ELMIRA, N.Y. (WETM) — An Environmental Health Research Group released documents discussing heavy metals and toxic substances in a Chemung County Creek and a high school campus.
Environmental Research Group Inc., an environmental advocacy group from Ithaca, New York, displayed previously undisclosed data showing that Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), heavy metals, and other toxic substances.
There is evidence of toxic substances in the ground at Notre Dame High School and at Coldbrook Creek.
According to the Environmental Health Research Group, evidence of the contamination was first disclosed more than 40 years ago, and members say little has been done to address the issue.
Dan Hurley, owner of Bradley Farms, says he doesn’t understand the delay in action.
“I’m not sure why it’s taking this long. It’s a mystery to me because it is an important issue as far as conservation of the environment, and it should be at the top of the list, for some reason it doesn’t seem to be,” said Hurley.
Environmental Health Research Group President, Walter Hang, says the New York State law requires contaminated sites to be restored as thoroughly as possible.
“New York State has a very strict requirement that these contaminated properties have to be restored to pre-disposal conditions to the extent feasible,” said Hang.
The group President criticized New York Governor Kathy Hochul and alleged that the governor is preventing the public release of recent contamination results.
“It is appalling that Governor Hochul has deliberately withheld from public review extensive test results documenting toxic contamination of large areas of farmlands and a major school property in Elmira, NY,” said Hang.
The Environmental Health Research Group will have a copy of the detailed data at Steele Memorial Library. It is located at 101 E Church St in Elmira.