Large chemical drums were found buried at the Bethpage Community Park on Long Island, reigniting anger and outrage from officials and residents who have long feared a link between the park’s past and the prevalence of cancer in the community. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation announced the discovery of the drums, which were filled with chlorinated solvents and waste oil, in an area that is part of an ongoing cleanup effort. Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino called on Northrop Grumman to fully clean up the site and remove all soil from the area, as residents deserve nothing less than a thorough cleanup.
The contaminated soil at the park was first discovered in 2002, and Northrop Grumman was identified as a major contributor to a groundwater plume that has spread from the site. The plume is approximately 2.1 miles wide and extends to depths of 900 feet beneath the ground surface. Grumman Aerospace and the United States Navy used the property in Oyster Bay for manufacturing military aircraft from 1942 to 1996, with part of the land later turned into a community baseball field. While there has never been a confirmed link between the site and cancer rates in the community, nearby residents are increasingly joining class action lawsuits or filing personal injury claims.
Lois Schiavetta, a former resident of the area, recalled her happy childhood in Long Island, spending time with her family and friends in various recreational activities. However, she noticed a concerning trend of cancer diagnoses among households in the community, leading her to wonder whether her own cancer diagnosis later in life was linked to the time spent in and around the contaminated areas. Schiavetta underwent a double mastectomy and chemotherapy, but considers herself lucky compared to others who have faced multiple cancers. Paul Napoli, a personal injury attorney, has been working with community members on a class action lawsuit against Northrop Grumman, alleging that the company’s historic operations led to extensive air pollution in the area.
Napoli claimed that Northrop Grumman emitted millions of pounds of TCE and thousands of pounds of hexavalent chromium into the air, with TCE being banned in New York. The company reportedly left its 600-acre site in Bethpage due to the costly requirements associated with monitoring air emissions after the Clean Air Act was enacted in 1962. Despite their departure, Northrop Grumman still operates on nine acres in the area. Napoli anticipates a ruling on a motion filed in the class action lawsuit this fall and the appointment of a mediator to work towards a settlement. The community continues to seek justice for the environmental contamination and its potential impact on the health of residents in the area.
