The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has approved the town of Islip's plan to clean up 50,000 tons of toxic debris that was illegally dumped in Roberto Clemente Park in Islip last year. It was laced with asbestos, pesticides, and other toxic material.
The Long Island town's plan to clean up the park requires digging up and removing all the debris and then sampling the soil at the end to confirm the contaminants have been removed. The town will also install wells to monitor groundwater.
Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment, says she's optimistic about the plan.
“This can be cleaned up. It can be cleaned up in a short amount of time. It can be cleaned up 100 percent. So the good news is that it's not only possible but it’s going to be underway.” she said.
The town hopes to start the cleanup this spring.