NEW YORK – Senator Kemp Hannon (R-Nassau) joins Governor Andrew Cuomo in announcing the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will seek financial compensation for damages to groundwater resources related to contamination from the Northrop Grumman State Superfund Site in Bethpage. DEC issued a Notice of Intent letter to Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Navy, naming them as “potentially responsible parties.” The letter formalizes the state’s plan to perform a Natural Resources Damage Assessment to quantify the damages to groundwater resources and obtain funding from these entities to support critical ecosystem restoration projects.
“I am pleased that after fighting hard to pass legislation and secure funding to make it happen, the Department has taken a hard look at the Grumman site and options to contain and remediate the pollution,” said Senator Hannon. “I encourage everyone to review this much awaited report and take advantage of the public comment period. Cleaning up the groundwater contamination is essential and long overdue as is aggressively pursuing financial compensation for the damages to our water.”
Once the NRD Assessment process is complete, DEC will urge Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Navy to settle their NRD liability and provide funding for projects to restore and protect groundwater on Long Island. If the parties fail to cooperate, DEC will pursue all available legal remedies. Under Governor Cuomo, DEC has recovered tens of millions of dollars in NRD claims, including settlements to address groundwater contamination in Livingston County and to restore sport fishing on Lake Ontario.
“Protecting the health and safety of our residents is the top priority of our administration,” Governor Cuomo said. “By continuing to hold Northrop Grumman and the Navy accountable for their actions, we are ensuring that the responsible parties clean up the groundwater contamination, while securing compensation to revitalize local ecosystems on Long Island.”
The state’s pursuit of an NRD settlement is in addition to the ongoing site remediation being conducted by Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Navy under Consent Order with New York State. DEC is overseeing and expediting this remedial work through the State Superfund program.
Groundwater contamination, which stretches southward from the former manufacturing sites and covers over one mile, is currently treated by multiple wellhead treatment systems. Long Island is a sole source aquifer that provides drinking water to millions of people; it must be protected from contamination and managed effectively to reduce saltwater infiltration and other threats related to its unique geology.
“The safest option to protect Long Island’s drinking water is to fully contain the Grumman-Navy Plume and to remediate it in its entirety without delay,” said Assemblyman Joseph Saladino (R-Massapequa Park). “I am proud to have to have sponsored, along with Senator Kemp Hannon the law which enabled the progress we see today. Our Governor and the State of New York recognize the damage that has taken place in our aquifer, and we must work to contain these contaminants. I am in total support of the DEC’s efforts to force Grumman and the U.S. Navy to pay for this restoration and protect our precious drinking water without any more delay and without expense to the taxpayer.”
DEC will initiate a public review and comment process to solicit public input on the Report. Formal notice of the public process will be placed in the Environmental News Bulletin next week, and will outline how to access to the full Report and submit public comments. DEC will consider all public input received and assess all options in accordance with Federal and State Superfund laws.
DEC will continue to ensure that Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Navy expeditiously remediate the site and will use all existing legal authority to recover public funds expended.
The report can be accessed at the following URL: http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/8431.html.
Photo by Andrew Magill via Flickr.
Press Release by the Office of Senator Hannon.
Press Release Made Available by the Office of Senator Hannon.
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