Glen Cove Mayor Mary Ann Holzkamp, US EPA Director of Emergency and Remedial Response Division George Pavlou, Army Corps of Engineers Lt. Col. Charles Klinge and Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi joined other national, state and local officials in a press conference on Tuesday, Oct. 25, to applaud as bulldozers, cranes and dump trucks loaded and removed the last radioactive, hazardous materials from the Captains Cove Superfund site that have plagued the city and region for generations.

Mayor Holzkamp said, "For the last couple of years, 120,000 cubic yards of contaminated material was stockpiled here waiting to be removed. Today, the last truckload of radioactive waste is leaving Glen Cove forever. On this day, we give the people of the City of Glen Cove an environmentally safe, ecologically restored and beautiful waterfront to enjoy. It is a tremendous honor for me as mayor to welcome a new, clean chapter in Glen Cove's history." This event marks one of the largest environmental cleanups of a superfund site on Long Island, and perhaps in New York State. George Pavlou said, "The city deserves recognition for this major milestone because when all others refused to participate, the city stepped forward. We would not have accomplished this progress or achieved this action without the city's leadership. The EPA's overriding objective is to ensure protection of human health and the environment but when you combine that with forethought, leadership and effective planning, such as those exhibited by Mayor Holzkamp and County Executive Suozzi, you can return a significantly contaminated site to beneficial reuse without compromising the objective or the effectiveness of our cleanups." County Executive Suozzi was beaming as he watched. He said, "I had a dream, and I've watched this dream continue to be moved along the way to reality. Hundreds, maybe thousands of people have been involved in this very complex project, and it could not have come together without the leadership of our own Mayor Mary Ann Holzkamp."

Members of Glen Cove civic, environmental, community and business groups were present with smiles and applause as one of the biggest environmental challenges of toxic waste removal was performed, and the last load taken off Long Island forever. Attendees included representatives from the LiTungsten Task Force, the Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee and the Glen Cove Chamber of Commerce and Business Improvement District.

Donald Monti and Michael Posillico of Glen Isle Partners, LLC, the developer chosen by the city, were also on the waterfront. They will be investing over $1 billion in the next decade to transform this former toxic waste site to a vibrant waterfront for the entire community and visitors to enjoy.