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EPA Proposes Plan that Would Complete Cleanup of Liberty Industrial Superfund Site in Farmingdale; Public Meeting Scheduled

Release Date: 08/01/2001
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(#01089) NEW YORK, N.Y. -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed a $28 million plan to complete the cleanup of a 30-acre former industrial park located in Farmingdale, Long Island. The former industrial park, now known as the Liberty Industrial Finishing Superfund site, became contaminated by past industrial activities at the site, including aircraft parts manufacturing and metal finishing. Specifically, soils, ground water, and the sediments of a pond 2 mile south of the site have been contaminated with heavy metals and volatile organic compounds. Immediate threats to human health have been taken care of and EPA is proposing to finish the work by excavating and removing some soils and sediments and treating the groundwater that runs below the surface outside of the site boundaries. EPA is taking public comment on its cleanup plan and will hold a public meeting in early August. If the cleanup plan is approved, EPA intends to negotiate with the parties deemed responsible for the contamination to compel them to perform the final stage of the cleanup. EPA expects that cleanup activities would start in 2003. A After removing the immediate threats the site posed to the local community, EPA turned its efforts to developing a permanent, long-term solution to contamination that remained in the area. This proposed plan provides that final solution. We've come to this last stage working with local residents and we encourage the community to continue their involvement in the Superfund process by giving us their comments on this plan." said William J. Muszynski, Acting EPA Regional Administrator. EPA's proposed plan calls for a combination of excavation, off-site disposal, and some capping of contaminated soils on the site, as well as the operation of a below-ground treatment system for the contaminated ground water located off the site property. Treatment of ground water directly under the site has been underway since January of this year. EPA is proposing to use the same type of treatment system to address the ground water contamination that has moved off the site. The plan also includes the excavation and off-site disposal of contaminated sediments in a Massapequa Creek Pond north of the Southern State Parkway. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) has reviewed the proposed cleanup plan and agrees with EPA's decision. Several cleanup efforts have been undertaken at the site by the parties deemed responsible for the site contamination, including the construction of the $3 million on-site groundwater treatment system. These efforts greatly reduced the threats to the public and the environment posed by the site. An EPA risk assessment concluded that the site no longer poses a risk to site workers, nearby residents, and those who frequent Ellsworth Allen Park and Massapequa Creek. EPA will hold a public meeting on its proposed plan on August 9 at 7:00 pm at the Farmingdale Library located 116 Merrits Road. The Agency will consider written and oral comments on the plan from the public through August 22. Detailed information on the site studies and various cleanup options is available for review at the Farmingdale Library. Written comments on the plan should be sent to Lorenzo Thantu, EPA Remedial Project Manager, USEPA, Region 2, 290 Broadway, 20th Floor, New York, New York 10007-1866.