Cleanup of Jay’s Lucky Cleaners studied by DEC

The state Department of Environmental Conservation is investigating the cleanup at the site of Jay’s Lucky Cleaners, at 3220-3224 Long Beach Road in Oceanside. The DEC is asking for public comments on the cleanup plan.

Previous investigations at the site have identified tetrachloroethene, or PCE, in groundwater beneath the site.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, PCE is a manmade solvent that is used as a degreaser in dry-cleaning. It can get into drinking water aquifers when it is improperly disposed of, and can also vaporize and be inhaled. Long-term PCE exposure can cause damage to the liver, kidneys and central nervous system, and lead to an increased risk of cancer.

A draft investigation work plan was submitted by P.W. Grosser Consulting Inc. an environmental engineering company to the DEC under New York’s Brownfield Cleanup Program. P.W. Grosser’s investigation will be overseen by the DEC and the state Department of Health. The company will examine the nature and extent of the contamination in soil, surface water, groundwater and any other parts of the environment that may be affected.

The investigation has several goals:

1. Define the nature and extent of the contamination at the site.

2. Identify potential source areas of contamination.

3. Determine whether remedial action is needed to protect human health and the environment.

4. Collect sufficient data to advance the remediation of the site.

The results of the investigation will be used to develop a method for removing the contamination from the site. In the past, the property has been the site of a convenience store, a surf shop, a massage parlor and, since 1959, the dry-cleaner. There are three retail units and two parking lots on the site. Clean-up plan documents are available to the public at the Oceanside Library.

The DEC is accepting public comments on the draft work plan through October 27, 2016.