in New York's Brownfield Cleanup Program (BCP).
Key provisions of the agreement include:
New York DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton stated: "Securing an Order on Consent with Exxon Mobil for the former Vacuum Oil facility represents an important milestone in achieving a comprehensive cleanup of this long-contaminated site in Rochester. DEC will exercise close oversight to ensure the protection of public health and the environment in the Rochester community."
The comprehensive cleanup of the former Vacuum Oil site is the critical final piece enabling Rochester to move forward with a major riverfront transformation project. The investigation and resulting cleanup will allow the City of Rochester to proceed with construction of a new riverwalk along the Genesee River, directly addressing one of Rochester's most pressing community development goals.
Rochester Mayor Malik D. Evans emphasized the importance of this milestone: "We finally have the last piece of the puzzle for the former Vacuum Oil site with this Order on Consent. I am grateful for the strong partnership that we have with Exxon Mobil and the DEC in our shared commitment to ensure the Plymouth-Exchange neighborhood is whole again, return prime riverfront real estate to city residents, and restore a healthy connection to the river and nature."
The Genesee River revitalization project represents significant economic opportunity for Rochester's downtown, including creation of public waterfront access, green space development, recreational amenities, and eventual mixed-use development potential. The river corridor has been largely inaccessible to city residents due to contamination and industrial land use, creating a barrier to community cohesion and property value growth.
The Order on Consent prioritizes protection of public health and environmental quality in the Plymouth-Exchange neighborhood. DEC's Division of Environmental Remediation will provide close oversight of investigation and cleanup activities through the State Superfund program, ensuring compliance with environmental protection standards.
The contamination investigation will establish the extent of groundwater contamination, soil contamination, and subsurface hazards, enabling development of science-based cleanup strategies. This transparent, regulated approach protects both immediate and future users of the site while enabling productive redevelopment.
The Order on Consent launches the investigation phase of the remediation process. While specific timelines for remediation completion have not been publicly announced, the agreement establishes the framework for DEC oversight and coordination with the City of Rochester and other stakeholders on the path toward cleanup and redevelopment.
Rochester and its partners have been working toward this agreement for several years, recognizing that resolving the Vacuum Oil site contamination was essential to unlocking the Genesee River revitalization potential.
The Vacuum Oil cleanup agreement demonstrates the importance of comprehensive environmental assessment and regulatory coordination in brownfield redevelopment projects. For construction and real estate professionals working in Rochester and upstate New York:
The cleanup of the former Vacuum Oil site positions Rochester for significant economic development. Prime riverfront property currently unusable due to contamination represents substantial untapped development value. Once remediated, the site offers opportunities for mixed-use development, recreational amenities, commercial space, and residential development.
The Genesee River corridor represents one of Rochester's most significant underdeveloped economic assets. This remediation agreement represents a turning point in accessing that potential and reestablishing Rochester's connection to its riverfront.
Source: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (December 2, 2025), Rochester Mayor Malik D. Evans Office, WHAM News
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