Officials Approve Cleanup Plan For Long Island Park At Center Of Illegal-Dumping Probe

ALBANY, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- New York conservation officials have approved a cleanup plan for the Roberto Clemente Park in Suffolk County allowing for removal of contaminated construction fill.

The Department of Environmental Conservation says the town of Islip's revised plan requires excavating and removing all the illegally placed construction debris, followed by soil sampling to confirm no contaminants remain and installing wells to monitor groundwater.

Two former parks officials, two businessmen and local contractors, as well as four affiliated businesses were charged with environmental crimes last month in the alleged dumping of thousands of tons of debris laced with asbestos, pesticides and other material at the town park.

The 32-count indictment includes charges of criminal mischief, conspiracy and numerous environmental violations. All pleaded not guilty.

Authorities said 50,000 tons of debris was deposited at a site where soccer fields were intended to be built. Toxic dumping was later found at a housing development for returning military veterans and at two vacant lots in the town.

Roberto Clemente Park has been closed indefinitely and the cleanup at the four sites may take years.

Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota said he is still investigating other possible dump sites and more arrests could be made.

You May Also Be Interested In These Stories:

(TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)