LeRoy, N.Y. - On the same day that two environmental groups called for more testing in LeRoy, the EPA is testing drums of soil from the site of a 1970's train derailment.
The drums contain rocks and soil taken during groundwater testing at the site. It is a Superfund Clean-up site and is located off Gulf Road, about four miles from the high school.
EPA Spokeswoman Mary Mears said she doubts the material is hazardous, but says the EPA agreed to the testing "in response to community concerns."
Since the fall, a dozen girls at the high school have come down with symptoms that resemble tourette syndrome--showing uncontrollable movements and tics.
Parents and others in the community have asked for help to find the cause.
They also expressed concerns about that derailment, because the site is a Superfund clean-up location. They wonder if that contamination could somehow have affected the ground water near the school.
The EPA says the results of tests should be back sometime late next week.
Environmental activist Erin Brockovich also sent a team of investigators to do sampling in LeRoy. They were not allowed to take samples on school property, but have promised to search for any possible environmental link to these illnesses.
