PRESS RELEASE: Former Cerro Wire Property Removed From State D.E.C. List

Released: 01/01/02

from: Tribune Company
435 North Michigan Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60611

contact: Howard J. Rubenstein Associates, Inc.
1345 Avenue of the Americans
New York, New York 10105
212 489-6900 / Gary Lewi (night number 516 822-4112)
-----------------------------------------------
for immediate release

Action Comes Following Supervised Cleanup Effort Recycling of Industrial Property Proposed by Current Owners

"A Model for Industrial Sites That Will Need to be Recycled"

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (D.E.C.) has officially removed the old Cerro Wire site in Syosset on Robbins Lane from its list of inactive hazardous waste sites following a cleanup effort that removed industrial contaminants from the 39 acre industrially zoned site.

The decision was marked by a gathering of public and community leaders at the site adjacent to the Long Island Expressway. Among those attending were Ray Cowen, Regional Director of the D.E.C., Stephen Latham, Nassau County Commissioner of Industry and Commerce and members of the Oyster Bay Town Board.

John Quinn, corporate representative of Tribune Company, owners of the property, hailed the move as "proof positive that government and business can work together to improve the region's environment."

Since assuming ownership of the former Cerro Wire site, Tribune Company has assumed a leadership role in eliminating the environmental problems that lingered on the site from its prior use. Tribune seeks to recycle the industrial property as a major retail center.

Quinn noted, "We applaud the D.E.C. for creating thorough, and meticulous guidelines that allowed the business sector to solve the problems on this site and permit us to recycle our property under town zoning regulations.

Mr. Cowen stated, "It is a priority with the Department to clean up and return industrial land to productive use. I am very pleased to have been able to shepherd the Cerro property through the process leading to its delisting from the registry of inactive hazardous waste sites and I look forward to the day when this property is back in productive use."

Cerro Wire and Cable Company built its metal manufacturing facility in the early 1950's, creating electrical conduit, hot-rolled copper rod and steel strip. The site was never on the list of Superfund sites but the D.E.C. reports that waste water generated during the manufacturing process was treated on-site and then discharged to three on-site recharge basins. This waste, coupled with non-hazardous metal hydroxide generated during the manufacturing process saw the D.E.C. declare the property "an in-active hazardous waste site."

Cerro terminated its activities on the property in 1986 and removed the metal hydroxide left on the site shortly after they ceased operations.

Tribune Company purchased the site in 1990 with the intent of building a Long Island printing facility for Tribune Company's newspaper, The New York Daily News. When The Daily News was sold, any further plans to use the site as an industrial facility were dropped.

Quinn noted, "Whatever is ultimately approved for the property, we recognize that our project must address the issues raised by the community following on going discussions with residents and neighbors. We fully intend to continue our open and constructive dialogue with the community as this process moves forward in order to develop a compatible use of the site."

Stephen Hess, past president of the Association for a Better Long Island praised the delisting announcement noting, "With aging industrial sites targeted for reuse throughout the region, this type of success story points the way to how it can be done. It reminds us that Long Island can be reinvented as the last of our major defense manufacturing firms leave the region and their empty factory floors are turned into technology incubators." The ABLI represents some $15 billion in Long Island commercial, industrial, retail and residential real estate. ####