I read with great interest your recent article regarding the Jackson Steel Superfund site, specifically regarding the clean-up of the site. As many of your readers know, the US Environmental Protection Agency recently held a meeting in Mineola to discuss various options under consideration as a way to remediate the toxic materials at the site.

For over the past three years, I have been very involved with this issue. It was one thing to have an abandoned manufacturing site affected by the presence of toxic substances, but given the site's close proximity to homes, businesses and a former child day care center, I believed this was a matter that demanded immediate attention. Because of this, I demanded the removal of all drums of chemicals that were being stored in the abandoned building. Since then, I have had several meetings and telephone conversations with US EPA officials in both Washington DC and the New York regional office to make sure that the clean-up process, while lengthy, proceeded as smoothly as possible.

I am pleased that we now have a proposed remedy to the situation and that it has been made available to the general public for their review and comment. That solution, costing just over $2 million, plans to excavate the contaminated surface soils and install the necessary sump pumps and dry wells to keep the materials from reappearing again.

Your article raised some doubt as to whether or not the funding for the actual remediation could be obtained. After discussing this matter with the EPA, I'm confident we will be successful in the next round of funding that will be decided after Oct. 1. I pointed out to the agency 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. Also, when compared to other superfund sites, this is not a large cost. Given our region's success rate in securing these necessary funds, as compared to other regions of the country that also compete for them, I believe we will be successful in our efforts and that the actual remediation can be completed within a year.

I understand the importance of this issue and pledge to continue to be active in it until it is completely resolved.

Carolyn McCarthy

Member of Congress