Governor Hochul Announces Charging Discount Programs for Electric Vehicle Drivers Across New York

 

PSC Approves 'Managed Charging' Programs Providing EV Drivers with Bill Discounts When Charging During Beneficial Times for the Grid

PSC Advances 'EV Make-Ready' Program to Accelerate Deployment of 50,000 Public and Commercial Charging Ports — Including 1,500 Fast-Charging Ports — by 2025

 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that the State Public Service Commission approved New York's investor-owned utilities electric vehicle active and passive-managed charging programs, a key element in further developing New York's electric vehicle infrastructure. Today's PSC decision is an integral part of the initiative known as the EV Make-Ready program which directed the utilities to develop managed charging programs that will provide customers with an alternative to the whole home Time-of-Use rates that are already in place. Managed charging programs and TOU rates incentivize charging at the most beneficial times for the grid, which has the potential to extend the estimated societal benefits of EV deployments to more than $5 billion through 2030. 

"I am proud to say New York leads the nation in clean energy innovation to combat climate change and bring environmental justice to impacted communities," Governor Hochul said. "Today's action brings us one step closer to a greener, emission-free future, and expand upon the benefits of electric vehicle ownership by providing added savings at a time when New Yorkers need it the most."

The EV Make-Ready program provides funding for the infrastructure required to support more than 50,000 new public and commercial Level 2 charging ports, capable of charging a vehicle at least two times faster than a standard wall outlet, and 1,500 public DC (direct current) fast charger ports in New York in recognition of the essential role that public fast charging ports will play in the near term to allay range anxiety. Before the program began, there were 4,571 publicly accessible chargers statewide. This program will increase the number of publicly accessible chargers in New York State more than tenfold.

The EV Make-Ready program is funded by major investor-owned utilities in New York State and creates a cost-sharing program that incentivizes utilities and charging port developers to site electric vehicle charging infrastructure in places that will provide a maximal benefit to consumers. The Commission capped the total budget at $701 million and it will run through 2025, with a minimum of $206 million allocated toward equitable access and benefits for lower-socio-economic and disadvantaged communities. EV charging ports in disadvantaged communities are eligible for a higher incentive, supporting up to 100 percent of the costs to make a site ready for EV charging.

Encouraging private investment in publicly accessible fast-charging ports will stimulate the EV market in New York over the coming years. While the initial focus was on funding projects located in communities served by investor-owned utilities, the Commission said that the objectives to advance the state's transportation electrification goals, expand access to clean transportation, and reduce emissions in disadvantaged communities are relevant across the entire state.

Public Service Commission Chair Rory M. Christian said, "As the adoption of EVs increases throughout the State, well-designed EV managed charging programs will provide essential benefits to the utility and transportation sectors. By providing EV drivers with incentives for beneficial charging behavior, along with resources that makes charging hassle-free, the managed charging programs will create a win-win for EV drivers in the form of lower fuel costs and the grid in the form of reduced infrastructure costs."

Today's decision impacts customers of the major utilities in New York State — Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation, Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc., New York State Electric & Gas Corporation, National Grid, Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc. and Rochester Gas and Electric Corporation.

The transportation sector is responsible for the largest contribution to greenhouse gas pollution in the country, with these emissions increasing more than any other sector over the last 30 years. Encouraging accelerated, forward-thinking development of charging infrastructure will provide New Yorkers with more than $2.6 billion in net benefits and supports the achievement of the State's transportation electrification and clean energy goals. Electrifying transportation will allow New Yorkers to power vehicles with cleaner energy sources, with renewables representing a growing portion of the state's electricity supply. Thoughtful siting of charging infrastructure will support reduced installation costs, improve site host-acceptance and maximize use from drivers.

In a related development, the PSC modified the EV rules for Con Edison, the state's largest electric utility. Specifically, the PSC will allow Con Edison to increase the current single-site plug limit on fast-charging stations from 10 plugs to 30 plugs and it will eliminate the funding limit on certain incentives. The modifications will alleviate market constraints to increase charging station accessibility by facilitating developer interest and market growth in the company's service territory, including expanded access for disadvantaged communities.

The Long Island Power Authority (LIPA), with its service provider, PSEG Long Island, has announced a goal to support 180,000 new EVs on Long Island with 4,745 new EV charging ports by 2025, with a proposed investment of $89 million in make-ready infrastructure over the next four years.

