Fate of C&D Battery Site Debated in Deerpark
Some residents urge making the site a Brownfield Opportunity Area with community, government and commercial help.
By David Ofshinsky
After 40-some years of environmental scrutiny, remediation work began earlier this year at the former C&D Battery site next to Deerpark Town Hall. The $9.4 million project will be completed in October, according to estimates by Deerpark officials.
The 17-acre site was first opened by Empire Tube Company in 1959 to manufacture black and white television picture tubes, according to Department of Environmental Conservation documents. The property was purchased by C&D Technologies in 1970 and used to produce lead acid batteries. All operations ceased in 2006.
After a series of environmental investigations between 1981 and 2008, the property was designated a Superfund site. PCBs, hydrofluoric acid, lead, barium and cadmium have been detected there. The Superfund designation only applies to the 175-foot diameter, 15-foot-deep former waste lagoon in the rear of the property. The Site Management Plan (SMP) calls for the lagoon to be excavated and capped. Thereafter it is to be maintained and monitored for 30 years to assure the contaminants have been isolated and contained. Nearby residential wells have been tested and no contamination was detected.
The building is not under the Superfund designation, but removal of lead-based paint and asbestos is required.
What does the future hold?
Deed covenants established by the DEC restrict the site to commercial or industrial use. At a July 14, 2021 Deerpark Planning Board meeting, Berel Krug, representing 430 Route 209 LLC, owner of the property, said that light manufacturing or a warehouse are possibilities.
A group of local residents, who requested anonymity, said they spoke with representatives from the NYS Department of State about participating in the Brownfield Opportunity Area program (BOA). This could potentially help revitalize not only the site, but the surrounding neighborhood as well, providing support for cooperation between community, government and commercial entities.
The BOA program offers towns financial and technical assistance in preparing area wide plans to redevelop brownfields and other vacant or abandoned sites. The goal is to improve the area and properties to attract community investment. Tax credits may be available to investors with projects in the area.
Resident Grace Woodard suggested the B.O.A. program at the February 5 Deerpark Town Board meeting, but said she received no response. A request to Mr. Krug for comment about plans for the site and the possibility of participating in the BOA program has not been answered.
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I would like to ask why no local labor is being hired to work on this site? I personally went down and asked and left my name and contact information on the project and got no response. I also emailed Mr Spears and was given 2 phone numbers and told call myself by Danielle Glynn that they have no say on who they hire. It was very disappointing that the town supervisor wouldn't inquire about it even after I told them I live here and have certification and that I know at least 30 other well qualified laborer's that live in Deerpark. Gina Kent