The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation will hold a public information meeting to discuss the proposed remedial action for the American Drive-In Cleaners site on Tuesday, March 13 at 7 p.m. Representatives from the NYS DEC and the New York State Department of Health will give a brief presentation at the meeting which will take place in the auditorium of Island Trees High School. A question and answer session will follow the presentation and the public may comment on the proposed clean-up action.

Several years ago this site, which is located on Hempstead Turnpike, just across from the Island Trees Middle School, was declared a Class 2 hazardous waste site. This declaration is a result of the fact that the dry-cleaning solvent tetrachloroethene, also known as perchloroethene or PCE or "perc," was apparently disposed of in drains leading to on-site cesspools some time prior to 1981. A small area of surface soil is also contaminated by PCE, according to the DEC, probably due to a spill at an unknown time.

According to the DEC, this spill resulted in the contamination of soil and groundwater by hazardous waste (PCE). A Class 2 Hazardous Waste Disposal Site classification signifies that there is significant threat to public health or environment and that action is required.

The study of the site, which has been operated as a dry cleaners since the 1950s began approximately a decade ago when the county was considering the purchase of the lot across Hempstead Turnpike where Target is currently located. In 1990, five monitoring wells were installed by the Department of Public Works and those test wells revealed the presence of the dry cleaning solvent tetracholoroethene (PCE) at up to 274 parts per billion (ppb), when under NYS DEC groundwater standards only 5 ppb is the allowable concentration. Public works notified the county department of health which then found the contamination at the American Dry Cleaners site. Soil samples from the American Drive-In Cleaners property, according to the DEC report revealed PCE contamination of 1500 parts per million (ppm).

In 1994 Frank's Nursery and Crafts, adjacent to the American site had an environmental assessment of their property done, which found PCE concentrations of up to 35,000 ppm.

In 1997, following the issuance of the initial environmental report, the NYS DEC held a public meeting at Island Trees Middle School, where the state outlined the study and discussed the formation of a cleanup plan.

Robert Filkins, of the NYS DEC, project manager for the American site, in May, informed a local citizen's group that the plume of contamination has moved south of Hempstead Turnpike to test wells under Target Plaza, where heavy concentrations of PCE were found. Low levels of PCE were also found in the irrigation wells at Island Trees High School. The contamination is in the groundwater and has not spread to the drinking water.

In January, the NYSDEC split the site into two operable units. Operable Unit 1 (OU1) is the on-site and off-site areas north of Hempstead Turnpike, the side of the turnpike that the cleaners is located. Operable Unit 2 (OU2) is the off-site areas south of Hempstead Turnpike. This upcoming public meeting will focus only on OU1. The investigation of OU2 is ongoing and will be addressed by a separate Proposed Remedial Action Plan (PRAP) in the future.

Based on the findings of the remedial investigation, the NYDEC proposes in situ chemical oxidation to treat the primary source area east of the on-site building, soil vapor extraction and treatment to prevent further migration of contaminated groundwater from the site, and long-term groundwater monitoring. According to the DEC, the proposed remedy would be protective of public health and the environment, and would meet all applicable laws and standards. The cost of this remedy, including long-term groundwater monitoring over an estimated 10 years, is $2,721,000.

The NYSDEC would like the comments of interested members of the community, and sees the upcoming public meeting concerning the PARP as a vital opportunity for citizens to have input on the selection of cleanup actions for the American Drive-In Cleaners site. Written comments are also welcomed and encouraged. These comments must be received by March 25. NYSDEC may modify the proposed remedy, or select a different remedy, based on public comments. More details can be found in the full PARP, in the Remedial Investigation Report, which can be found at the Island Trees Public Library, 38 Farmedge Rd. The report can also be obtained at NYSDEC Reg. 1, SUNY- Building 40, Stony Brook, NY 11790-2356.