Sen. Charles Schumer announced $13 million in federal funds through the Environmental Protection Agency’s superfund program to clean up the Old Roosevelt Field Contaminated Groundwater Area Superfund site located in Garden City.

“For decades we have known that toxic chemicals leaked into the ground at Roosevelt Field, contaminating Long Island’s sole-source aquifer and drinking water,” said Sen. Chuck Schumer. “Now, thanks to the historic investment in Superfund site cleanup made by the Bipartisan Infrastructure and Jobs law I led to passage, $13 million will fund cleanup of the groundwater contamination to improve public health and the environment. I’m proud to support EPA’s Superfund program and I’ll keep fighting for federal resources to protect Long Island’s drinking water.”

The Old Roosevelt Field Contaminated Groundwater Area Superfund site is located on the former location of the Roosevelt Field airfield in Nassau County’s Garden City.

Roosevelt Field was used for aviation from 1911 to 1951 and according to the EPA, it is likely that chlorinated solvents were used at Roosevelt Field during and after World War II.

Trichloroethylene and Tetrachloroethylene were detected in the Village of Garden City in several public water supply wells in the late 1970s and early 1980s. All residences and commercial buildings within the site are now connected to public water supplies that are treated to meet drinking water standards.

A total of $3.5 billion was allocated for superfund cleanup work, such as the work to address groundwater contamination at the Old Roosevelt Field.

According to the EPA, funding will be used to address groundwater contamination at the site by pumping the water to the surface, treating it and discharging it to a basin.