For Release: Thursday, August 30, 2007
DEC Announces Brownfield Grant for Suffolk County
Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act Funds for Cleanup of Contaminated Site in Town of Babylon
The Town of Babylon has received a $315,000 Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act grant, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis announced today. This grant has been awarded for the remediation of environmental contamination at the 37 Commonwealth Drive Site in the Town of Babylon, Suffolk County.
"When combined with private efforts, brownfield redevelopment is one of New York State's strongest and most effective environmental programs," Commissioner Grannis said. "Through the Environmental Restoration Program (ERP), municipalities work together with DEC to provide positive benefits to our natural resources, public health, and local economies by addressing contamination and restoring these sites across the state."
The property to be remediated consists of 1.3 acres and is vacant land located in the Town's Business Zone. Unregulated trash dumping may have contributed to the contamination on site. A Site Investigation was performed by DEC in May 2006. Based on the investigation, metals were detected above the state cleanup levels in the soil and groundwater table. The Town acquired the property in 1958.
A Record of Decision (ROD), which will outline the remedial action for the site, is expected to be released in October 2007. The Town plans to transfer a portion of the site to the United States Postal Service for institutional use. The remainder of the site will either be used for supporting infrastructure or future development.
The Town of Babylon is eligible for state assistance through the Environmental Restoration Program (ERP) since it is not responsible for having caused the contamination. The grant provides up to 90 percent of eligible costs for on-site and up to 100 percent of eligible costs for off-site remedial activities.
The Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act, authorizes $1.75 billion for important environmental programs. The Bond Act included $200 million for ERP grants to municipalities for costs associated with the investigation and cleanup of brownfields. To date, more than $156.1 million in Bond Act funding has been committed for 242 investigation and cleanup projects at brownfield sites throughout New York State. This funding includes 199 investigation projects totaling more than $76.4 million and 43 remediation projects totaling more than $79.7 million.
Other applications are under review by DEC and additional grants are anticipated in the near future. Brownfields are abandoned or underused properties where real or perceived environmental contamination hinders the potential for redevelopment.
