KINGSTON – The United States Environmental Protection Agency has informed Ulster County that it is declaring the former IBM site, now know as Tech City under the ownership of Alan Ginsburg, a Superfund site because of the release of asbestos into the environment.
“This has been a long time in the making and will give us a lot of leverage to begin the work we need to do,” said Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan Thursday. “We have a significant environmental impact.”
The EPA was contacted by the Ulster County Health Department in 2017 addressing hazards of the asbestos abatement. During the abatement process, many piles of debris containing asbestos have been created outdoors. Ginsburg has until Dec. 30 to respond to the EPA’s notice.
“I think he is worse than a slumlord,” said Ryan.
Once cleaned up, Ryan said the former IBM site can be reopened to economic development to help the county.
“These are pivotal steps at unlocking the potential future of the former IBM site. (Ginsburg) has held our county’s real economic prospects hostage,” said Ryan. “And this is going to end.”
Ulster County and the Town of Ulster have long battled with Ginsburg over his ownership of the property and his lack of development to revitalize it. James Quigley, Town of Ulster supervisor, welcomes the EPA action at trying to force Ginsburg to clean it up.
“I look forward to the EPA to clean up those 92 acres,” he said.
If Ginsburg responds to the EPA by Dec. 30, he must contain a statement
demonstrating his ability to finance the clean up with a qualified
contractor, and the name, address and phone number of a hired negotiator
involved in the process.
If he does not respond, the EPA will force Ginsburg to clean up the site or
do it themselves and bill him for the work.
