SOUTHPORT, N.Y. (WENY) — A woman from Southport is calling on New York State to address possible contamination she says was reported in her backyard almost a decade ago. The property in question is located right by Coldbrook Creek.

Residents say Coldbrook Creek floods several times a year, causing contamination to spread into neighboring yards.

"It's very stressful right now. I don't know how much," said Joann Siedman, the woman who spoke out about the reported contamination. "Where do I walk? What do I do? Can I mow? Can I, you know, be on the property? Should I be on the property? What's going to happen? I am just looking for answers, and I want it cleaned up."

Joann Siedman claims that in 2016, she was notified that the ground in her yard contains hazardous material. Siedman was notified by Geosyntec Consultants, a firm that deals with environmental issues in both the public and private sectors. Nearly ten years later, she says nothing has been done about it.

Information provided by the Environmental Health Research Group claims that Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), heavy metals, and other toxic chemicals have been found at at least four properties in the area.

The group's president, Walter Hang, said nothing has been done to clean up the mess, and he is demanding that New York State take action to remediate the contaminated properties.

"The most important thing is all that information has got to be made publicly available and then all the pollution has got to be removed," said Hang. "It's as simple as that. If there's contaminated dirt that exceeds the unrestricted residential soil cleanup objective, it's got to be dug out, it's got to be taken away."

Hang claims that, among other things, there are chromium, cadmium, and nickel found at Siedman's property that exceeds the unrestricted residential soil cleanup objectives.

Although Siedman is the only resident in the area to come forward with these numbers and the letter sent to her in 2016, her neighbors are also feeling the impact.

Chemung County Legislator of the 15th District, Rodney Strange, lives next door to Siedman. He said the bottom part of his yard is not safe for use. He showed a fenced-off area built for his dog, and said the dog is no longer allowed in the play area due to the contamination.

"I mean, all we can do is advocate for them, and that's what I've been doing and obviously advocating for my neighbors up and down the creek and people that live here in my district," said Strange.

Legislator Strange said the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) should begin cleanup immediately. He said it should be paid for by Unisys, the successor company of Remington Rand, which is reported to have caused the hazardous situation in the first place. Unisys is the same company responsible for the toxic cleanup at the Elmira High School property, which is nearby.

"Local government is not responsible for it, and local taxpayers are not responsible, so we certainly wouldn't spend local tax money to clean up an area that should be paid for by a private company. And they are responsible," Strange said.

The DEC released an advisory for the area in 2020. The report encourages residents to limit direct contact with the soil in the area, asks them to wash children's toys if they have been playing outside, and to avoid eating or smoking while working in the contaminated area.

Siedman said these recommendations from the state make her feel that she can't even enjoy her own backyard.

Hang and Siedman sent a letter to Governor Hochul on Friday, June 27, calling for a cleanup on Siedman's property. Hang said he has not been in contact with any local elected officials about the situation.

Hang said that he is waiting for a response from the governor, and he plans on reaching out to local elected officials about the issue.