Customers on Long Island and other regions of New York State that fall outside of the investor-owned utility service territories can leverage the innovative prize competition design and administrative capabilities developed by NYSERDA for the "New York Clean Transportation Prizes".

The PSC's objectives to advance the state's transportation electrification goals, expand access to clean transportation, and reduce emissions in disadvantaged communities should be pursued by all communities throughout the state, without regard to the particular electric service provider or regulatory framework that governs that service, and a coordinated, statewide approach is needed to meet the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) requirements, and that all New Yorkers should share in the benefits of the CLCPA.

The CLCPA includes the requirements that all state agencies prioritize greenhouse gas emissions reductions in disadvantaged communities and that no less than 35 percent of the overall benefits of spending on clean energy programs benefit disadvantaged communities. EV Make-Ready costs include utility-owned make-ready work, customer-owned, make-ready work, make-ready implementation and other programs costs.

New York State's Nation-Leading Climate Plan

New York State's nation-leading climate agenda is the most aggressive climate and clean energy initiative in the nation, calling for an orderly and just transition to clean energy that creates jobs and continues fostering a green economy as New York State recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. Enshrined into law through the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, New York is on a path to achieve its mandated goal of a zero-emission electricity sector by 2040, including 70 percent renewable energy generation by 2030, and to reach economy wide carbon neutrality. It builds on New York's unprecedented investments to ramp-up clean energy including over $35 billion in 120 large-scale renewable and transmission projects across the state, $6.8 billion to reduce buildings emissions, $1.8 billion to scale up solar, more than $1 billion for clean transportation initiatives, and over $1.6 billion in NY Green Bank commitments. Combined, these investments are supporting nearly 158,000 jobs in New York's clean energy sector in 2020, a 2,100 percent growth in the distributed solar sector since 2011 and a commitment to develop 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind by 2035. Under the Climate Act, New York will build on this progress and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent from 1990 levels by 2050, while ensuring that at least 35 percent with a goal of 40 percent of the benefits of clean energy investments are directed to disadvantaged communities, and advance progress towards the state's 2025 energy efficiency target of reducing on-site energy consumption by 185 trillion BTUs of end-use energy savings.

NYS Office of the Comptroller DiNapoli Audit Finds Lax Oversight of Medicaid Payments May Have Cost Taxpayers Nearly $300 Million

 

Audit Finds No Attempt to Recover $292 Million in Overpayments for Recipients With Third-Party Insurance Coverage

 Too often Medicaid pays medical bills that a third-party insurer should have covered, and not enough is being done to make sure Medicaid recovers that money, according to an audit by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. The audit found that a lack of oversight by the state Department of Health (DOH) and the Office of the Medicaid Inspector General (OMIG) resulted in nearly $300 million in pharmacy claims that Medicaid never tried to recover from patients’ insurance providers.

“Medicaid is essential for millions of New Yorkers, but the program needs to ensure that funding is only used for appropriate costs for those who need it,” said Comptroller DiNapoli. “This is my office’s latest audit to uncover weaknesses in the Medicaid system’s oversight. These potentially unnecessary payments likely contributed to significant waste and a missed opportunity to recover the nearly $300 million in questionable payments. DOH should recoup any overpayments and take steps to better protect taxpayers from costly billing mistakes.”

The New York State Medicaid program provides a wide range of medical services to many New Yorkers, including those with lower incomes and/or people with special health care needs. As of the close of the State’s fiscal year on March 31, 2022, New York’s Medicaid program had served approximately 7.8 million recipients and Medicaid claim costs totaled about $74.6 billion.

Per federal law and state regulations, Medicaid is always the payer of last resort. This means that if a Medicaid recipient has third-party health insurance (TPHI) coverage, then those third-party benefits must be exhausted before the Medicaid program is billed.

To address instances where a TPHI should have paid instead of Medicaid, the DOH – in partnership with OMIG and Health Management Systems, Inc. (HMS) -- utilizes post-payment reviews. Auditors found that weaknesses in DOH’s and OMIG’s oversight of HMS’ payment reviews likely contributed to significant waste and a missed opportunity to recover improper payments.

Between October 2015 and May 2020, auditors identified drug claims paid by Medicaid managed care plans totaling $292 million for which HMS did not bill claims to TPHI carriers for recovery, despite the individuals having third-party drug coverage. For instance, nearly $40 million was paid for Medicaid recipients with Medicare Part D coverage and for covered medications provided at in-network providers – a scenario that is very likely the responsibility of Medicare, not Medicaid, and that should have been refunded to the state. Also, auditors presented a sample of 50 (which included high-cost drugs) to OMIG and HMS for their review and asked for an explanation as to why they were not billed to the TPHI carrier. HMS was unable to determine why most of these claims – 38 out of 50 – were not recovered, and for another 9 out of 50, auditors found the explanations were not justified.

