Following a meeting of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) held at the Farmingdale Public Library on Aug. 9, members of the EPA, upon the request of residents, have extended the public comment period regarding the recently issued proposed cleanup plan to Friday, Sept. 21.

Residents voiced their questions and concerns at the Aug. 9 meeting regarding the new cleanup plan, which addresses contamination of site soils and groundwater in addition to sections of Massapequa Creek, specifically contamination of Pond A. Many residents present at the meeting, including Concerned Citizens Association of Farmingdale President Mike Grello, asked the EPA to both extend the public comment period since many families may still be on vacation during the last summer month and, in addition, hold another public session once school begins so residents who may have been away can be made aware of the happenings and plans concerning Liberty.

Grello specifically said that once school is in session, members of the PTA and other organization representatives will probably be interested in learning more about the plan.

"These people are not scientists on the site," Grello said at the meeting. "They have to know what's going on in the community."

Members of the EPA originally agreed to extend the comment period to Thursday, Sept. 13 and later decided to hold their next public session on that day, from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Farmingdale Library, and to allow the public to submit their comments until Sept. 21.

The proposed cleanup plan and other Liberty related documents are available at the Farmingdale Public Library. They can also be reviewed at the US EPA Regional Office, located at 290 Broadway, 18th Floor in Manhattan by appointment only. Residents may call 212-637-4308 if they wish to schedule a time to visit the office.

All written comments should be sent to Lorenzo Thantu, project manager, US EPA, Emergency and Remedial Response Division, 290 Broadway, 20th Floor, New York NY 10007.

For additional information, residents may contact Cecilia Echols, community involvement coordinator at 1-800-346-5009 or by e-mail at echols.cecilia@epa.gov.

The EPA will accept and evaluate all public comments before making a final decision and issuing a Record of Decision (ROD). Residents will also be given the opportunity to discuss the issue at the Sept. 13 meeting.

Last week's issue of the Observer mistakenly printed that the Liberty Site in Farmingdale, rather than the Tronic Plating Company Superfund Site, was suggested for removal from the NPL. The two sites have no relation and the proposed deletion is strictly for the Tronic Plating Site in Farmingdale, not the Liberty Site.