The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and St. Lawrence County are announcing progress is underway to expedite remediation of petroleum spills at four tax-delinquent parcels. This will put these properties on the path to redevelopment, DEC said.

As part of an ongoing state-county partnership, DEC will use New York State Oil Spill Funds administered by the Office of the State Comptroller to oversee the removal of contamination at each site to ensure protection of public health and the environment, and upon completion of each cleanup, the county will develop the parcel and return it to the tax rolls.

“The County takes great pride in enjoying a working relationship with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Office of the State Comptroller. For the past five years, this relationship has resulted in numerous, once-contaminated properties being cleaned-up and put back to good use in their various communities. We are thankful for this productive partnership and look forward to engaging in many more projects to come,” St. Lawrence County Board of Legislators Chairperson Joseph Lightfoot said.

"An important part of Moving Massena Forward is remediating contaminated properties. We could not do this without the support of our partners at every level. New York State and the DEC are key partners and we appreciate their support,” Massena Mayor Timmy Currier said.

The four tax delinquent parcels in need of remediation are: 43 Willow Street, Massena; 3545 County Route 14, Madrid; 97 Main Street, Hermon; and 180 Market Street, Potsdam. The cleanups will remove petroleum-contaminated soils and any underground storage tanks or piping that may be present. DEC will undertake sampling at each site to confirm the effectiveness of the cleanup and clean fill will be placed in the excavation areas.

The total cost of cleanups is projected to be approximately $535,000, funded from the New York Environmental Protection and Spill Compensation Fund, otherwise known as the Oil Spill Fund. DEC’s Division of Environmental Remediation oversees the cleanup, and when completed, St. Lawrence County will reimburse the Spill Fund with a portion of the proceeds of the subsequent tax sale of the properties. Cleanup of the sites is expected to be completed later this year.

“This is a great day for the county and these communities. The continued cooperation among agencies, and significant contributions by St. Lawrence County, is a testament to what can be done when the focus is on understanding the damage done to the environment in the past and recognizing the economic potential of these parcels,” said Randall Young, DEC Region 6 Director. “DEC has been involved in the cleanup of more than 40 St. Lawrence County tax delinquent parcels and looks forward to continuing to work with our local partners.”

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This photo shows some of the remediation work done at 43 Willow Street in Massena. Photo submitted by DEC.