A combination of factors in recent months has apparently led to increased cooperation surrounding the Liberty property in South Farmingdale, the federal hazardous waste site which the local community has urged be fully cleaned up for more than a decade.

One aspect of this is that some of the parties who, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), are potentially responsible for the pollution (PRPs) are paying for pilot testing for an interim groundwater cleanup. Meanwhile, other PRPs continue to pay for an ongoing environmental investigation aimed at deciding on a long-term, comprehensive cleanup of both soil and groundwater contaminated by the site. In addition, after the Town of Oyster Bay pushed for months for the shut-down of industrial operations at the site, citing hazardous structural conditions, the operators are gradually leaving, which may pave the way to negotiations about redevelopment of the site.

According to the EPA, the lead government agency overseeing cleanup of the environment affected by hazardous sites, the interim groundwater cleanup is necessary to prevent further spreading of contamination in and around the site while the agency comes up with the the long-term comprehensive cleanup plan. Funding for the pilot testing for interim groundwater cleanup did not come easily. After unsuccessful negotiations with some PRPs, in August, 1998, the agency issued a unilateral administrative order to try to force 14 of them to pay for the cleanup.

Even after this, the EPA met with resistance. "We ran into some problems in trying to get all those PRPs to comply with the order, but luckily, we did get one PRP that decided to comply with the order for the implementation of the interim groundwater action. That's Coltec," said Lorenzo Thantu, an EPA project manager. The pilot testing began in November, 1998, and is expected to be complete by May.

The EPA's preferred method of this interim groundwater cleanup involves the installation of a hydraulic system and innovative technologies for the below ground removal of both chemical and heavy metal contaminants. The agency is also prepared to implement a back-up plan if environmental tests show this approach is not effective in purifying the groundwater. The second, more expensive plan, calls for a conventional above-ground system that would extract and treat the contaminated groundwater. According to EPA estimates, the first and second plans could cost approximately $1.9 million and $4 million respectively to carry out.

"As part of the ongoing pilot test studies, we are determining the effectiveness of these innovative technologies. Along with that we are also piloting the conventional pump and treat system," added Thantu. "So, once we have gotten the pilot test report from the PRPs, probably in April, we will take a look at the pilot test report very closely, and then we'll make our determination as to which of the two alternatives get implemented as the interim groundwater action." The construction of the interim groundwater cleanup system is expected for the fall.

In addition, five PRPs are currently paying for the ongoing environmental investigation aimed at coming up with a long-term comprehensive cleanup for the site. The entities, Coltec, the U.S. General Services Administration, U.S. Department of Defense, Beazer East and Coch Engineering, have been voluntarily funding this study, known as the Supplemental Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study (RI/FS), since January, 1997, according to Thantu.

Thantu noted that the purpose of the long term comprehensive cleanup is "to address soil contamination on the entire site, the entire groundwater contaminant plume, not just the groundwater contamination beneath the Liberty site property, but also the groundwater contamination downgradient of the Liberty site." He added, "And finally, the Massapequa Creek. We are also looking at the Massapequa Creek to assess any groundwater impact from the Liberty site on the Massapequa Creek and its ecology." Through past studies, the EPA has found that the plume of contamination emanating from Liberty is discharging into the creek. A public hearing on a proposed plan for the long-term remedy is pending, and the EPA expects to select a method some time in the fall.

Meanwhile, the South Farmingdale and Massapequa water districts continue to monitor public drinking wells, through an early warning system that detects contamination before it enters the public supply, and water officials say the public water is pure. The early warning system wells were funded by some PRPs.

The public also continues to be concerned about the fate of the property. "These studies that the [EPA is] doing, I think it's great, and let's hope they get it done," said Emil Coppola, president of the Joint Council of the Civic Associations of the Massapequas, adding that the civics continue to push for the fullest cleanup possible.

As for the shutdown of industrial operations at Liberty, the Town of Oyster Bay has reached a negotiation with the landlord. After a months-long court battle in which the town cited numerous structural hazards at the site, the landlord agreed to have its tenants vacate.

"The town attorney's office got involved, the department of planning and development got involved directly with the landlord, and they worked out a timetable, pursuant to which the owner was going to continue to have the various tenancies vacate," said Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto. "There were provisions in there that certain buildings were so far gone, that we just couldn't tolerate their use at all. I believe, three buildings were totally off-limits." He noted that many of the businesses have already left and others are continuing to make their way off the site in an orderly manner. All tenants are expected to be out by September, he said.

"It really is a question of balance. I'm trying to keep the property afloat on the one hand, so it doesn't become an eyesore, an attractive nuisance, or perhaps a health hazard, because it's totally abandoned. On the other hand, I have to keep the level of activity on the property at a low level, so it doesn't impose upon - number one the sensitivities of the community - but more importantly, doesn't impact on the public health, safety and welfare...We're continuing to monitor the property on a day in, day out basis," Venditto added. "Until we get a clear decision from the federal government, from the EPA, on what's going to happen with this property environmentally, we've got to continue to look for this balance...If the EPA would make its announcement, then we could talk about some long-range and serious development."

Mark Fischl, vice-president of Syosset-based RGE, Inc., which owns the property, commented, "In the limited sense of getting the property developed, if this helps get it developed, then I'd like to have the town's support." He added, "I think that the town has now kind of invested a little bit in the future of the property. Nobody wants to see the site lie fallow and vacant and just be a source for malicious mischief and troubles. I think the town would really like to see it get developed. Doesn't everybody want to see something new there, rather than what's there? What's there is old and ugly. So, if we could somehow put together a shopping center or something, I would think that's going to benefit the community, the town, us - everybody."

Located on Motor Avenue, the Liberty site was polluted by a series of manufacturing operations, and was declared a federal Superfund site in 1986. The EPA assumed the role of lead agency overseeing its cleanup in 1990.