Cleanup finally begins after contaminated soil dumped on dozens of LI homes

The cleanup has finally begun.

Workers started removing contaminated soil that had been dumped on two-dozen homes in across Long Island in what has been called the state’s largest illegal dumping scheme, according to Newsday.

Suffolk County prosecutors joined resident John Kerrigan at his Central Islip home this week to watch 500 cubic yards of contaminated soil being removed, and announce the start of the remediation program.

Victims like Kerrigan thought they were getting clean soil for free from Anthony “Rock” Grazio. It turned out, the soil was contaminated with metals and other solid waste, according to the report. The dirt Grazio dumped on Kerrigan’s property has remained there for two and a half years.

County investigators and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation conducted a months-long investigation dubbed “Operation Pay Dirt.” In the end, 30 people and 10 corporations were charged for their part in the  scheme, according to the report. Grazio was sentenced to 2 to 4 years in prison, and ordered to pay $500,000 in restitution to his victims. [Newsday] — Dennis Lynch