The Bethpage Water District Board of Commissioners, William J. Ellinger, John R. Sullivan and Gary S. Bretton, announced to the Bethpage community recent water protection legislation sponsored by Assemblyman Joseph S. Saladino and New York State Senator Kemp Hannon has been signed into law by New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo. The newly passed legislation, A.9492, requires the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to formulate a plan to expedite the Northrop Grumman plume remediation process.
“We are grateful for the continued support of our elected officials as we continue to protect and provide safe, high quality water to the Bethpage community,” said Board of Commissioners Chairman William J. Ellinger. “It is time that the DEC devote their time and energy toward holding Northrop Grumman responsible for the clean-up of this plume.”
The new law requires the DEC to build the infrastructure needed to contain the plume’s migration into unaffected areas and to remove the chemicals currently threatening Long Island’s water supply. The DEC is required to outline the defined scientific and engineering techniques, the scope of work and timetable by which each stage of the project must be completed. The DEC is further required to work with both the New York State and United States Department of Justice to enforce this plan and ensure Northrop Grumman is held accountable for its actions.
“The Bethpage community has had to bear the burden of high treatment costs for far too long,” said Bethpage Water District Board of Commissioners Treasurer John R. Sullivan. “Northrop Grumman must accept responsibility to lift this financial burden off the community that was essential to the corporation’s success and clean the plume they alone created.”
“We profoundly thank members of the Bethpage community and surrounding towns for their efforts in pushing this bill into law,” said Board of Commissioners Secretary Gary S. Bretton. “Their involvement in signing petitions and protesting continues to be influential in ensuring the plume is contained and eventually remediated.”
For more information, please contact the Bethpage Water District at 516-931-0093, visit www.bethpagewater.com or the District’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BethpageWaterDistrict.