Senate Bill S7160

                                BILL NUMBER:S7160

TITLE OF BILL:
An act
to direct the department of environmental conservation
to expedite cleanup efforts at the former
Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation facilities at Bethpage

PURPOSE:
Directs the DEC to expedite cleanup efforts at the former Grumman
Aircraft Engineering Corporation facility in Bethpage, New York.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one directs the DEC to expedite the design and construction
phases in regard to cleanup efforts at the former Grumman Aircraft
Engineering Corporation facilities in Bethpage.

Section two requires the DEC to develop construction quality control,
construction quality assurance, and contingency reports for areas
of the site in the design phase. Further, it requires the development
of interim remedial measures for both emergency and non-emergency
situations that may arise during the cleanup.

Section three of the bill provides that the plans described in section
two be followed accurately and timely to remove potentially harmful
chemicals from the site and to reduce any threat to the public health
              

during the construction phase.

Section four provides that the act shall take effect immediately.

JUSTIFICATION:
Prompted by concerns of contaminated groundwater and the potential
threat to the public and environmental health, this legislation would
require the DEC to expedite the cleanup process at the site of the
former Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation in Bethpage, Town of
Oyster Bay.

In 1962, the Grumman Aerospace (now Northrop Grumman) donated 18 acres
of land to the Town of Oyster Bay for the Bethpage Community Park.
Prior to this land donation, Grumman
Aerospace used portions of the site for sludge drying areas, or
settling ponds, to dispose of liquid wastes. Once dried, the sludge
was removed and sent off site for landfill disposal.

In 2002, Northrop Grumman, after routine testing of the soil, reported
elevated levels of PCBs in the areas to the DEC and the Department of
Health. Newly installed groundwater monitoring wells on the south
side of the Bethpage Community Park have detected volatile organic
compounds in the groundwater.

This legislation would require the state to expedite its removal of
hazardous chemical from this site in order to protect the health and
safety of residents.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New Bill.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
Effective Immediately.