New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis announced Friday that the cleanup of the former Frink America snowplow manufacturing site in Clayton is complete, clearing the way for the 8-acre parcel along the St. Lawrence River to return to productive use.

Local officials have proposed diffrent kinds of development for the site, including a park, business or other commercial use,

The comprehensive cleanup included demolishing structures that contained paint waste and asbestos, digging out petroleum tanks and waste-storage tanks and removing contaminated soils – approximately 20,000 tons of soil were excavated at depths ranging from two to eight feet below the surface.

Frink America operated at the site - located at the intersection of Webb Street and Riverside Drive - until 2000.

"The contamination of this site took decades. But by working in close collaboration with local officials, we completed a comprehensive cleanup in a few short years," Commissioner Grannis said.

"The former Frink America site – attractive because of its location on the St. Lawrence River, near the town docks and with beautiful views of the islands – can now return to productive use. That's good news for the environment, public health and the local economy," Grannis said.

- from a state Department of Environmental Conservation press release