The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) will conduct a detailed environmental study at the West Sayville Dry Cleaners site (“site”) located at 61 Main Street, West Sayville, Suffolk County.
Investigation Work Plan: An investigation work plan, called a “Remedial Investigation Work Plan (RIWP),” will be developed by a DEC contractor and submitted to NYSDEC under New York’s State Superfund Program. The site is listed as a Class “2” site in the State Registry of Inactive Hazardous Waste Sites (list of State Superfund sites). A Class 2 site represents a significant threat to public health or the environment; action is required. NYSDEC and the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) will oversee the investigation.
- Access the RIWP and other project documents online through the DECinfo Locator: https://www.dec.ny.gov/data/DecDocs/152200/.
- Documents also are available at the location(s) identified at left under “Where to Find Information.”
Highlights of the Site Investigation: The investigation will define the nature and extent of contamination in soil, surface water, groundwater and any other parts of the environment that may be affected.
Past investigations in the area have determined that chlorinated solvent contamination exists at the site. Tetrachloroethene (PCE) and its byproducts are present in the site’s subsurface. PCE is a contaminant often associated with dry cleaning operations and in the manufacture of metal parts.
Key components of the investigation work include:
- Sampling existing on-site wells to determine the extent of on-site contamination
- Collecting sub-slab, indoor air and soil vapor samples; and
- Installing and sampling ground water wells to monitor impacts from areas of concern both on-site and off-site.
Next Steps: The information collected during the investigation will be summarized in a report. After the site investigation is complete NYSDEC will conduct a “Feasibility Study.” This study uses information developed during the site investigation to develop and evaluate potential ways to clean up contamination related to the site. The information collected during the site investigation may also support the conclusion that no action, or no further action, is needed to address site-related contamination. NYSDEC will then develop a draft cleanup plan, called a “Proposed Remedial Action Plan.” This plan describes the remedy preferred by NYSDEC, or, if warranted, a proposal for no action or no further action.
The draft cleanup plan will explain the decision that led to the preferred remedy by discussing each alternative and the reasons for choosing or rejecting it. The goal of the plan will be to ensure the protection of public health and the environment. NYSDEC will announce the availability of the draft cleanup plan in a future fact sheet. NYSDEC will present the draft cleanup plan to the public for its review and comment during a 30-day comment period and at a public meeting.
Site Description: The West Sayville Dry Cleaners site is located in a suburban area in West Sayville, Suffolk County. The approximately 0.1-acre site is located along the north side of Main Street. The site consists of a onestory masonry building, covering approximately 75% of the lot. The front of the parcel is a concrete sidewalk and curb area maintained by the Hamlet of West Sayville or the Town of Islip. The rear of the parcel is a vegetated area.
