Six drums containing toxic chemicals were unearthed in a Long Island park last week, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Protection.
The department reported that a 55-gallon drum was found encased in concrete under Bethpage Community Park. Authorities believe the drums are decades old.
The site was previously the Northrop Grumman Aerospace landfill. news day report.
The state oversaw the company’s cleanup of the park after it dumped chemicals between the 1940s and 1960s, causing a plume of carcinogenic chemicals six square miles underground and 900 feet deep. He donated this land to the town in 1962.
“Will we find more drums in concrete safes, coffin-like safes? This is a warning to them that they are dealing with something extremely dangerous,” Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino said. This proves that he knew.”
Saladino called the discovery “a graveyard of Grumman contamination.”
The park’s baseball fields have been closed for 20 years due to soil contamination concerns, supervisors said. He criticized the company and DEC for delays in cleanup efforts.
Several years ago, a whistleblower claimed that the company buried chemical drums. WCBS TV report.
“That claim was deemed unfounded by the DEC, but look at where we are today,” Saladino said.
DEC maintains that the discovery “does not pose an immediate threat to public health.” But many residents are not convinced, arguing that the area has long had high cancer rates.
Additionally, Saladino said one of the drums had a hole, despite media reports claiming no leaks were found. He noted that some of the containers buried seven feet deep contained flammable chemicals. The contents of the drum may have penetrated the clay layer beneath the drum. new york post report.
DEC’s preliminary testing found the drums contained “chlorinated solvents and waste oil/petroleum.”
Saladino is insisting that DEC conduct a full soil excavation and cleanup at the aerospace company’s expense. He noted that taxpayers previously spent $20 million cleaning up the grounds to make the park’s skating rink safe for use. Saladino filed a lawsuit against the company 10 years ago, seeking to reimburse residents for cleaning costs. Another complaint was filed against Grumman in September aimed at forcing the company to remove all contaminated soil.
“I’ve been through it, I’ve been through it. I’ve been working on this for over 20 years as a New York state legislator, and now as supervisor of the fourth largest town in America, And I’m not going to sit idly by.’ Saladino continued. “We believe there may be another drum beneath the drum deeper in the Earth, but there’s no indication that this is over.”
Northrop Grumman officials confirmed that the company is working with DEC to address the situation.
“We immediately notified NYSDEC and other relevant parties and are working with NYSDEC to assess this situation and address it as quickly as possible,” a company spokesperson told the newspaper. “We remain committed to continuing our partnership with NYSDEC and other government regulators to protect the health and well-being of our communities and address local environmental conditions.”
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