DEC extends comment period on Tonawanda Coke cleanup project to April 30

Interested parties have extra time to submit their comments and questions about the amended version of the proposed cleanup of a portion of the Tonawanda Coke site on River Road in the Town of Tonawanda, the State Department of Environment Conservation announced.

DEC officials said that the comment period, which was scheduled to end March 29, has been extended to April 30 following a request among the comments they already have received.

Written comments and questions may be emailed to DEC project manager Benjamin McPherson at [email protected] or submitted to the DEC office at 700 Delaware Ave., Buffalo, NY 14209.

The area targeted for remediation is Operable Unit 2, a 7½-acre section along River Road that has a paved entrance to the entire property, a guard house and concrete settling ponds used to hold storm water from other parts of the site. Cleanup is being evaluated to accommodate possible commercial use of the land.

Remediation would include digging up and moving seriously contaminated soil, bringing in clean material and setting up longtime management and maintenance of the area.