According to HMS officials, internal processes are not set up to track why individual claims are excluded from the recovery process. Auditors determined that without proper oversight and this level of tracking, there is no way to ensure that all appropriate recoveries are being made. Also concerning, HMS did not have comprehensive reports of its activities available upon auditors’ request. DiNapoli’s audit recommended:

• A review of the $292 million in Medicaid payments made on behalf of recipients with TPHI identified by the audit to ensure overpayments are appropriately recovered;
• An assessment of pharmacy claims that were billed to TPHI carriers but did not result in recovery of payment to ensure that proper steps are taken to obtain recoveries where appropriate;
• An assessment of the third-party liability recovery process for managed care pharmacy services and implementation of corrective actions where necessary; and,
• Implementation of ongoing monitoring of the TPHI recovery process for managed care pharmacy services to ensure that all appropriate recoveries are made within the statute of limitations.

In response to our audit, officials stated that all claims are reviewed as part of existing processes. However, officials acknowledged that they are working on enhancements to the entire recovery process, which will include developing additional reporting to give OMIG greater insight into why claims were not billed to TPHI carriers for recovery.

Report:

Medicaid Program: Recovering Managed Care Overpayments for Pharmacy Services on Behalf of Recipients With Third-Party Health Insurance

Attorney General James Delivers $230,000 to New York City to Support Consumer Financial Literacy Programs

 

Funding From Prior Settlements Will Boost Free Consumer Literacy Programs for New Yorkers

 New York Attorney General Letitia James today delivered more than $230,000 to the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) to support free financial literacy programs for New Yorkers. The funding, which comes from a previous consumer fraud settlement secured by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), will help offer New Yorkers free, confidential one-on-one financial counseling at DCWP’s NYC Financial Empowerment Centers. Today’s action is part of Attorney General James’ ongoing efforts to protect consumers.

“Financial literacy is a key pathway to economic justice and equity especially for vulnerable communities,” said Attorney General James. “This funding will support critical programs that help protect consumers from fraud and empower everyday New Yorkers to make responsible financial decisions. I am proud that the money my office has secured will be reinvested into our communities.”

This funding comes from a previous FTC and OAG settlement with direct marketer Allstar Marketing Group, LLC (Allstar) for deceptive practices that hid charges from consumers ordering products primarily advertised through television infomercials. Thousands of customers were hit with unexpected fees added through misleading online and phone ordering processes.

Allstar paid $7.5 million for restitution to customers as part of the FTC settlement, and $500,000 went directly to OAG for penalties, costs, and fees. After consumers were reimbursed, leftover funds were approved to be used by OAG for consumer education.

The $230,926 delivered to DCWP today is the remaining amount from the settlement with Allstar and will support DCWP’s Financial Empowerment Center’s public awareness campaign. The campaign will educate consumers on credit use, banking, savings, debt, safe and affordable financial services, and student loans.

“Whether you’re dealing with job loss or the cost of inflation, struggling with credit card or student loan debt, or having a hard time budgeting your paycheck — the city’s Financial Empowerment Centers can help New Yorkers become more financially stable,” said DCWP Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga. “I thank the attorney general for recognizing the importance of this help and directing these funds to us to further raise awareness of this invaluable service.”

Financial literacy is a crucial part of financial well-being and large numbers of Americans are not well versed in financial literacy. A 2022 annual report by the TIAA Institute and George Washington University shows that more adults in the United States have a very low level of financial literacy than any survey year since the survey began in 2017. For example, adults correctly answered only one half of the 28-question survey designed to test financial literacy. Twenty-three percent could not correctly answer more than 7 of the 28 questions. Only one third of questions were answered correctly involving understanding financial risk. Black, Latino, and younger people had lower levels of financial literacy overall. As shown by the report, people with a very low level of financial literacy (compared to those with a very high level) are:

•   Six times more likely to have difficulty making ends meet;
•   Three times more likely to be debt constrained;
•   Three times more likely to be unable to cope with a $2,000 financial shock; and,
•   Four times more likely to spend more than 10 hours a week on issues related to personal finances.

