Cleanup Continues on Melody Cleaners Site

, located in East Meadow, is one step closer to fixing ground contamination that started decades ago caused by a then-popular dry cleaning agent.

The dry cleaner started operations in the 1950s, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (NYS DEC) Remedial Action Work Plan.

The report explained that in earlier years they used tetrachloroethene (PCE) – a then common dry cleaning chemical – and disposed of it in cesspools before the business was connected to the sewer system. Use of PCE at the site ceased in 2002, the report stated.

Tony Lee, the owner of since 1987, said that the cleanup was started “more than 10 years ago.” He said that he is fully supportive of the cleanup and that it is “horrible it has gone on this long.”

“We are still doing it,” he continued. “This has been going on for many, many years…It is almost done. It looks like the last stage.”

Lee added that they do not use PCE anymore, but rather more environmentally friendly alternatives.

Though Lee is not the owner of the property itself, the property owner choose to participate in the NYS DEC’s “voluntary cleanup program,” which seeks to cleanup the contamination with targeted projects. The program is spearheaded by the DEC, with support from the New York State Department of Health (NYS DOH).

Currently, the project calls for chemical oxidants to be injected into the groundwater on the site, which will change the contaminating chemicals in question into chloride, carbon dioxide and water, according to a fact sheet prepared by the NYS DEC. Both temporary and permanent injection wells will be installed in two phases.

Brian Janauskas, of the NYS DEC, said that there is work currently being done on the Melody Cleaners site, but the project is slightly delayed because of the snowfall the area saw in October.

“They are a little delayed, like a week or so,” said Janauskas, adding that it looks like phase one and phase two of the project should be completed by the end of December.

The injection sites will be located in the parking lot of the property, which also includes , and .

According to the work plan, an assessment in 1999 determined that the PCE chemical had contaminated the site. Further reports in 2002 and 2003 stated that the discharged chemicals were not only detected on the site, but “south towards Front Street, and in the groundwater beneath cesspools and extending south towards Devon Street."

Thus far, besides the current injection project, the property owners have removed several hundred tons of contaminated soil from the site and installed a soil vapor extraction unit to "address residual contamination that remained at the site," according to the work plan.

The state has conducted extensive testing pertaining to air and water quality in the area using monitoring well locations and air quality reports.

“There is no immediate public health concern,” NYS DOH spokesperson Jeffrey Hammond said. “The public water supply wells are tested regularly to confirm that the water is suitable for public use.”

If the project is successful in fixing the contamination, the NYS DEC will give a closure letter, which “provides a release from liability,” according to the fact sheet.

The Remedial Action Work Plan can be found on file at the and Levittown Public Libraries.