Extra chemical drums had been found in concrete blocks found buried beneath ballfields at a Lengthy Island park, remnants of when the land was used for plane manufacturing, authorities confirmed Wednesday.
The discover, which was anticipated, concerned concrete blocks that had been initially faraway from the excavation space Monday, authorities mentioned. As with the case with the primary 16 drums discovered, the newly found drums are being positioned in overpack drums and might be sampled for laboratory evaluation. No indicators of leakage had been obvious, officers mentioned.
The opposite 16 drums every held 55 gallons of chemical substances believed to have been left there by Northrup Grumman a long time in the past. Floor-penetrating radar was introduced in to assist search your complete 18-acre park, not simply the ballfields — but it surely wasn’t the radar that detected the newest six barrels, in keeping with Oyster Bay City Supervisor Joseph Saladino.
Saladino says crews solely started digging when the city confirmed a historic aerial {photograph} (beneath) that indicated an previous sludge pool. That is the place they discovered the brand new drums. Saladino claims that is proof the radar getting used is inadequate.
A historic aerial {photograph} indicated a sludge pool, which prompted the digging.
The supervisor had mentioned the city believes a dumping pit for chemical substances was as soon as used on the location — which, in a considerably ironic twist, was donated to the city by Grumman within the Nineteen Sixties to function a park. The city now needs each inch of the park to be inspected, and if needed, cleaned up.
DEC mentioned Grumman might be accountable for the cleanup.
“DEC continues to supervise investigative and cleanup actions at this location to find out the complete nature and extent of contamination and the presence of any further drums buried beneath the positioning. The invention and elimination of the drums current no speedy risk to public well being and security on the website and DEC is working with its companions on the federal, State, and native stage to make sure the safety of public well being and the setting,” DEC mentioned in a press release. “The drums faraway from the positioning might be disposed of at an appropriately permitted facility geared up to obtain the fabric in accordance with state legal guidelines. DEC continues to carry Northrop Grumman accountable for the cleanup of Bethpage Neighborhood Park.”
Particulars on the chemical substances within the barrels stay unclear. Northrop Grumman did not instantly return a request for remark Wednesday.
