Clapper, Patti, Schweizer and Mason

The federal Environmental Protection Agency has already spent $4.8 million to clean up the site but it remains heavily contaminated with a range of harmful substances including asbestos, chlorinated solvents (such as trichloroethylene) and lead. All three are known to be carcinogens that can lead to brain damage and serious diseases of the lung such as pleural mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer that is rarely cured. (For more on mesothelioma, log on to http://www.mesothelioma-attorney.com/mesothelioma.) The project is scheduled to begin very soon. The Ithaca Gun Community Advisory Group and the contractor hired by the site developer disagree over whether any debris will be left onsite to be reused in development. The group also questions how much lead can safely be left on the site after decontamination and whether it is safe to reuse some of the debris when the site is redeveloped into a condo project. The state Department of Conservation has not decided the issues, despite the fact that the project could begin soon. The advisory group wants more testing done of remaining debris than the consultants propose, leading to fears that the project might run out of money if a compromise isn't reached.