DEC continues gas station cleanup

Last month the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) began work at the site of the former USA Petroleum gas station at Bishop Street and the corner of Long Beach Road in Island Park. On Dec. 2 phase two of the clean up began.

When current owners South Shore Collision went to purchase the site two years ago as part of the mortgage process they had an environmental inspection. Petroleum product contamination was found in the ground.

Owner Tom Lanning said the gas station owner was supposed to take care of the pollution but walked away.

Geologist and project manager Kristy Salafrio said there is no current leak. All the gas tanks have been removed. DEC knew about a diesel line leak at the site five years ago, and have been monitoring 13 wells drilled around the site since then. In addition the DEC is paying for the entire operation.

Two weeks ago Environmental Assessment & Remediations, a company from Patchogue that was contracted by the DEC, pumped 200 gallons of chemicals into the ground that were to separate or “desorb” the pollution from the ground so it could then be pumped out.

“This pollution is consistent with gasoline,” Salafrio said, “it’s about five and a half feet down — a shallow spill— and it is contained within the gas station site.”

This time the contractor brought a tanker truck, and began pumping out the residual material from the 13 wells. Senior Project Manager Jennifer Lawrence said when they pump the chemical agent out of the wells now the pollution should be removed with it. She said they would continue to monitor the wells to see how well the chemical worked, and then determine if the process has to be repeated.

Salafrio said there is no danger of pollution to the nearby waterway. The plume does not go in that direction. She added the well sites were drilled to monitor under the building and the sidewalk, in a pattern that follows the plume.