Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino was joined by town and local officials recently to renew his call for Northrop Grumman to step up and take appropriate action with respect to the plume.
“For far too long, both the Navy and Grumman have dragged their feet with years of testing and no cleanup,” Saladino said. “The time for testing and studying has come to a close and the time to act is here.”
The supervisor noted that the Department of Environmental Conservation’s amended decision on the best method for remediation calls for the greatest protection for residents. The Grumman corporation recently spoke out against the plan for hydraulic containment, calling the plan “impractical” and “not cost effective.”
“Combined with new leadership at the DEC, a collaborative approach to finally containing and treating the plume by working with the U.S. Geologic Survey and utilizing the latest technology has produced a plan that will accomplish what Grumman and the Navy have for years failed to accomplish,” Saladino said. “The DEC’s reports have already proven that there is solid and irrefutable scientific data to support that this immense plume could indeed be both contained and the hotspots treated to insure that the contaminants are fully removed.
“Thanks to the diligence of our local water districts, specifically the Bethpage Water District, our residents have been protected to the highest levels at the tap. The past practices of relying solely on well head treatment of contaminants has allowed this plume to migrate and expand to its current extent, and has placed too much of the burden of cleanup on our public water suppliers instead of the polluters.”
Legislator Rose Marie Walker, who represents Bethpage and was at the press conference, added, “It’s time for Grumman to step up and do what’s right for our residents. Be the good neighbor you once were and show that you care about our community.”
Town clerk and Democratic candidate for Town Supervisor James Altadonna said he thanks the water district as well for working to keep the water supply clean.
“I want to thank the Plainview Water District for taking the lead on 1,4-Dioxane,” said Altadonna. “I also want to thank Bethpage, Massapequa and Farmingdale Water districts for being diligent in their efforts to protect our drinking water. I also believe that Grumman should be looking towards restoring their good name and clean up the plume as opposed to litigate.”
