Pipeline Path Approved For Grumman-Navy Plume Remediation

BETHPAGE, NY — An agreement on a pipeline path to remediate the Grumman-Navy plume hot spot was reached on Tuesday by Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino, the town board and the Northrop Grumman Corporation, the town announced.

Town roadways will be used to open a path for pipes from groundwater recovery wells at a hotspot of environmental contamination, known as RW-21, to a treatment plant on the Grumman property. RW-21 has been underway since 2016, according to Northrop Grumman.

"Environmental concerns have been going on for too long under the ground in our town," Saladino said via news release. "Thanks to years of collaboration between federal, state and town governments — along with the Bethpage Water District and surrounding districts — we have succeeded in forcing Grumman and the Navy to pay for these cleanups and follow the remediation plans designed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). We now take another important step forward toward remediating the plume by opening the path for pipes that will connect a hotspot of contamination to a treatment plant on the Grumman property."

The recent Town Board approval of a site access agreement for RW-21 allows work to proceed that includes conveyance pipes and instrumentation conduits which will be installed to link existing recovery wells to the future treatment plant, which will be built on Grumman property.

“As we have done for over 25 years, Northrop Grumman continues to work closely with the state, the U.S. Navy, the Town and other stakeholders to implement measures based on scientifically-sound remedial strategies," Northrop Grumman wrote in a statement. "The Town Board’s approval of our request to install pipeline for our offsite groundwater treatment system is a major milestone. Our continued progress reaffirms Northrop Grumman’s long-standing commitment to the ongoing collective efforts for the further protection of the Bethpage community."

The piping construction began in 2020 with nearly 5,000 feet of pipes currently installed. The most recent portion of the project will complete the necessary piping connections for system operation. The remedial system is funded by Grumman and constructed under the oversight of the town and state DEC. At the town's direction, Grumman will be required to conduct community outreach to keep residents informed of the construction progress.

"While Grumman works to complete the balance of the pipeline installation and the treatment plant, the Town will continue to work with local water districts and the State Department of Environmental Conservation to oversee the project and protect the health, safety and welfare of our residents," Saladino said.

Over the past year, the Town of Oyster Bay has overseen several construction projects and held regular meetings with Grumman and the Navy to monitor progress and review future work. The current remediation plan was designed after state legislation authored by then-State Assemblyman Joseph Saladino proved that hydraulic containment would most effectively eradicate the plume.

Grumman plans for the construction of the hydraulic containment treatment plant — which will be located on the Grumman property — are currently being reviewed by the Town of Hempstead. The remedial system is slated to be in full operation by summer 2022 following final pipeline installation and treatment plant construction.

The United States Navy and Northrop Grumman came to terms with New York state on a $406 million deal to fully contain and treat the toxic water plume lurking beneath Bethpage, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced in December.