By Nathan Duke
Nolan said the state's Department of Environmental Conservation typically issues fact sheets about the investigation and clean-up of toxic sites in Queens but was concerned that most borough residents were not aware of their existence.”The bottom line is, if I were living in or near a building where toxic waste was found, I would want to know immediately what the consequences were for my family and what the state planned to do to protect me,” she said. “It is imperative that we go beyond fact sheets and really publicize this information in a responsible manner.”But a DEC spokeswoman said the agency attempts to notify residents in neighborhoods being investigated for contamination.”We usually hold public meetings or put out an advisory,” she said. “Fact sheets are often sent to homeowners in an area where testing is going on, so that they are aware. We put out a pretty good effort.”In December, the DEC said it had detected the carcinogen trichloroethylene, commonly known as TCE, in the groundwater and soil underneath the former Swingline stapler factory at 32-00 Skillman Ave. in Long Island City. The agency also tested sites neighboring the building for the toxic substance.DEC spokesman Arturo Garcia-Costas said there was no evidence of contamination in the air at the Long Island City YMCA, which had been tested for contamination due to its proximity to the Swingline building.But a system that would draw out harmful vapors from the building had been installed at the YMCA as a precautionary measure, he said.The potential effects of exposure to TCE, a degreasing solvent and cleaning chemical, include liver and kidney damage, infertility and birth defects.The Swingline building was occupied by several automotive service centers and gas stations prior to the construction of the ACCO stapler factory in the early 1950s. The DEC found TCE underneath the factory during investigations dating back to 2000, Garcia-Costas said.Nolan said DEC has released numerous informational releases on contaminated sites, such as the Swingline building, but that these fact sheets are not widely disseminated. She said she wanted to create a comprehensive list of all contaminated or potentially toxic sites in the borough.”This information should be available on-line, where it can be accessed at any time,” said Councilman James Gennaro (D-Fresh Meadows), chairman of the Council's Committee on Environmental Protection.Reach reporter Nathan Duke by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 156.
