LIRR To Remove Toxins From Soil At 7 Sites
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- The Long Island Rail Road will excavate nearly 5,000 tons of contaminated soil at seven substations in Queens and Nassau County.
The work to remove mercury, lead and other toxins is part of an $11 million capital plan program to clean up 20 sites.
The substations are Shea Stadium, Kew Gardens, Port Washington, Manhasset, Valley Stream, Island Park and Hempstead, Newsday reported.
LIRR To Remove Toxins From Soil At 7 Sites
Each site will take about four weeks to remediate. Groundwater contamination has not been found at any of the sites.
There is no threat to the public because the sites are on railroad property and mercury doesn't travel very far, LIRR spokesman Sal Arena said.
"None of the sites are accessible to the public," Arena told WCBS 880's Sophia Hall. "We've got no indications that there's any contamination off of the site, off of the railroad property. You know, there is no danger to any homeowner or any business or anyone, really."
The contamination dates to the 1930s through 1951, when LIRR used tubs of mercury to convert alternating current into direct current to power trains. The devices were replaced in the 1980s.
Ten sites have already been cleaned up. Three final sites in Bayside, Cedar Manor and Far Rockaway should be completed by 2018.
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