By Anthony Rifilato
The vacant complex, at 1175 Atlantic Ave., which was built in 1974 and is now operated by Safeguard Storage, was from 1990 to 1999 a manufacturing facility that produced emergency lighting fixtures. During that time, raw materials used at the site included several heavy metals, paints and cleaning solvents, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Between 1997 and 2001, environmental investigations discovered chlorinated volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, in the groundwater, the department said. VOCs are chemicals used to clean and degrease metal parts.
"The facility had been used for a number of projects over the years," said James Lister, DEC project manager. "Unfortunately, there may have been those solvents released into the environment."
Lister explained that there is no immediate danger to residents, since the property is located on land surrounded by water that is similar to a small island, and that most of the contamination is isolated.
Though the danger to residents is low, however, Lister explained that Safeguard Storage, at 1170 Atlantic Ave. in Baldwin, has entered the state's Voluntary Cleanup Program in order to further investigate the situation and clean up the site. "Safeguard Storage came to the agency aware of contamination on the site," said Lister.
The DEC has entered into a legal agreement with Safeguard to proceed with the cleanup project, in which Safeguard, under the oversight of the DEC and the New York State Department of Health, will investigate and remediate the site. "This program allows a party to step forward and say, 'We're willing to deal with contamination on site,' and proceed with that," said Lister.
He explained that most of the VOCs are beneath the building, and that the major concern is about indoor air quality at the site.
The project will measure the level of VOCs in the soil as well and determine if there is lead in the soil, resulting from the number of boats that were once on the site.
But Lister said that while VOCs that have seeped into the surface water dissipate rather quickly, "There may have been some contamination into Milburn Creek."
The DEC sent a letter earlier this year to nearby residents informing them about the cleanup project, and Lister said that the DOH did receive some calls from concerned neighbors.
Once the month-long investigation is complete, Lister explained, Safeguard will report its findings to the state and develop a cleanup plan consistent with the extent of contamination. While the company will be responsible for removing any contaminants on the site, it is not responsible for any chemicals that may have seeped off the premises. Still, Lister said that Safeguard would be held to high standards during the voluntary cleanup. "We're anxious to see them get ahead with the work," he said.
Lister also reiterated that there is no reason for nearby residents to be alarmed, since VOCs that may have seeped into the water dissipate quickly. "The saving grace here is that this is almost an island," he said. "It's pretty isolated."
