Authorities investigating the dumping of asbestos-laden debris at two sites on Long Island are now probing whether the same toxic soil was used to build a community of homes for war veterans.
The Suffolk County district attorney's office confirmed to NBC 4 New York that it is probing the building of the homes on Veterans Way in Islandia. Two other sites, one on Route 111 in Central Islip and another at a park in Brentwood, are the focus of the investigation into the mystery material.
DA Thomas Spota said this week that the material at the Central Islip site is "very similar in appearance" to what was already found at Roberto Clemente Park in nearby Brentwood. Both had positive tests for asbestos.
The Central Islip site is a vacant lot and the park debris was dumped in preparation for a park improvement project. The park is now closed.
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On Veterans Way, the homes were sold to veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. The project broke ground last year and veterans moved in about five months ago, according to Newsday.
The group that built the homes, Long Island Builders Institute, says the three sites are linked by the same contractor.
Investigators plan to test the soil on Veterans Way this week.
