Assemblyman Tom Alfano and the New York Department of Environmental Conservation announced that a public meeting will be held on Monday, Feb. 9 at 7 p.m. at the Franklin Square Public Library to present a DEC proposal for the remediation of environmental contamination at Tres Bon Cleaners Inactive Hazardous Waste Disposal Site, located at 197 Franklin Avenue in Franklin Square.

Alfano noted that DEC and Health Department staff will review the history of the site, describe the results of investigations completed to date and the rationale behind the proposed remedial action plan. Meeting participants will be given the opportunity to ask questions and provide comments on the proposed plan.

"I'm relieved that the site results show that Tres Bon is no longer contaminated," said Alfano. "I strongly feel that we have to look at ways to explore criminal action against those who dispose of hazardous waste without any regard to public health. This kind of activity is outrageous."

Alfano explained that the library meeting with the DEC and health department would be informational in nature and a mechanism to get community comment. "This meeting is a positive way for the public to hear the results of investigations, ask questions about the site and explore with health environmental officials their concerns about the site," the assemblyman said.

According to the DEC, past dry-cleaning operations at the site resulted in disposal of hazardous wastes. The discharge resulted in contamination of soil and groundwater by hazardous waste. The DEC designated the Tres Bon Cleaners site as a class two Inactive Hazardous Waste Disposal Site (class two means "significant threat to public health or the environment, action required), and under an agreement with the DEC, the property owner conducted a remedial investigation to determine the nature and extent of the contamination.

Investigations of the dry cleaner began in 1998. In 1991, the Nassau County Department of Health and Tres Bon started remediation of the site and completed its work. In 1993, the New York State DEC listed the site as a class two site. Soon after, the United States Environmental Protection Agency implemented an injection well closure plan. In 1999, Tres Bon and NYS DEC followed up the EPA plan with an outgoing remediation plan.

Based on the results of an interim remedial measure (IRM), the findings indicate that the site no longer poses a significant threat to human health or the environment. Therefore, no further action with continued groundwater monitoring is proposed as the remedy for the site. In addition, the NYSDEC proposes to reclassify the site to a Class 4 site, which means the site is properly closed but requires continued management on the New York State Registry of Inactive Hazardous Waste Disposal Sites.

"Residents are encouraged to come to the meeting and hear the results firsthand of the DEC investigation. The experts and scientists will be able to address issues from environmental to health-related aspects," said Alfano.

The site is currently vacant and no business is in operation.