Image via WikipediaThe verdict is in on the
Kings Park Psychiatric Center environmental cleanup. The cleanup is estimated to
cost $215 million. Compared to original estimates from developers ten years ago of $60 million, that is nearly 4 times the original estimates. Though we don't think the original estimates were accurate at all. The current estimate, developed by Dvirka and Bartilucci an
environmental engineering firm based in Woodbury,
NY, and TRC Environmental, an environmental consultanting firm based in NYC, is probably closest to the mark because Dvirka and Bartilucci and TRC spent several months on the property performing a number of inspections and surveys to get as accurate a picture of the materials and the costs involved with this project.
The $215 million price is for
demolishing all 57 abandoned buildings on the
property and returning the 368 acres to open space, said a statement from the
New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, which commissioned the study by Dvirka & Bartilucci. The bulk of the cost, about $186 million, pays for tearing down the buildings and cleaning up asbestos and other
hazardous materials. Other costs include $26 million to demolish and remediate five miles of underground steam tunnels and $3.7 million to excavate materials dumped on the property over the years. State Sen. John Flanagan (R-
East Northport) had secured $29 million for park cleanup and agreed to spend $3.6 million for the environmental study. He said the actual cost will be determined when the projects are put out for bid.
In February 2009, after community groups clamored for some resolution of the property, then State Parks Commissioner Carol Ash ordered the demolition of 15 buildings deemed unsafe, which will cost $14 million. Requests for bids for that project will go out soon. Once that happens and those bids come in we will get a better idea what it will actually cost.
Image by kqedquest via FlickrThe garage as far as we are concerned is one of the most dangerous areas of the home. Between the car, tool, and chemical storage it can have various items that by themselves would have significant impacts on indoor air quality. Individually, cars can impact air quality with the carbon monoxide they produce that can infiltrate the home, tools, depending on what powers them, can also have the same effect as a car or can generate contaminants like sawdust, silica, asbestos or other hazardous vapors, and chemical storage by itself can generate volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other hazardous vapors and mists. The above article points out various ways you can improve your air quality and the ideas are excellent.
