The Former Sylvania Electric Products Facility, located at 70, 100 and 140 Cantiague Rock Road in Hicksville, manufactured nuclear fuel rods made of uranium and thorium between 1952 and 1966. Wastes from the manufacturing processes were reportedly disposed of onsite. The site is currently being investigated and remediated under voluntary cleanup agreements between GTE Operations Support Incorporated and The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC).

The extent of soil contamination was initially defined during investigations conducted from 1999 through 2002. Results of these investigations and the plans for soil remediation were provided at public meetings that took place in May 2001 and December 2002. The primary contaminants found in the investigations are uranium, thorium, tetrachloroethene (PCE), trichloroethene (TCE) and nickel.

Soil excavation is currently in progress. The initial phase of the soil excavation will be completed before the end of 2004. However, additional investigation is ongoing and it appears that additional soil excavation under certain buildings will be performed in the future. Measures are in place to ensure that workers, the general public and the environment are adequately protected during the remedial activities.

The off-site groundwater is still under investigation. The primary contaminant in the on-site and off-site Sylvania groundwater plume is PCE, a chlorinated solvent formerly used at the site for degreasing. The analytical data show that the radionuclides (uranium and thorium) have primarily remained within a few feet of the Sylvania site. Nickel has been detected in some of the on-site and off-site groundwater and some of this is apparently attributable to the Sylvania site, although an additional source of nickel north of the site is suspected.

The solvent plume originating from the Sylvania site combines with a similar plume that originates at the adjacent General Instruments (GI) site. The GI plume consists primarily of TCE and dichlorobenzene, two other commonly used chlorinated solvents. There are apparently other, as yet unidentified, contributors in the area to this solvent plume. An off-site groundwater treatment system is currently being constructed to treat a portion of the plume attributable to the GI site.

A public supply well field for the Hicksville Water District is located just over one-mile downgradient of the Sylvania and GI sites. PCE and TCE have been detected in the raw well water at this well field, although, since the groundwater investigation has not been completed, it is not possible at this time to determine the source of this contamination. The well water is treated at the well field to remove volatile organic compounds, including PCE and TCE, prior to distribution to the public, making the well water safe to drink. The drinking water is sampled periodically to ensure that it meets strict state and federal regulations. Sampling indicates that these wells are not impacted by nickel or radiological contaminants.

For additional site-related information on chemical issues call Walter Parish, NYSDEC at 1-631-444-0241; or for information on radiological issues, call Barbara Youngberg of the NYSDEC at 1-518-402-8579.