The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) hosted a public information meeting last week regarding soil contamination at Bethpage Community Park, located on the west side of Stewart Avenue near its intersection with Cherry Avenue. The 18-acre park, which is used by many Town of Oyster Bay residents, is currently owned by the Town of Oyster Bay and includes a swimming pool, playground, baseball field and picnic area. In early May, Town Supervisor John Venditto ordered the park be closed until further investigations could be completed. At the meeting, DEC officials deemed Bethpage Community Park ready to be opened, but residents weren't quick to agree.

The DEC and the New York State Department of Health (DOH) revealed results of positive tests for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and chromium in the park's soil before more than 800 in attendance at the June 19 meeting held at Bethpage John F. Kennedy Middle School. PCBs, a group of manufactured chemicals and chromium, which is a metal contamination, could cause cancer. Acceptable DEC standards for PCBs is one part per million (PPM) and 50 PPM for chromium. Thirteen surface samples taken exceeded the PCBs standard and eight were above acceptable chromium levels. Tests were taken at five different depths underground. The biggest problem existed in leftfield at the baseball stadium. There, PCBs were found at a number of 23 PPM, way above acceptable.

Despite these findings, DEC Regional Director Ray Cowen said the public should not be concerned.

"The simple answer is 'yes,'" Cowen said when asked if the park could be reopened. "But the supervisor will take the pulse of the audience. What you think is very important."

Cowen said the park is safe because many areas with PCBs and chromium have been buried under grass, (as is the case on the baseball field) wood chips or gravel. Officials did however admit that PCBs and chromium could have negative environmental effects. More studies would be needed to determine a potential environmental impact on wildlife. Studies must also be performed at 29 homes in the area that could be impacted.

Several residents, including many parents, disagreed about the park being safe and Venditto echoed their sentiments.

"I don't see reopening the park anytime soon," he said. "We keep burying the problem. Let's get rid of it once and for all."

Cowen said that would result in having the park closed for the entire summer but the large audience seemed willing to deal with that as long as it ensured the safety of children.

"Leave the park closed," said May King, a nearby resident. "Many people are dying of cancer around here and instead of doing tests on the soil, they should do tests on the people."

William Gilday, an Albany DOH employee, said testing on humans could take place in the future. King also had concerns for her daughter Jennifer, who cut herself at Bethpage Park when she was 4. Jennifer, now 13, was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder and dyslexia shortly after her day in the park. The King family has no evidence PCBs or chromium caused the problems. But the mere possibility is a worry.

"The concern is the kids," King said. "I'm worried about the future."

Defense contractor Northrop Grumman Corp. and the US Navy would pay for a cleanup of the park, said Gilday. Northrop was the original owner of the property before donating it to the town in 1962.

While PCBs and chromium contamination are a concern at the park, no such similar problems have been found at Bethpage High School, which is located across the street. Also, PCBs don't mix well with water, so drinking water is safe, officials said. Tests showed zero PCBs in any water samples and trace amounts or no chromium was found. All public water supplies in the vicinity of the former Grumman/US Navy Bethpage facility are routinely monitored and treated, if necessary, to ensure that drinking water distributed to the public meets federal, state, and county requirements.

PCBs were commonly used as industrial products from 1920 until 1979, when the government banned its use. The navy and the Town of Oyster Bay previously conducted tests for PCBs and chromium in 1994 and 1998 and no problems were found.

The DEC and DOH plan to perform further tests at the park during the coming months. Future efforts will address soil contamination that has been found at depth. Under the guidelines of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act corrective action program, this will likely include one or more phases of additional investigation in addition to the selection of an appropriate remedial alternative. The two groups will then have informational sessions to update area residents about the tests.

Documents related to the investigation and potential remediation of contamination at Bethpage Community Park will be made available with documents related to the remediation of the Grumman Aerospace Facility-Bethpage at the Bethpage Public Library and at www.dec.state.ny.us/website/reg1/ihwsites/nassau01sites.html.