Nassau News

Click on the image to see a video report about the area subject to EPA-supervised cleanup.



The cleanup will start at the intersection of 2nd Street and North Franklin Avenue, along the Hempstead-Garden City border. From that intersection there are over 57,000 yards of soil that are affecting ground water, according to an article in Newsday

The goal of the cleanup is to restore the aquifer, a lengthy process that can stretch over decades, according to Kevin Willis, the remedial project manager of the EPA.

“We have used a time-frame of thirty years, which is fairly standard for remediating a groundwater contamination site where we have to restore an aquifer,” Willis told Nassau News.

This pollution is the responsibility of KeySpan, a natural gas and energy company, the gas plant was inherited from Long Island Lighting Company in 1998.

After tests were made at the site, KeySpan officials made statements saying that "contact with contaminated groundwater was not pertinent since all drinking supply wells are screened over 300 feet deep." This means that the drinking water would not affect citizens.

Willis for the EPA also added, “If the water is above any health-based drinking water standards, the health department won't hesitate shutting down the water wells causing the problem. The water districts cannot distribute water which is not proven safe.”

There is a threat of lawsuits over the site and at least one resident is in support of some type of litigation over the site.

“I definitely believe that there should be some legal action taken against them (KeySpan) because they are responsible for the health of the people in the area.” Jaime Thomas told Nassau News. She is a resident of Hempstead who said she drinks tap water.

There has been no statement form KeySpan on how long the clean will take place; however, there has been various testing going on at the site.

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