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County, state strike deal to clean contaminated sites in DeKalb, Massena

Posted 8/2/18

An agreement has reportedly been worked out between St. Lawrence County and the New York Environmental Protection and Spill Compensation Fund that will lead to the cleanup and redevelopment of …

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County, state strike deal to clean contaminated sites in DeKalb, Massena

Posted

An agreement has reportedly been worked out between St. Lawrence County and the New York Environmental Protection and Spill Compensation Fund that will lead to the cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated commercial property in DeKalb and Massena.

The properties include Slavins Furniture and Jewelry Corp., a former gas and service station at 31 Water St., Massena; prior store and gas station with buried tanks at 2648 state Route 812, Dekalb and 2644 state Route 812, Dekalb; a prior gas station and body shop with oil spill at 133 Water St.; Cornell’s Dry Cleaning at 141 Water St.

The seven properties that are part of the latest agreement are tax-delinquent parcels that are being obtained by the county through foreclosure proceedings. Before they can be sold at public auction and put back on the tax rolls, an environmental remediation must occur, according to New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli’s office.

“This collaboration between St. Lawrence County and the New York State Environmental and Spill Compensation Fund is reaping great benefits for our communities,” said St. Lawrence County Board of Legislators Chairman Kevin Acres. “Foremost, previously contaminated properties are being cleaned up and made suitable for continued use and secondly, these properties that have been tax delinquent for many years are being returned to the tax rolls. These blighted eyesores in our communities will be returned to beautiful and productive entities that we all can be proud of.”

“This is an important step to returning these properties to the tax rolls,” said Village of Massena Mayor Timmy Currier. “By taking the lead, St. Lawrence County, working cooperatively with Comptroller DiNapoli’s office and the Village, is helping us address difficult issues in our downtown core.”

“By working hand-in-hand with local government officials, my office can help turn contaminated property and abandoned parcels into community assets,” said DiNapoli. “Thanks to our ongoing partnership with St. Lawrence County, we are able to lend support to the economic development efforts in places like Massena and DeKalb. The environmental and financial benefits of these agreements continue to pay long-term dividends for residents of the North Country.”

The Oil Spill Fund, administered by DiNapoli’s office in coordination with the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), pays for the cleanup of petroleum contamination when the parties responsible either cannot be identified or refuse to clean up or pay. The OAG subsequently assists in recovering costs expended from the Oil Spill Fund from such parties.