Contamination clean up nears end in Brockport

Brockport property owner John Lessord said that after many years he will feel comfortable going into his backyard.

Lessord, of Lyman Street, is owner of one of the many properties that were contaminated by chemicals from GE and 3M. The clean up efforts cap off more than three years of investigations, soil sampling and surveys of the properties surrounding the former plants.

Tests determined that poly chlorinated biphenyls, cyanide and silver compounds had leached into the soils over a 50 year period. Polluted storm sewers were scoured and in some cases, replaced as part of the clean up plan.

"Under the circumstances they did a good job," Lessord said. "They will have to come back in the spring and reseed the lawn ... they did well with what they did."

Lessord thanked the Department of Environmental Conservation and the Brockport's citizens group, REACH, for their efforts in kick starting the project.

In Lessord's opinion, the village took care of itself, rather than the homeowners. "The village got all new storm sewers and their consultants and lawyers got paid," he said. "They (the village) weren't really involved in the clean up of my property because I didn't want them to be."

"All the contamination isn't gone but the biggest share is," Lessord said. "I don't think it is a health hazard any more."

Mayor Josephine Matela said the clean up is about 95 percent completed. "I hope this is a lesson for future generations of companies," she said. "We don't ever want to forget."

Frank Ricotta, regional engineer with the DEC, said the clean up went according to plan and was on schedule. "The soil was cleaned up to the levels in the approved plan."