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St. Lawrence County moves toward control of Clifton property, relieved of liability for oil spill clean up

Posted 8/9/13

CLIFTON -- St. Lawrence County took another step toward control of the Jones and Laughlin property with an agreement, signed yesterday, to relieve the county of liability for any oil spill clean up …

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St. Lawrence County moves toward control of Clifton property, relieved of liability for oil spill clean up

Posted

CLIFTON -- St. Lawrence County took another step toward control of the Jones and Laughlin property with an agreement, signed yesterday, to relieve the county of liability for any oil spill clean up at the site.

The county and state Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli’s office have been negotiating for months to resolve the issue of liability so that the property could be taken by the county through foreclosure.

The abandoned property was the site of a former 54-acre iron ore processing facility that was active during World War II, before being transferred to J&L Steel, which operated the plant from 1946 until 1977. The site was then abandoned. Taxes have not been paid on the property since 1994.

“It is fantastic that we could come to a positive solution after 30 years. The hard work of the county staff, legislator Frederick Morrill, who represents the town of Clifton, and town of Fine supervisor and St. Lawrence County IDA board member Mark Hall has paid off with an agreement that allows the county to move forward with clean up and development of this property,” said St. Lawrence County Legislative Chair Jonathan Putney.

“This giant step leads us to a new beginning at J&L. St. Lawrence County will soon take ownership of the property and the cleanup and redevelopment will begin,” said Morrill.

“Removing the liability obstruction allows the property to be sub-divided and frees certain parcels for potential development. It will also enable potential future building demolition,” said Hall.

The county also recently entered into a consent order and settlement agreement with the DEC. The agreement will also pursue demolition of the buildings on site and allow development of the property.