(12/04/07) BAY SHORE ? Crews dug up a large tar tank Tuesday that had been buried near Bay Shore High School for decades.

As of 1992, officials thought all similar structures at the public works yard had been removed. However, a group of former town workers recently came forward and told the Department of Environmental Protection that certain items may still be buried.

Based on that information, the Office of Emergency Management performed a search and discovered the 5,000-gallon tar tank.

Richard Gimbl, of OEM, says there is no soil contamination near the tank. According to Gimbl, the tank only held tar, not diesel or gasoline. Gimbl says further tests will be performed to ensure that no contamination is present.