Many of our neighbors have been surprised and alarmed after reading in last Sunday's New York Times and/or Newsday that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation will be checking over 80 sites across Long Island that were former hazardous waste toxic clean-up sites. In addition, the newspapers indicated there are another approximately 320 sites that will be examined statewide as well.

The NYS-DEC will be proactively performing sampling to determine whether toxic vapors are present and moving through the soil and groundwater to the surface; a process known as "vapor intrusion". The chemical compounds that are most frequently found in these volatile vapors have known links to health problems including; cancer, organ damage and even birth defects.

Although there is no evidence yet of vapor intrusion or cause for alarm, the NYS-DEC with new information recently learned, and associated new investigative strategies, will be performing these testing procedures at locations that were subject to meet state standards for remediation. There are over a dozen sites in the Plainview Industrial Park area that meet those criteria. Therefore, our industrial park is on the list of locations that will be investigated as part of the DEC's program.

The Concerned Citizens of the Plainview-Old Bethpage Community, Inc. and the Plainview Water District are planning on hosting a Community Informational Forum to afford the NYS-DEC an opportunity to present the facts and respond to the community's questions and concerns. At this time, it is important to know that our drinking water is not contaminated; and that our water district as always is closely monitoring the situation. To learn more about our local drinking water quality please feel free to visit the water district's website at: www.plainviewwater.org.

Wherever there is a potential public health threat it is incumbent upon the NYS-DEC to keep the residents as educated and aware as possible in a timely manner. To that extent we have also requested ongoing status reports.

This issue does confirm Long Islander's justification in being ever so vigilant regarding our groundwater, toxic dumping and environmental pollutants as we can never be sure of the long-term longitudinal effects on our environment. It also highlights our concerns and the constant need to protect our vital sole source aquifer through curbing over-development of precious open space necessary for the recharge and maintenance of our public water supply.

As always, we will be happy to keep you abreast of further developments on this issue and of course you are welcome to send us an e-mail at: ccpobc1@aol.com.

Carol Meschkow

President of Concerned Citizens of the Plainview-Old Bethpage Community, Inc.