Bay Shore meeting on toxic-residue cleanup

State officials and representatives of National Grid will hold a public meeting in Bay Shore Tuesday night to update residents on the effort to clean up toxic plumes left from a former Long Island Lighting Co. gas-manufacturing plant.

Investigations overseen by the state Department of Environmental Conservation found that carcinogen-containing coal and tar residues dumped from the plant had polluted groundwater at four sites. Though homes, businesses, houses of worship, a YMCA and St. Patrick's Elementary School are atop the plumes, authorities have said there are no known "human exposure pathways."

National Grid has spent millions to clean up the sites since it bought the plant as part of its merger with KeySpan in 2007. One plume extends for a mile into Lawrence Creek, which drains into the Great South Bay.

Excavation work at one of the plumes is due to begin in coming weeks to remove tar and tar-contaminated soil at depths of less than 10 feet, according to the latest update from the DEC. That plume runs from Oak Street near Center Avenue under the Long Island Rail Road tracks and south toward Union Boulevard.

Excavation is necessary because an effort last year using chemical oxidization failed to remove the contaminants, according to the DEC. The chemical approach was tried first because it was easier logistically and less disruptive to the community, DEC spokesman Bill Fonda said.

That work is expected to take four to six months and will involve disruptions to street traffic, the DEC says. The work is not expected to disrupt the LIRR's service, though an earlier cleanup at an adjacent plume required a track relocation.

Tuesday night's meeting is scheduled for 7 at Bay Shore High School. Representatives of the state Health Department and the Suffolk County Department of Health Services are also expected to attend.

About 60 residents are seeking to have their tax assessments reduced, claiming the plumes have devalued their properties. Some residents are suing KeySpan in State Supreme Court, seeking damages and a quicker cleanup. Still others have said they have confidence the effort is progressing well.

The plant produced vaporous gas for heating and cooking from the late 1800s to 1973. Authorities say the cleanup could take decades.