"It has all the appearances of something straight out of Thoreau's Walden Pond. You would never suspect that in this secluded spot, somewhere in the middle of the Pine Barrens of eastern Long Island, plumes of radioactive exhaust spontaneously radiate underneath the surface crust of the earth," Floral Park Mayor Phil Guarnieri wrote in his Dec. 13 column after receiving word that Brookhaven National Laboratory was transporting tons of hazardous wastes and radioactive materials through communities like his.

While he agrees that the use of the rail transport system as opposed to trucks is more efficient, safer and less expensive, Mayor Guarnieri said it doesn't free the LIRR/MTA of their obligation as a public authority from advising local officials as to when these radioactive materials are being shipped.

According to Assemblyman Tom Alfano and Senator Kemp Hannon, legislation S6727 would change all that, mandating freight train companies carrying hazardous wastes and radioactive materials to alert local villages and first responders to the shipments.

To date, local villages, fire departments, schools and public facilities are not given the information even though such information is given to county entities, officials continued. The bill was developed, according to Assemblyman Alfano, in response to train shipments of radioactive materials being shipped through communities like Floral Park without information being provided to localities- more importantly, first responders.

"It's shocking. Villages and communities are being put in harm's way. When our first responders or the MTA don't know that hazardous waste and radioactive materials are being shipped right through our backyards, they can't take the precautions they need to if an accident occurs. Our firefighters and first responders are being put at risk for no reason. This bill we're announcing today will arm them with the information they need to make our communities safe," Assemblyman Alfano said.

Brookhaven National Labs has already shipped thousands of cubic yards of radioactive soils and is poised to begin new shipments. Queens County Borough stopped shipments of the materials years ago until they were briefed and given assurances to the safety precautions and disclosure of information, officials stated.

Fellow assemblymember Tom McKevitt added, "Villages throughout my district are on the front lines in this battle. We need to give our communities the information they need to protect its citizens."

Senator Kemp Hannon, who is sponsoring the bill in the Senate, said that local villages and fire departments have been kept in the dark as to the transportation of these materials, which may include anything from radioactive soil from Brookhaven, liquid or gas nitrogen, and construction and factory wastes.

"In the event of an emergency, first responders would not know how to appropriately cope with the situation," he said. "This legislation requires all railroads transporting hazardous materials through Nassau and Suffolk Counties to give advance notice to the MTA, local village governments and first responders."

Mayors Angel Soto (South Floral Park), Dan Petruccio (New Hyde Park), Jack Martins (Mineola) and Deputy Mayor Christina Lynch (Stewart Manor) and School Board Trustees Trish Rudd, Dave Fowler, Laura Ferone and Pamela Byer also attended the Jan. 12 press conference. In addition, members of Save Our Village New Hyde Park Association, Inc., a new nonprofit and incorporated civic association organized in response to the Mainline Corridor Improvement and the LITRIM projects, the New Hyde Park and Stewart Manor fire departments as well as residents and parents of local schools like Stewart Manor School also attended.

"This is all about notification and safety. The more we know, the better off the community is in making sure we're safe," Assemblyman Rob Walker added.

The Alfano-Hannon legislation would mandate that freight train companies must alert local governments and first responders to the shipments of hazardous materials like radioactive soils.

"God forbid there is an accident near a school. Our firefighters would report to the scene not knowing that what is leaking or spilling could not only be hazardous but radioactive. These railroad lines cut through our communities. It's totally unacceptable that they don't know and can't take the precautions they need to be safe. This legislation will ensure our first responders will know what needs to be done and they will be prepared," Assemblyman Alfano said.

Save Our Villages President Robert Femminella added, "This legislation is extremely important to the people who live along the track line and beyond. We need to have the assurance that our elected officials and first responders know in advance what types of hazardous material is being transported along the rail line. Without this information, in the event of an accident, the outcome for the residents could be catastrophic."

Mayor Guarnieri, who also attended the recent press conference, believes an agreement presently between New York City and the Long Island Rail Road should serve as a template. "Under the terms of that agreement, shipments of contaminated material can only happen after the LIRR formally notifies New York City's Office of Emergency Management who will then notify police, fire and other emergency officials. Why is not a similar agreement in place for Nassau and Suffolk counties and, yes, local villages?" he asked in his recent column.

He continued, adding, "Do not people live, work and play here? Is this not a densely populated area? Will not our police, fire and first responders also have to respond to an emergency on the tracks? Don't these dedicated emergency responders deserve the same courtesy and respect as NYC's first responders on the contents of these railcars?"

Long Island Rail Road President Helena Williams told Anton Newspapers: "We support the idea of community notification and we will carefully review this proposal. In fact, in the case of the recent Brookhaven National Lab shipments, we notified the Nassau and Suffolk county executives and the Queens Borough president in writing on November 28th, prior to the shipments."

Assemblymen Walker, McKevitt and Barra are co-sponsoring the Alfano-Hannon legislation.