The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), in cooperation with the New York State Department of Health (DOH) recently announced that Lowden Family Trust d/b/a Lowden Properties has volunteered to investigate and further remediate as necessary any contamination discovered at the Melody Cleaners Site in East Meadow. Lowden Properties has elected to take significant steps toward the protection of human health and the environment for the benefit of the community.

The site, located at 2050 Hempstead Turnpike in East Meadow is within a 74,702 square foot commercial shopping center situated at the southwestern intersection of Hempstead Turnpike and Front Street. The Town of Hempstead's wellfield is located 2,000 feet downgradient of the site. Low levels (below groundwater standards) of chlorinated solvents have been detected in two of the active wells.

In October of 1999, the results of an environmental site assessment yielded data that indicated soil and groundwater quality beneath the site was contaminated with chlorinated organic solvents. These types of contaminants include the chemicals tetrachloroethylene (PCE, commonly known as perc) and trichloroethylene (TCE), which are utilized in dry cleaning and spot removal processes.

In March of 2000, the results of an additional investigation confirmed that wastes had been discharged to the on-site sanitary disposal system prior to the facility's connection to the municipal sewer system. This former on-site disposal system was identified as the primary source of chlorinated solvent contamination to the subsurface soil and groundwater. To date, no indoor or outdoor air sampling has been conducted.

Under the oversight of the DEC, the volunteer implemented immediate removal activities to remove the pollution source identified at the site for the protection of human health and the environment. The remedial activities included the excavation of approximately 500 tons of contaminated soil from within three polluted cesspools. The volunteer completed these remedial activities in November 2000.

The investigation activities, to be performed under the DEC's Voluntary Cleanup Program, include groundwater and soil sampling, a soil gas survey and possibly indoor testing within the dry cleaning building. The results of these activities will determine if remedial action is needed at the site. To date, a remedial investigation/feasibility study work plan that will identify the extent of any remaining contamination has been prepared. The work plan has been reviewed and approved by the DEC and DOH.

The investigation results will be submitted to the DEC for review and approval. When approved, a copy of this report will be placed in the document repositories. Based on the findings of this remedial investigation, the volunteer may be required to submit a remediation work plan for approval by the DEC. This plan will detail how any remediation of the site is to take place.

Residents who would like more information about this project may visit a document repository at: Levittown Public Library, Government Documents, 1 Bluegrass Lane, Levittown, 731-5728 or NYSDEC Region 1 Office at SUNY Stony Brook, Loop Road, Building 40, Stony Brook, 631-444-0240.