Nassau County Legislator Laura Schaefer joined her colleagues in government U.S. Senator Charles Schumer and County Legislator Rose Marie Walker in calling for the completion of the cleanup at the former Sylvania Corning Plant by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. While the process has been going on for decades, the federal government is still technically on step one of four in the rebuilding process. The trio called on the Army Corps of Engineers to expedite a report that would allow work to continue at the site.
“This project has been in the works for a long time, and needs to be completed as soon as possible” said Legislator Schaefer. “This issue concerns the safety of our residents, and we cannot afford to delay any longer.”
Between 1952 and 1965, Sylvania Electric Products conducted nuclear work on site under a contract to the Atomic Energy Commission as well as other nuclear work for commercial and other government contracts. The company produced nuclear fuel rods for power plants using radioactive materials, such as uranium and thorium, and similar volatile organic compounds like PCE and TCE. This waste has contaminated parts of the soil and ground water. In fact, in recent years, numerous employees working for a company on Cantiague Rock Road have developed illnesses that may be related to the former nuclear facility.
Pictured are: Nassau County Legislator Rose Marie Walker, U.S. Senator Charles Schumer, Legislator Schaefer, and Hicksville Water District Superintendent William Schuckmann.