By Stephen Stirling
Work on the federally funded extension of Linden Place in College Point has unearthed hot spots of oil and other toxins at the Flushing airport site and community leaders believe the city may not be handling the cleanup as it should.
College Point marine pathologist James Cervino said he was alerted to a potential oil spill in the abandoned Flushing Airport site near the corner of 23rd Avenue and 130th Street, where Triumph Paving Co. has been conducting road grading work.
When he arrived, Cervino found a goulash of oil and “horrible smelling” chemicals bubbling up from the ground where road crews were digging.
But while Cervino said the presence of such toxins is no surprise at the site, which has been the frequent victim of illegal dumping since Flushing Airport was closed in the 1980s, he said the city has not done its due diligence in cleaning up such hot spots as they are found.
“It seems like they are just screening the soil, shaking it, tossing it to the side and moving forward with their work,” he said. “No one blames the city for the conditions down there. It’s widely known that this stuff is there. I just don’t want it to be ignored.”
Cervino alerted the state Department of Environmental Conservation of the spill last week.
The project, which has received $7 million in funding from President Barack Obama’s economic stimulus package, seeks to extend Linden Place through the abandoned Flushing Airport site from 23rd to 28rd avenue. The extension has been clamored for by members of Community Board 7 and College Point residents for more than a decade, who say it will help alleviate traffic in the congested Corporate Park.
The city Economic Development Corp., which owns the land, denied Cervino’s accusations and said appropriate actions have been taken.
“We have mitigated and removed known hot−spots at the adjacent Flushing Airport site, the 15 feet of new fill being imported is in accordance with all necessary regulations and existing utilities have been appropriately removed,” EDC spokesman Dave Lombino said. “We continue to closely observe work at the site and are confident that EDC will be able to complete the road for which College Point residents and elected officials have so strongly advocated.”
The EDC said it planned to meet with Cervino Wednesday afternoon.
CB 7 Vice Chairman Chuck Apelian, however, said he is equally skeptical of the city’s response and criticized the EDC for not briefing the board on what had been found during the course of work on Linden Place.
“I just want this stuff removed and I want it removed right,” Apelian said. “If this is the litmus test of the agency’s integrity, then what are they going to do when they go to clean up Willets Point?”
Reach reporter Stephen Stirling by e−mail at sstirling@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718−229−0300, Ext. 138.
