STAR LAKE -- A public presentation on cleanup efforts at the former Jones and Laughlin (J&L) Steel Company site in Star Lake, was held Friday, July 20 at Clifton-Fine Central School auditorium.

Approximately 60 people took part in a site tour following stakeholder presentations, said a press release issued by the State Department of Environmental Conservation.

The presentation was hosted by the DEC, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), St. Lawrence County, and the Development Authority of the North Country (DANC).

“Today is a celebration of the wonderful partnership and the progress that has been made over the years of cleaning up the J&L historical contamination above and below the ground. Only through collaborative efforts among all levels of government have we come this far. With the redoubled effort and commitment by dedicated DEC staff involved, and the significant efforts the town and county, I am more confident than ever we will eliminate the visible and invisible blight that has plagued this beautiful part of the state and Adirondacks for years,” said Judy Drabicki, DEC Region 6 Director.

Approximately 760 cubic yards of PCB-contaminated soil will be excavated and disposed of from six separate areas on the site, the press release said.

DEC approved the work plan to conduct the excavation in June. A contractor has been selected and the work will begin within the next several weeks, announced the DEC. Field work is expected to last up to three weeks.

“The level of effort maintained by the stakeholders to see this project through is a model of how well state and local organizations can work together to overcome challenges like the J&L Site,” Ruth Doyle, St. Lawrence County Administrator said. “This dedicated group has worked creatively to fund and execute a cleanup that has been decades in the making. As landowner of the Site, St. Lawrence County dedicated resources as well as involved partner agencies such as the St. Lawrence County IDA and DANC to ensure the momentum continues. The County is grateful to everyone who has worked to move the cleanup efforts forward; particularly the US EPA for its involvement and the NYS DEC for taking on this project.”

“It is fantastic to see these tangible site cleanup results after years of grass root community collaboration with Local, County, State and Federal Agencies,” said Christopher Westbrook, President of the Clifton-Fine Economic Development Corporation. “This effort is resulting in a real and visible solution to an environmental and community development challenge that has existed in our community for over four decades. The importance of these efforts to the Clifton-Fine community is evident by the large number of interested people who attended the presentation and site tour.”

To date, DEC has recovered 350,000 gallons of fuel oil released to the environment from the site. Removal of the released oil is ongoing.

Since 2010, DEC, EPA, St. Lawrence County and DANC have been working together to remove asbestos and PCB contamination, and to demolish and remove blighted buildings.

Areas of the site found clear of hazardous waste contamination have been transferred to St. Lawrence County for redevelopment. The ongoing cleanup effort is designed to facilitate future, productive use of the site.