Farmingdale eyes possible damage from toxins

Bracing for an underground toxic plume spreading steadily south from the former Grumman Corp. plant in Bethpage, Farmingdale Village has hired a Manhattan-based law firm to help it collect potential damages from groundwater contamination.

The plume is projected to hit Farmingdale’s Well 1, where a water tower stands, in 2020, but the village seeks to be proactive, Mayor Ralph Ekstrand said.

Village officials this week voted 5-0 to retain Napoli Bern Ripka Shkolnik Llp to handle legal issues surrounding the plume of contaminants — the result of solvents and other chemicals used in U.S. Navy and Grumman production of aviation equipment.

“Our engineering company said, ‘Let’s see if there’s responsible parties who can pay for the cleanup,’” Ekstrand said.

The law firm will be retained on a “contingency” basis, and the village would pay the firm only if it collects damages, the mayor said. Farmingdale would pay 25 percent of any damages collected, he said.