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DEC Proposes Delisting Majority of Lawrence Aviation Superfund Site After Major Cleanup Milestone
- Go Explore NY
- Jul 7
- 2 min read
PORT JEFFERSON STATION, NY — The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced a pivotal cleanup milestone at the former Lawrence Aviation Industries site in Brookhaven, Suffolk County, clearing the way for most of the property to be removed from the State’s Registry of Inactive Hazardous Waste Disposal Sites.
During a July 2, 2025 visit to the 125‑acre Long Island property, DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton confirmed that environmental monitoring shows roughly 120 acres now meet State Superfund criteria for delisting. Only about five acres will remain under federal and state oversight, subject to a site‑management plan.
“The proposed delisting of a majority of the Lawrence Aviation site shows significant progress in cleanup and reuse of this former industrial facility,” Commissioner Lefton said, crediting the State Superfund program for safeguarding public health while enabling economic revitalization.
Public Comment Period
Comment window: July 2 – Aug. 3, 2025
How to comment:
Mail: Payson Long, Project Manager, Division of Environmental Remediation, NYS DEC, 625 Broadway, 12th Floor, Albany, NY 12233‑7017
Email: payson.long@dec.ny.gov (subject line: “Lawrence Aviation delisting”)
Site History and Cleanup
Operations (1959 – 2004): Manufactured titanium sheet metal and aeronautics components.
Contamination: Improper disposal of industrial solvents, acids, heavy metals, PCBs, and petroleum created a groundwater plume that reached Port Jefferson Harbor.
Superfund listing: Added to the EPA National Priorities List in 2000; all operations shut down by 2004.
Remediation highlights (2004 – 2019):
Removal of ~2,500 drums and containers, 3,000 gallons of machine oil, 18 storage tanks, 20 leaking PCB transformers, and 17,000 tons of contaminated soil.
Connection of 14 homes to public water; vapor intrusion testing at 59 structures; mitigation systems installed where needed.
What’s Next
If the delisting is finalized, the newly cleared 120 acres can be redeveloped for community benefit, while the remaining five acres continue under DEC oversight. The DEC encourages public feedback before issuing its final determination.
For more details, visit the DEC’s Environmental Site Remediation Database or DECinfo Locator.
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