The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will hold a public meeting to discuss DEC's remediation of the Tishcon New Cassel site, tonight, Dec. 13 at 7 o'clock. The meeting will be held at the Park Avenue School, 100 Park Avenue, Westbury. Tishcon Corporation was a manufacturer of dietary supplements located at 29 New York Avenue, Westbury within the Town of North Hempstead.

Sludge and water contaminated with volatile organic compounds and metals were removed from a drywell on the Tishcon site in August 2000. Samples taken from the remaining soil indicate that removal of the contaminated sludge and water have adequately remediated the site, and no further action is proposed.

Tishcon manufactured dietary supplements and gelatin capsules at the one-acre site from 1979 to 1991. Tishcon used the solvent 1,1,1-trichloroethane in its manufacturing process and disposed of waste water containing the solvent into a drywell on the site. DEC conducted a preliminary site assessment in 1995 and listed the Tishcon site as a Class 2 site in the New York State Registry of Inactive Hazardous Waste Disposal Sites. Class 2 includes sites which pose a significant, but not immediate, threat to human health or the environment, and for which action is required.

DEC required the site owner to conduct a focused remedial investigation in 1999. The purpose of the focused remedial investigation was to define the nature and extent of contamination and the risks that it may pose to human health and the environment. The investigation confirmed that the onsite drywell was contaminated with volatile organic compounds and metals. Samples from the drywell showed that the DEC standards were exceeded for chloroethane, toluene, trimethylbenzene, copper, mercury, and lead. Six cubic yards of sludge and 1,400 gallons of contaminated water were removed from the drywell and sent to an appropriate hazardous waste disposal facility.

Samples taken from the drywell after removal of contaminated materials confirmed that the level of contamination is now below state standards. Therefore, DEC is proposing that no further action be taken at the site. DEC also proposes to remove the site from the New York State Registry of Inactive Hazardous Waste Disposal Sites. DEC will negotiate with the site owner to implement restrictions limiting the use of groundwater as potable or process water without necessary water quality treatment as determined by the Nassau County Department of Health.

The New Cassel Industrial Area includes 13 Class 2 inactive hazardous waste sites. Public water supply wells owned by the Bowling Green Water District are located 300 to 500 yards away from the New Cassel Industrial Area in the direction of groundwater flow. These wells have been impacted by contaminants from sites within the industrial area. Water from these wells is treated to remove contaminants before the water is distributed to customers. The wells are monitored regularly to ensure that the water supplied from them meets state drinking water standards.

At the Dec. 13 meeting, DEC and State Department of Health staff will review the history of the site and describe the results of investigations and remedial measures taken at the site, and the proposed de-listing of the site. Meeting participants will be given the opportunity to ask questions and to provide comments on the proposal. Written comments may also be submitted to Joseph Jones, Project Manager, NYSDEC, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-7015. Written comments must be submitted by Jan. 4, 2002.

DEC may modify its proposal, or select a different remedy, based on public comments. Written responses to all substantive comments received will be published by DEC as part of the record of decision for the Tishcon site. The record of decision, a report that describes the final remedial plan for the site, will be placed in the document repositories. The public will be notified when the record of decision is available in these repositories.

Site documents, including the proposed remedial action plan and the focused remedial investigation report, are available at DEC's Stony Brook headquarters, the New Cassel Environmental Justice Project Prospect Avenue office and the Westbury Memorial Public Library. Site information is also available at www.dec.state.ny.us/website/reg1/hazwaste.html