In an effort to improve the quality of life in Hicksville, Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto has devised a comprehensive research and testing program to investigate the environmental impact of the Twin County and Engel Street Asphalt Plants, located on West John Street, on the community.

This innovative program, set to begin this summer, includes community interaction, via a questionnaire to local residents and meetings with various community groups; hiring outside environmental counsel; and contracting for a planning consultant to oversee a month-long analysis of noise, dust and odor emanating from the two asphalt plants.

"This program has been designed to create the most specific and accurate environmental testing possible," Venditto said. "We will be using the data collected from the questionnaire and meetings with local community groups to pinpoint the exact times and locations that fumes from the Twin County and Engel Street Asphalt Plants are at their worst."

According to Venditto, once the peak times are tabulated, a month-long environmental testing schedule will be created and set in motion this summer. The testing will comprise a four-part plan. First, noise measurements will be recorded and then compared to standards listed in the town code. Secondly, using a special air-sampling device, dust particle concentrations will be calculated and compared to existing standards. Next, odor-testing techniques will be used to determine the impact on the environment. Finally, air samples will be collected and tested for potentially hazardous chemicals.

"Once the results of the environmental testing are collected, the town will decipher whether the two asphalt plants are within local, state and federal regulations," said Venditto. "If the results of the tests indicate that they are not within these regulations, the Twin County and Engel Street Asphalt Plants will be penalized to the highest extent of the law."

Venditto noted that an application has been submitted to the town by VIM Construction Co., Twin County Resource Recovery, Inc. and CNH Associates for a change of zone and the right to construct Cantiague Commons, a 284-unit senior citizen housing complex with a community center, pool and outdoor recreation area at the current site of the Twin County Asphalt Plant.

"Although the passing of this application would mean the elimination of the Twin County Plant, the Engel Street Plant, located to the west, would still be operational," Venditto explained. "The results of the environmental testing program could have a major effect on the application process. Our town seniors built this town, and I will not allow the development of a senior housing complex in an area that would cause health problems.

"Preserving the quality of life we've come to expect in the Town of Oyster Bay is the highest priority of my administration," Venditto concluded. "The creation of this environmental testing program is just one of the many programs I've developed to preserve our quality of life for years to come."