SOURCE:
By Denise Civiletti - January 8, 2025
The U.S. Navy has agreed to test private drinking water wells near the former Grumman facility in Calverton for PFAS.
Navy representatives will be on hand at an open house in Riverhead on Wednesday evening, Jan. 22 to discuss the sampling and schedule appointments with property owners.
PFAS, known as “forever chemicals” are harmful substances linked to deadly cancers, impacts to the liver and heart, and immune and developmental damage to infants and children, the EPA said in a press release announcing the rule.
PFAS — shorthand for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — are synthetic chemicals used for a variety of purposes in many different industrial processes and consumer products. They are also found in firefighting foam used to extinguish certain types of fires, including those involving fuels.
The chemical compounds are among the most persistent in existence – meaning they don’t break down and they can accumulate over time — and contaminate everything from drinking water to food, food packaging and personal care products, according to scientists. They are found in the blood of virtually everyone, including newborn babies.
Contamination of soil and water at the former Grumman site in Calverton, a Naval Weapons Reserve Plant operated by the Navy contractor from the mid-1950s until 1996, was discovered in the mid-1980s. The contamination, including PFAS, has migrated off-site and is suspected to have contaminated private residential drinking water wells and surface waters.
The Navy should fully remediate the contamination to meet the current standards, said Adrienne Esposito, executive director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment and a member of the Calverton Restoration Advisory Board. The advisory board serves as a liaison between the Navy and the community.
Water sampling will take place within a designated area, the Navy said in a press release today. It did not describe the designated sampling area in the release. People attending the open house will be able to inquire if their property is within the designated area, the release said.
The community has demanded the Navy conduct additional testing for drinking water wells, especially in light of EPA’s recently released drinking water standards of 4 parts per trillion for PFOA and PFOS, Esposito said. Navy representatives at the last Calverton advisory board meeting in November announced the Department of Defense had established its own “action level” for PFAS cleanup of 12 parts per trillion, three times the recently established federal EPA’s drinking water limit.
MORE COVERAGE:
Military adopts ‘action level’ policy for PFAS cleanup that’s 3 times federal EPA standard
Sen. Chuck Schumer agreed and stepped in to help make this happen, she said.
“There is nothing more important than the public knowing what is in their drinking water,” Esposito said. She called the announcement “a tremendous relief.”
“We now know that there is no safe level of these dangerous chemicals. Residents deserve to know what is in their water. Good data is essential in assessing the risk of groundwater contamination and crafting a comprehensive remediation plan to restore clean water for Calverton community members.”
Esposito thanked Schumer for working with the Navy to ensure that additional testing for PFAS chemicals occurs.
The open house will take place at the Residence Inn at 2012 Old Country Road, Riverhead from 6 to 8 p.m. on Jan. 22.
Restoration Advisory Board meeting scheduled
The Navy today also announced it has scheduled a Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) Meeting for Thursday, Jan. 23 from 6:15 to 8 p.m. also at the Residence Inn in Riverhead.
A poster session will be held prior to the Jan. 23 meeting from 5:30 to 6 p.m.
The public is invited to attend the RAB in-person, by phone, or virtually through the free webinar tool Microsoft (MS) Teams. Virtual attendees will be able to join the webinar up to 30 minutes prior to the start of the meeting. The webinar login information is as follows:
Online: https://tinyurl.com/CALRABJan2025
Meeting ID: 239 633 820 007
Event Passcode: 2os6Dd7R (case sensitive)
Telephone: (332) 249-0605
Phone Conference ID: 186 672 602#