Toxic chemical-filled steel drums encased in concrete were discovered buried under a park in Bethpage, Long Island, last week. The drums were found by contractors testing the soil at the Bethpage Community Park, which was once used as a dumping ground by Northrop Grumman Aerospace. Residents of Bethpage have long been concerned about cancer rates in the community, and the discovery of the drums has only heightened their fears. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation stated that the discovery posed no immediate threat to public health, but residents are calling for a full soil excavation.
Bethpage has a history of contamination due to Northrop Grumman’s hazardous waste dumping, which led to a 6-square-mile underground toxic plume. Some of the drums found were punctured, and there was evidence of flammable chemicals inside. The drums were located next to an abandoned baseball field in the park, which has been closed for two decades due to soil contamination concerns. Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino has urged the DEC to order a full cleanup of the park, including removing all contaminated soil and hauling it off Long Island. Saladino has been involved in legal battles with Northrop Grumman to address the contamination issue.
Northrop Grumman, as the successor to Grumman Aerospace, has stated that they are working with the DEC to address the situation promptly. The DEC is using radar to assess the extent of the contamination, and preliminary testing revealed the drums contained chlorinated solvents and waste oil/petroleum consistent with historic operations of Grumman and the US Navy in the area. The park, which was previously used as a chemical dumping ground by the company, sits on land donated to the town in 1962. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were first found in the soil in 2002, leading to the discovery of a large carcinogenic chemical plume underground.
Residents of Bethpage have raised concerns about the safety of their water, despite authorities stating that it is safe. A 2013 DEC study found no higher overall cancer rates in the surrounding area after a three-year investigation. However, residents remain skeptical, given the history of contamination and the high prevalence of cancer cases in the community. Grumman has faced personal injury and class-action lawsuits over the years, with families like the Cornetts of Bethpage filing a $300 million lawsuit after three out of four family members were diagnosed with cancer within a short period. Northrop Grumman has denied the claims and continues to work with regulators to address environmental conditions in the area.
The discovery of the buried drums in the Bethpage park has reignited concerns about the long-term effects of contamination from Northrop Grumman’s hazardous waste dumping. With evidence of toxic chemicals inside the drums and the ongoing legal battles between authorities and the company, residents are demanding a full soil excavation to ensure public health and safety. The DEC’s use of radar technology to assess contamination levels and Grumman’s cooperation with environmental regulators are steps being taken to address the situation promptly. However, the community remains wary of the potential health risks posed by decades of industrial pollution in the area and is seeking assurances that their water and environment are safe from further contamination.
