ICYMI: Remediation Underway At Northport Middle School: District

NORTHPORT, NY — The remediation of Northport Middle School began last week, Robert Banzer, superintendent of the Northport-East Northport School District, told the community in a letter last Thursday. The Suffolk County Department of Health Services received and reviewed the investigative data report made by environmental firm PW Grosser Consulting after elevated levels of mercury and benzene were found in sanitary systems on school grounds.

The remediation will consist of pumping out the contaminated sludge or liquid from the septic tanks and leaching pools, Banzer said. A state-licensed industrial waste transporter will then remove the waste. After that, health officials will go to the school for "end point sampling," which is a sampling test to confirm the remediation worked. PWGC will then prepare a UIC Remediation Report on the results. If acceptable, the county will state remediation is complete and no further action would be required, Banzer said. The process will last anywhere from one to three weeks.

The superintendent said his top priority is protecting the health and safety of students and staff. The school district has coordinated with governmental agencies including the county and state health departments, the Department of Environmental Conservation and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

"Be assured that we continue to work with these governmental agencies while completing the full comprehensive review," Banzer wrote. "We are also fully committed to ensuring that the residents of Northport- East Northport have access to all of the same resources available to the District."

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