The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently issued its Proposed Cleanup Plan regarding cleanup to be done at the Liberty Industrial Site in Farmingdale.

According to the EPA, this proposed plan would protect human health and the environment from risks associated with the contaminated soils and groundwater attributed to the site.

In this plan, the EPA is looking to excavate and dispose of soils contaminated above site specific groundwater protection levels. Their preferred alternative to remove the contaminated water includes two components - to remedy the property's groundwater contaminants and address the downgradient groundwater contaminant plumes off the property, using the same technology as is to be used on site.

During an extensive groundwater investigation recently conducted, the EPA found that there are currently 18 monitoring wells on the site. In addition, their investigation found, in their sample results, that there are two distinct plumes underneath the property, one of which deposits into Massapequa Creek.

Through a collaborative effort between the South Farmingdale and Massapequa Water Districts, six sentinel monitoring wells were installed in an upward position of the water districts' drinking water supply well fields to serve as an early warning system should contamination migrate close to the well fields. The districts' periodic monitoring of the wells has not detected any site related contamination.

This spring, the Concerned Citizens Association of Farmingdale held a meeting especially designated to discussing the future of the Liberty Site, and property owners and representatives were present at the meeting to explain their plans of constructing a supermarket on the premises. Many residents expressed concerns of the traffic problems which they anticipated would arise if a supermarket were built there and representatives of the site attempted to address the issues and ease resident worries. Aside from traffic problems, residents also stated that they were concerned with the level of cleanup that would be necessary at the site.

The EPA will be holding a public meeting on Thursday, Aug. 9 at 7 p.m. at the Farmingdale Public Library to address some of the concerns regarding cleanup and to present their plans and levels of cleanup which are to be done at the site in the near future. They will present their conclusions of the newly released proposed plan and will further elaborate on their reasons for recommending the preferred remedy. In addition, they will be open to public questions and comments.

Since the EPA meeting is being called by the CCAF as the "most important yet" regarding the Liberty Site, the association will be holding a special meeting to discuss the site on Tuesday, Aug. 21 at the library from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

The public comment period on the newly released proposed plan for cleanup at the Liberty Site is in effect through Aug. 22 and residents may voice their concerns by attending the EPA meeting on Aug. 9 or by sending in their written comments to Lorenzo Thantu, project manager, Eastern New York Remediation Section, Emergency and Remedial Response Division, US EPA, 290 Broadway, 20th Floor, New York NY 10007-1866. Residents may also fax or email Thantu at 212-637-3966 or thantu.lorenzo@epamail.epa.gov.

The proposed plan is available for review at the Farmingdale Library or at the EPA's Superfund Records Center at 290 Broadway, 18th Floor, by appointment only. Residents who wish to make an appointment Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Manhattan EPA center may call 212-637-4308.

All comments and resident concerns addressed at the meeting and/or mailed to the EPA will be documented in the agency's Record of Decision, which formalizes the selection of the remedial action.