The former Unisys Facility, a 94 acre spread that is situated in Lake Success and the Town of North Hempstead, that was recently sold by the Lockheed Martin Corporation but remains their legal responsibility to remediate, is a lightning rod of frustration for the citizens of the surrounding neighborhoods, local officials and the cleanup oversight agency, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). The complexity of the cleanup is staggering to understand as it is governed by two different sets of rules, regulations and procedures; those set forth by the Super Fund Act of the Environmental Protection Agency and those that come under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) of New York State. It is at pivotal decision-making junctures that the process and communications appear to become derailed.

On May 15, five civic associations in the area, called a meeting attended by approximately 150 residents to galvanize them to protest a recent DEC action. Also attending the meeting were Town of North Hempstead Supervisor May Newburger, Council members Angelo Ferrara, Doreen Banks and Anthony D'Urso and staff and Lake Success Mayor Robert Bernstein.

Specifically, one aspect of the cleanup requires a "closure plan" that outlines the steps to be taken, based on numerous tests such as soil borings and chemical analyses, to make the buildings safe and habitable. This plan, prepared by the engineering firm of ARCADIS Geraghty & Miller, Inc., hired by Lockheed Martin submitted a draft plan to the DEC which in turn reviewed and accepted it. The plan is then supposed to be made public for a 30-day period of review and comment. The DEC ran a legal notice in Newsday on April 20, 2000, which legally fulfilled their obligation, but which made the civic group leaders and public officials furious and distrustful since no one noticed the "notice" and the public review period was steadily ticking away and would have ended on May 20.

Ray Cowen, DEC Region X Director, in a phone interview with the Record later in the week, says that he was swamped by emails and phone calls from angry citizens following the Monday night meeting. He has decided to accept comments regarding the "closure plan" until June 20. However, Mr. Cowen emphatically reiterated that the "closure plan" pertains solely to the buildings on the site and that the DEC is "not signing off on the entire cleanup project." He expressed his frustration over other cleanup decision points in which he feels the DEC gets bogged down by political fallout in which decisions are emotionally based rather than objectively made based on scientific data.

In that same conversation with Mr. Cowen, another issue that is a flashpoint with the interested parties was broached, namely the three drainage ponds that Professor Julian Kane calls a "witches' brew of contaminants." On this very visible matter, there is sharp disagreement. Parks Civic Association President Jim McHugh spoke out vehemently at the meeting recounting an earlier DEC proposal to place signage on the fences surrounding the ponds that would have stated "Contaminated Site." He alluded to fears that such signage would have a negative impact on property values in the area. Mr. Cowen stated that in an effort to address such concerns the DEC double fenced the area. The outer sign simply states "No trespassing" and the inner sign warns of contamination.

Mr. Cowen maintains that these ponds have been extensively tested and contain no more contamination than do other county sump basins that hold residue from road run-off. Professor Kane scoffs at the assertion that the contaminants are contained adequately and that no further action needs to be taken on the ponds, pointing to his observation that after heavy rainfall, these ponds do not overflow. He writes, "They (the ponds) are undoubtedly leaking and carrying their dissolved toxic chemicals along with them."

Rosemary Konatich of the Water Resource Needs of Long Island Commission which is under the auspices of Assemblyman Thomas DiNapoli says, "The reaction by the community is understandable under the circumstances." She goes on to add that there needs to be a good faith effort to improve the communication and coordination among all the many involved parties. "There is a real need for a public informational meeting in which all the requirements of the cleanup are laid out in a time-line, flow chart so that people know what to expect," she urges.

Lockheed Martin spokesperson Gail Rymer agrees with the need for clear, concise information and is in the process of setting up a website to further that aim. "We want this remediation to proceed just as smoothly and quickly as everyone else does," she intones.

The civic associations are circulating petitions that will be presented to the governor that call for full disclosure of the status of the remediation and ask Governor Pataki to appoint a public advocate to oversee the remediation and be a liaison between the community leadership and remediation authorities.

Kathy Seyfried, president, Lakeville Estates Civic Association said, "We want full disclosure of all the information. Since the public hearings several years ago the information has not been free-flowing."

At the April Village Officials Association meeting, Assemblyman Tom DiNapoli, when asked about the cleanup problems stated that it is important for people to keep the situation in perspective. "As frustrating as it is for the public, at least at this site, we have a responsible party (Lockheed Martin Corporation) with deep pockets. We must keep working together and not lose sight of the ultimate goal."

According to DEC Director Cowen, a public meeting will be scheduled for some time in July.