In a letter to the Mineola American, Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy states she is confident the Jackson Steel Superfund site will receive funding for its remediation.

A meeting was recently held at Mineola Village Hall by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to review the design of the clean-up of the contamination site in Mineola.

The site, which was used from the mid-1970s to 1991 as a manufacturing facility, was found to be contaminated with volatile organic chemicals. It was proposed for the Superfund National Priorities List in 1999. Jackson Steel was a controversial issue because of its proximity to the Tutor Time Daycare Center, which closed on April 26, 2002.

The EPA is recommending a plan that would cost $1,008,000 for the excavation of the soils with another $824,000 in operation and maintenance costs as well as $1,750,000 to $2,303,000 for the cleanup of the water supply with another $413,000 to $458,000 in annual operation, maintenance and monitoring costs.

Congresswoman McCarthy was made aware there was a Tutor Time Daycare Center located next to a Superfund site. The issue affected the congresswoman on a personal basis since her grandchildren attended the daycare center.

At the recent meeting at village hall, there was a concern raised that there may not be enough federal funding for the cleanup of the site. However, Congresswoman McCarthy stated in her letter to the Mineola American, "I am confident we will be successful in the next round of funding that will be decided after October 1. I pointed out to the agency (EPA) the urgent need for immediate remediation, given the site's location next to a residential area and other businesses and the possible effect it has on the adjacent areas."

Congresswoman McCarthy also stated in the letter, "I believe we will be successful in our efforts and that the actual remediation can be completed within a year."

(Congresswoman McCarthy's letter is printed in its entirety in Letters to the Editor section of this issue.)