Thursday, October 1, 2026
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) has released a proposed cleanup plan for the Island Park Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) site located at Austin Boulevard. NYSDEC is accepting written comments about the proposed plan for 30 days, from Jan. 23 through Feb. 27.
A detailed investigation of the site under was conducted under New York’s Voluntary Cleanup Program (VCP). Investigations have indicated mercury contamination in the surface and subsurface soils. Site-related contaminants did not adversely affect groundwater.
On site mercury contamination exceeds the industrial Soil Cleanup Objectives (SCO) of 5.7 parts per million (ppm) in the surface and subsurface soils, within the fenced area, to the northwest and southwest areas of the former substation building. The greatest mercury concentrations were detected in surface soil outside the fence line near the concrete platform on the west side of the former substation building with a maximum concentration of 35.4 ppm; however, this area was excavated in May 2000. The highest concentration remaining on-site is 12.9 ppm.
The cleanup plan is based on a detailed “Remedial Action Work Plan”. The proposed remedy consists of:
1) Excavating and disposing of about 70 cubic yards of mercury contaminated soil from about a 1000 square foot area on-site.
2) Filing a deed restriction to limit the property’s use as industrial property, and have it attached to the property deed.
This remedy will protect public health and the environment presented by the contaminants by removing it from the site and surrounding impacted areas.