The 2018 FINRA National Financial Capability Study shows that 69 percent of New Yorkers could not answer more than 3 of 5 questions covering everyday economics and finances. 

The OAG vigorously takes action to protect consumers from fraud and hold unscrupulous companies accountable. The funding for this program will help strengthen consumer protections and help consumers avoid fraud.

The NYC Financial Empowerment Centers have helped clients collectively save more than $10 million since inception and have served more than 66,000 clients, helping them reduce their debt by more than $85 million. Anyone 18 and older who lives or works in New York City can book a free and confidential appointment with a professional financial counselor by visiting nyc.gov/TalkMoney or calling 311 and saying “Financial Counseling.” Services are available in person or by phone and in multiple languages. 

Statement Of U.S. Attorney Damian Williams On The Espionage Conviction Of Ex-CIA Programmer Joshua Adam Schulte

 

Joshua Adam Schulte was a CIA programmer with access to some of the country’s most valuable intelligence-gathering cyber tools used to battle terrorist organizations and other malign influences around the globe.  When Schulte began to harbor resentment toward the CIA, he covertly collected those tools and provided them to WikiLeaks, making some of our most critical intelligence tools known to the public – and therefore, our adversaries.  Moreover, Schulte was aware that the collateral damage of his retribution could pose an extraordinary threat to this nation if made public, rendering them essentially useless, having a devastating effect on our intelligence community by providing critical intelligence to those who wish to do us harm.  Today, Schulte has been convicted for one of the most brazen and damaging acts of espionage in American history.

NYC COUNCIL TO VOTE ON REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS LEGISLATION IN RESPONSE TO ROE DECISION

 

 Today, the New York City Council will vote on several pieces of essential legislation to support and safeguard reproductive rights, including a resolution from Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams urging further federal action to protect the right to an abortion. The Public Advocate is also a co-prime sponsor of key bills in the package to further solidify and protect the right to receive or provide lifesaving healthcare in New York City while conservative states continue to pass new, radical anti-choice legislation. 

“Last month, with the Dobbs ruling striking down Roe, the Supreme Court stripped away a fundamental right to privacy and bodily autonomy, striking at our liberty and at the health and safety of women and pregnant people across the country,” said Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams. “In New York City and state, where abortion is legal and will remain that way, we can do more to protect both New Yorkers and people who come here for abortion services. New York must be a beacon in this moment, a forceful defender of abortion rights for New Yorkers and a refuge for people who cannot access care in their own states. I thank my colleagues in government for their partnership in helping advance key legislation that will further protect abortion rights in New York, and join them in urging federal and state partners to act with an urgency and scope that meets this crisis moment.”

Today, the City Council will vote on the Public Advocate’s resolution, Res. 245, calling on the U.S. Senate to pass, and President Biden to sign, the Women’s Health Protection Act. The Women’s Health Protection Act prohibits governmental restrictions on abortion services and closes loopholes conservative states have used to unfairly discriminate against and shut down abortion providers. Currently, the Women’s Health Protection Act has passed the U.S. House of Representatives and is waiting to be taken up by the Senate. Read the resolution here. 

To ensure New York City does not spend any of its resources enforcing conservative anti-choice laws, the City Council will vote today on Intro. 466, led by Council Member Tiffany Cabán with the Public Advocate as a co-prime sponsor. This legislation would “prohibit city agencies from using city resources to detain individuals who performed or aided with abortions as well as prohibit city agencies from cooperating with out-of-state entities related to abortions performed in New York state.” Read the bill here. 

The City Council will vote on two additional pieces of legislation to cement New York’s status as a sanctuary city for reproductive healthcare. Intro. 475, sponsored by Council Member Shahana Hanif and co-prime sponsored by Council Member Cabán and Public Advocate Williams, would “allow a person to bring a claim of interference with medical care when a lawsuit is commenced against them,” for accessing healthcare that is legal in New York City – so anyone who is sued for terminating a pregnancy is able to bring a claim of interference. Next, Res. 197, sponsored by Council Member Tiffany Cabán and co-prime sponsored by Council Member Marjorie Velázquez and Public Advocate Williams, “declares New York City a safe city for all those in need of abortion-related care,” sending a strong and resounding message that the city will remain a safe haven for anyone seeking reproductive healthcare. 

