CARTHAGE — Looking to the future, the Wilna Town Council approved a resolution to apply for a grant through the state Consolidated Funding Application.

The grant application was suggested by Kathleen M. Amyot, River Area Council of Governments circuit rider. If approved, the town will use money from the Environmental Protection Fund from the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to hire a consultant to design a plan for the use of the former Crown Cleaners site in Herrings.

Ms. Amyot said the town will apply for $24,000 with $8,000 matching funds to be used to design a park that will interconnect with the downtown.

“We are closer than we have ever been,” the circuit rider said. With environmental remediation taking place, “a new use for the site can be planned.”

The town took ownership of the property at 3595 Route 3 on June 18 in order to allow the site to be restored to recreational standards.

The 9-acre site was placed on the Environmental Protection Agency Superfund list in 1991 due to ground and water contamination from the former dry cleaning facility.

Tetrachloroethylene was found during the state agency’s investigation in the 1990s. Trichloroethylene, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, metals and pesticides also were detected there after the property was added to the EPA National Priorities List in 2002 and further testing was conducted. These compounds can cause cancer.

Earlier this year, the EPA finalized its plan for the site’s cleanup. According to the EPA Region 2 Superfund website, the main building on the property will be demolished as part of the plan.

The contaminated soil and sediment will be dug up and any soil with volatile organic compounds will be disposed of at an off-site disposal facility. Soil containing polycyclic aromatic compounds will be covered with clean soil on site. The groundwater will be treated using oxidants and wetlands will be restored.

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