Bethpage residents to sue Navy, DEC over Bethpage plume

<p>A group of Long Islanders plans to file a lawsuit against both the Navy and the state Department of Environmental Conservation over groundwater contamination at the Grumman plume in Bethpage.&nbsp;</p>

News 12 Staff

Oct 30, 2017, 6:48 PM

Updated 2,380 days ago

Share:

Bethpage residents to sue Navy, DEC over Bethpage plume
A group of Long Islanders plans to file a lawsuit against both the Navy and the state Department of Environmental Conservation over groundwater contamination at the Grumman plume in Bethpage.
The LI Pure Water group claims the water is radioactive, so it filed a notice of intent to sue in federal court.
"The radioactivity was discovered five years ago, and the state Department of Environmental Conservation and the Navy have done very little to publicly address this issue," says James Rigano, an environmental attorney. "They have not investigated it. They have not developed a remedial plan. The citizens want both."
The lawsuit accuses both the DEC and the Navy of failing to move forward in the plume investigation.
The radioactive material was discovered at Well 4 in Bethpage in 2012. The Grumman plume is now three miles long and two miles wide. It's making its way into Massapequa.
The DEC told News 12 Long Island in a statement that "DEC does not comment on potential litigation. DEC is committed to its mission of protecting human health and the environment. As it has done and continues to do here, as well as at other sites across Long Island, DEC will thoroughly investigate detections of contaminants and hold polluters accountable for the contamination they caused."


More from News 12
1:15
Dispatcher: Child struck by vehicle in Spring Valley, taken to Westchester Medical Center

Dispatcher: Child struck by vehicle in Spring Valley, taken to Westchester Medical Center

2:12
Mild, temperatures in the 70s Tuesday in the Hudson Valley

Mild, temperatures in the 70s Tuesday in the Hudson Valley

0:29
Dutchess County Sheriff's Office rescues 90 cats living in disarray

Dutchess County Sheriff's Office rescues 90 cats living in disarray

1:02
24-year-old double organ transplant recipient hosts blood drive in Pomona

24-year-old double organ transplant recipient hosts blood drive in Pomona

1:36
‘Very best’ of PD: City of Newburgh promotes longtime lieutenant to chief

‘Very best’ of PD: City of Newburgh promotes longtime lieutenant to chief

1:49
SUNY Purchase faculty and students want disciplinary action against protesters dropped

SUNY Purchase faculty and students want disciplinary action against protesters dropped

0:50
Orange County cracks down on drivers who illegally pass school buses with cameras

Orange County cracks down on drivers who illegally pass school buses with cameras

1:56
Ceremony held to mark Holocaust Remembrance Day in White Plains

Ceremony held to mark Holocaust Remembrance Day in White Plains

Tuckahoe Village Board to hear Ward House appeal

Tuckahoe Village Board to hear Ward House appeal

0:23
State police work to ID body that washed ashore in Poughkeepsie

State police work to ID body that washed ashore in Poughkeepsie

0:35
Rockland DA: 23-year-old man indicted in New City driveway stabbing

Rockland DA: 23-year-old man indicted in New City driveway stabbing

1:11
SUNY Purchase creates ‘protest zone’ following encampment break up by police

SUNY Purchase creates ‘protest zone’ following encampment break up by police

0:45
Hudson River Clean Up Day celebrates 13th year

Hudson River Clean Up Day celebrates 13th year

1:53
FEMA awards Babbitt Court with grant to raise homes to reduce flooding

FEMA awards Babbitt Court with grant to raise homes to reduce flooding

1:20
Headlines: Putnam Valley man dies in excavating accident, 2 injured in Newburgh fire, man charged with larceny in Liberty

Headlines: Putnam Valley man dies in excavating accident, 2 injured in Newburgh fire, man charged with larceny in Liberty

2:15
Turn To Tara explores how to stay safe from ‘cyber kidnapping’ scams

Turn To Tara explores how to stay safe from ‘cyber kidnapping’ scams

0:47
New Rochelle hosts 'Cinco De Mile' charity event

New Rochelle hosts 'Cinco De Mile' charity event

1:51
Hundreds walk at Glen Island Park to raise money for multiple sclerosis research

Hundreds walk at Glen Island Park to raise money for multiple sclerosis research

0:30
Zibanejad has 2 goals and 1 assist, Panarin scores as Rangers beat Hurricanes 4-3 in Game 1

Zibanejad has 2 goals and 1 assist, Panarin scores as Rangers beat Hurricanes 4-3 in Game 1

2:06
New guidance says women need to be screened for breast cancer at 40 or younger

New guidance says women need to be screened for breast cancer at 40 or younger