Brighton Central School District near Rochester, New York, halted construction on athletic fields after its contractor uncovered undocumented historical fill beneath the topsoil. The school district said the material likely dates back to 1830, when a brick manufacturer reportedly occupied the land. 

Materials found during early site preparation in January included ash, cinders, brick, glass, ceramic and metal at depths ranging from 2.5 to 7 feet. Once Brighton realized certain compounds exceeded regulatory thresholds, it contacted the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and Department of Health. The DEC classified the site as a spill.

Brighton noted that historical fills exist across New York, citing that no regulations prohibited this type of disposal at the time. During a March Board of Education meeting, the district reported that Abner M. Buckland of Buckland Brick owned the area from 1830 to the 1920s and mined clay there to manufacture bricks. The school district purchased the property in 1925.

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