Bethpage Ballfield Environmental Remediation Project Operational

Farmingdale NY

28 October, 2020

11:47 AM

Description

BETHPAGE, NY — The environmental remediation of the long-shuttered contaminated ball field at Bethpage Community Park is underway, with thermal equipment now operational, Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino announced. The work is being done by Northrop Grumman Corporation under the oversight of the Town, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the New York State Department of Health (DOH). "Bethpage ball field has been closed to the public for too many years," Saladino said. "We pushed Grumman to make remediation a priority and this environmental cleanup is now underway as equipment is operational. While the thermal equipment will take some time to treat the contamination, we will ensure that this property is cleaned to the highest standard so that it can be returned to the residents of Bethpage as an active ball field once again." Following extensive planning and testing, Northrop Grumman is remediating two types of contamination under the ball field. To do so, a wellfield was installed to heat the soil and create a vacuum to capture gases released as the soil is heated. Over summer 2020, Grumman installed all remaining components of the treatment system, including process piping, heaters, electrical connections and treatment equipment to support the start-up and operation of the treatment system, according to the Town. These remedial systems are located on the adjacent Grumman-owned property behind the ball field. A cover over the wellfield site was installed to ensure no soil vapors are released into the air. Continuous air monitoring is being conducted to ensure community safety. Once the target soil temperature has been reached, the system will run for approximately six months. It's the largest thermal remediation project in all of New York state, according to the Town. After the thermal treatment is done, the soil will be resampled, analyzed and reviewed by the DEC and DOH. The project would then enter Phase III, anticipated after mid-2021. The third phase consists of the physical removal of specific soils which have been found to contain contaminants such as metals and polychlorinated biphenyls. The process is expected to take six to nine months and was approved by the DOH and DEC. Both agencies will analyze the project as it goes on. Bethpage Community Park closed in 2002 when elevated levels of soil contamination were first discovered, the Town said. Sections reopened following extensive testing, and in 2006, the park underwent a significant remediation project. The ball field, however, remained closed as contamination levels reached far below ground. The price of the cleanup required for full remediation was "exorbitant," according to the Town. The new remediation system is slated to take nine to 12 months to complete the cleanup of the deeper soils of the ball field. The process will be measured through soil sampling. The system will be removed once done, and Phase III of the project — featuring excavation of the contaminated soil — will begin.