425 Grand Concourse Completes Construction In Mott Haven, The Bronx

 

Construction is complete on 425 Grand Concourse, a 26-story mixed-use building in Mott Haven, The Bronx and one of the largest Passive House structures in the city. Designed by Dattner Architects and developed by Trinity Financial and MBD Community Housing Corporation, the 310,000-square-foot project yields 277 residential units, with 248 units for residents earning 30 to 130 percent of the area median income, as well as a supermarket, a community health center, a cultural center, and a 30,000-square-foot educational facility for CUNY’s Hostos Community College. Monadnock Construction served as the general contractor for the development, which is located between Grand Concourse to the east, East 144th Street to the south, Walton Avenue to the west, and Evelina Antonetty Playground and Hostos Community College to the immediate north.

Recent photos show the completed look of the structure and its gently curving massing, sleek metal façade paneling, and contrasting cutouts topped with protruding solar shades on the southern elevation. 425 Grand Concourse is by far the tallest building in the vicinity, providing residents with unobstructed views of the Manhattan skyline to the south.

Residential amenities at 425 Grand Concourse include a recreation room, an outdoor landscaped rooftop terrace, a lounge space, a fitness center, on-site laundry rooms, bike storage, and a parking garage. All homes are fitted with dishwashers and energy-efficient appliances.

The closest subways to the property are the 2, 4, and 5 trains at the 149th Street-Grand Concourse Station.

Housing Lottery Launches For The Allerton At 683 Thwaites Place In Allerton, The Bronx

The affordable housing lottery has launched for The Allerton, a six-story mixed-use building at 683 Thwaites Place in Allerton, The Bronx. Designed by RKTB Architects, the structure yields 36 residential units, recreational space in the cellar and on the rooftop, and ground-floor commercial and community facility space. Available on NYC Housing Connect are 35 units for residents at 70 to 110 percent of the area median income (AMI), ranging in eligible income from $41,863 to $182,050.

Amenities include a 24-hour attended lobby, rooftop terrace, laundry room, bike storage lockers, personal storage lockers, a shared laundry room, and an on-site resident manager. Units come equipped with stainless steel energy-efficient appliances. Tenants are responsible for electricity.

At 70 percent of the AMI, there is one studio with a monthly rent of $1,135 for incomes ranging from $41,863 to $74,760; two one-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $1,427 for incomes ranging from $52,286 to $84,070; and one two-bedroom with a monthly rent of $1,705 for incomes ranging from $62,915 to $100,870.

At 110 percent of the AMI, there are two studios with a monthly rent of $1,300 for incomes ranging from $47,520 to $117,480; 21 one-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $1,634 for incomes ranging from $59,383 to $132,110; seven two-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $2,054 for incomes ranging from $74,880 to $158,510; and one three-bedroom with a monthly rent of $2,366 for incomes ranging from $86,675 to $182,050.

Prospective renters must meet income and household size requirements to apply for these apartments. Applications must be postmarked or submitted online no later than September 10, 2022. 

Governor Hochul and Attorney General James Announce Formal Filing of Binding Consent Decree to Further Advance Full Containment of Navy-Grumman Plume

 

Northrop Grumman and U.S. Navy Both Formally Committed to Implement Historic Cleanup that Prevents Further Spread of Contamination

Northrop Grumman Agrees to $104.4 Million Natural Resource Damages Settlement to Advance Cleanup, Public Water Supply, and Aquifer Protection Projects

Work Already Underway to Protect and Restore Long Island's Sole Source Aquifer

 Governor Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James today announced the filing of a consent decree with the court that formally requires Northrop Grumman to advance a comprehensive plan to contain and clean up the groundwater plume associated with the Northrop Grumman Bethpage Facility and Naval Weapons Industrial Reserve Plant sites in Bethpage. The full containment of this groundwater plume will prevent the further spread of contamination to water supplies in neighboring communities and provide peace of mind to local residents.  

"Every New Yorker deserves access to safe, clean water, and we will continue to advance bold, aggressive efforts to protect our environment and ensure it is free of contamination," Governor Hochul said. "With this historic agreement, we are delivering justice to Long Island communities that for too long have been negatively impacted by the groundwater plume, while holding polluters accountable for their actions. Ensuring the health and safety of our communities is among our highest priorities in this state, and we will continue to make sure there is a reliable, clean water source for all New Yorkers for generations to come."

