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Briarcliff Manor Ball Fields To Be Remediated After Cancer Deaths

BRIARCLIFF MANOR, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) - It might never be known for sure how several children in Briarcliff Manor developed terminal cancer, but their families are absolutely convinced that the cause is contaminated soil at two ball fields at the high school.

WCBS 880's Sean Adams On The Story

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Those fields were constructed using illegal fill back in 1998. They have been unused since January 2010, according to the Journal News.

The district maintains there is no health risk, nevertheless, the school board has approved a plan to cap the fields, and top them with new soil.

Some families want the fields dug up.

School Board President Sal Maglietta said they're waiting for a state Department of Environmental Conservation review.

"We do have the option as at a future point to modify the remedy that has been proposed in our plan," he told WCBS 880 reporter Sean Adams.

Capping the fields will cost $1.5 million. Removing the illegal fill tainted with lead and barium would be $18 million.

Some of the families whose children developed cancer plan to sue.

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