Speonk Solvent Plume Working Group

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About the Speonk Solvent Plume Working Group

In December 2001, the Suffolk County Department of Health Services (SCDHS) detected chlorinated volatile organic compounds in a private drinking water well near the intersection of Old Country Road and North Phillips Avenue. Subsequently, the SCDHS conducted an initial investigation to determine the area of impacted groundwater. Work completed by the SCDHS has included sampling of private drinking water wells, aquifer screening, and monitoring well installations in the area. The SCDHS data confirmed the presence of chlorinated solvent contaminated groundwater in the area.

Affected Residences

Residences in the affected areas have been connected to the public water supply or provided with bottled water. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) conducted a site characterization of the plume site that was completed in December 2011. In May 2012, the DEC determined that the contaminated groundwater plume did not meet the criteria for listing it as a site on the New York State Registry of Inactive Hazardous Waste Disposal Sites. However, in February 2013, the DEC reclassified the plume as a “C” site, which indicates that work is complete with the exception of continued site management.

Community Concern

The status of the plume is a matter of great community concern in the Speonk and Remsenburg communities. In order to keep residents informed of issues related to the plume, the town has formed the Speonk Solvent Plume (SSP) Working Group whose mission is to facilitate and streamline sharing of technical and legal information regarding the impacts of the SSP on the community’s sole source of potable water, the health of its marine ecology, and to facilitate implementation of appropriate responses to safeguard human health and the environment.

Correspondence

Correspondence, documentation, and minutes related to the plume and the SSP Working group will be posted on this page for public viewing. Any questions regarding this issue generally or the information posted on this site can be submitted by email.

Division of Environmental Remediation, NYS DEC
Representative, Division of Environmental Quality, Suffolk County Dept. of Health Services
Janice Scherer, Southampton Town Planning and Development Administrator
Jay Schneiderman, Supervisor, Town of Southampton
John Bouvier, Councilman, Town of Southampton
Fred Thiele, NYS Assemblyman
Bridget Fleming, Suffolk County Legislator
Environmental Advocate, Group for the East End

Resident Hydro-geologist
Speonk/Remsenburg Civic Assoc., Resident Hydro-geologist
Speonk/Remsenburg Civic Assoc., Resident Hydro-geologist
Chairman, CAC-West
Southampton Town Civic Coalition

Members at Large:
NYS Senator
Southampton Town Trustees
President, Remsenburg Association
Peconic Baykeeper
Representative, Suffolk County Water Authority