Attorney General Letitia James said, "For decades, Northrop Grumman knew its hazardous waste disposal sites leaked toxic substances into the only source of drinking water on Long Island, but for decades, Northrop Grumman denied responsibility. Long Islanders have paid the price for the company's negligence but today, we're finally forcing Grumman to address its environmental abuse by paying the municipalities and the state that had to clean up its mess. In the face the Supreme Court's irresponsible decision to restrict the EPA's ability to regulate companies for their dirty emissions, I am more committed than ever to mitigating the damage done by corporations like Northrop Grumman. I will continue to work with my partners in government to ensure that no one gets away with degrading our environment, our natural resources, and our children's futures."

The final decree reflects the agreement between New York State and Northrop Grumman memorializing the scope of Grumman's cleanup and resolving reimbursement of State costs and Northrop Grumman's liability for Natural Resource Damages (NRD). The agreement also provides for a more robust citizen participation program, including funding by Grumman for a citizen participation working group that will enable all interested stakeholders to have better access to information and provide further input about the company's cleanup as overseen by DEC. For the first time the decree includes a schedule, which ends five years from the effective date of the decree once enacted by the court and requires Grumman to complete all construction documented in the agreement. It also reflects input received from communities during a public comment period on the draft consent decree by directing additional NRD payments by Northrop Grumman to the affected water districts and explicitly preserving the town of Oyster Bay's right to bring claims against the responsible parties.

As announced previously, NorthropGrumman agreed toaNRD settlement valued at $104.4 million that will be used to advance cleanup, public water supply, and aquifer protection projects associated with the plume. A total of $63.5 million in payments is included in the NRD, consisting of $29 million dedicated to the Bethpage Water District, $12.5 million dedicated to the South Farmingdale Water District, and $22 million dedicated to New York State for use on restoration projects. As part of the Consent Decree, Northrop Grumman was credited for $40.9 million for additional cleanup to be undertaken per the settlement agreement.

The consent decree commits Northrop Grumman to containing the eastern and southern edges of the plume, with enhanced contaminant removal in the central portion of the plume. Specifically, Northrop Grumman is designing and drilling containment wells in the east-central and southeast area of the plume to prevent further migration in that area and provide additional protection to nearby public water supply wells.  These wells, along with other actions required under the consent decree, will help clean-up volatile organic compounds and hazardous substances released by these facilities, which include Trichloroethylene and 1,4-Dioxane.

Expedited work advanced by the finalization of the Consent Decree includes Northrop Grumman's launch of a preliminary investigation of the southeast quadrant of the plume. This investigation includes drilling of borings this summer to expedite installation of extraction wells.

In addition, the U.S. Navy, after negotiations with DEC, will implement elements of the comprehensive remedy in areas of the plume the Navy is responsible for cleaning up. These actions are specifically designed to address the western half of the Navy-Grumman plume. The U.S. Navy will perform its obligations in accordance with an Explanation of Significant Differences, which was finalized in September 2021.  

Together, these actions and the Navy's work in the interior and margins of the plume will achieve containment and expedite cleanup of the plume. Furthermore, all parties have agreed to carefully monitor containment and movement of the plume to ensure the continued effectiveness of the remedy and to make any adjustments,within the scope of the agreements, necessary to achieve the objectives of the cleanup plan. 

Since 2020, the U.S. Navy and Northrop Grumman have already made significant progress in implementing the required remedy, including starting installation of a network of extraction wells to hydraulically contain and remediate the contaminated plume. For instance, the Navy began construction of a state-of-the-art groundwater treatment plant that is expected to begin operating later this year, installed four of the required six extraction wells, began installing conveyance piping from extraction wells to the treatment plant, and rehabilitated two recharge basins for managing the treated water, among other ongoing work.

As part of a groundwater extraction and treatment system to address contamination south of the Bethpage Community Park, Grumman also began construction of a new groundwater treatment plant that is expected to begin operating by the end of summer 2022, completed the installation of 11,000 feet of conveyance piping, and began outfitting three extraction wells.  Both Northrop Grumman and the Navy also continue to operate three existing groundwater extraction and treatment systems to effectively remove contamination from Long Island's sole source aquifer (greater than 200,000 pounds since the first system came on-line in 1998). Work on the remaining requirements is ongoing and will be closely overseen by DEC.

In addition to the U.S. Navy and Northrop Grumman's actions to implement the cleanup, New York State is pursuing additional potentially responsible parties to undertake needed efforts in areas that are not currently attributable to the U.S. Navy and Grumman. If DEC is unable to identify potential responsible parties to remediate these areas, New York State will undertake any necessary cleanup. 

Additional information about the Navy-Grumman cleanup can be found here