Applications for the Navy/Grumman Groundwater Plume Community Participation Working Group were evaluated based on, but not limited to, the following:
Diversity including diversity of age, background, experiences, and expertise.
Engagement and leadership within the community.
Representation by affected municipalities and water districts.
Proximity to the surface extent of the groundwater plume (known to exist deep beneath the ground surface) and areas undergoing cleanup activities.
Residence or place of work in Nassau County, New York.
Past interest in and involvement with the cleanup.
Using the evaluation criteria above, the following individuals have been selected for CPWG membership (as of 6/14/23):
Amanda Field - Old Bethpage Resident, Former Plainview Water District Commissioner
Amanda Smyth - Bethpage Union Free School District, Bethpage Resident
Barbara Gilman - Old Bethpage Resident
Bill Pavone - Navy Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) Member, Nassau County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), Seaford Resident
Denis Darnaud - Massapequa Resident, Hofstra University
Diomaris Padilla - CUNY, The City College, SUNY Farmingdale, New York Institute of Technology and Nassau Community College, Bethpage Resident
Donald Schiavetta Jr - Bethpage Business Owner, Bethpage Chamber of Commerce Member, Bethpage Resident
Edward C Olmsted - Navy Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) Member, Farmingdale Resident
Gina McGovern - Bethpage Community Council Executive Board, Bethpage Resident
Jay Bamberger - Plainview Resident
Joanne Foley - Bethpage Kiwanis, Bethpage Community Council, Bethpage Resident
John Coumatos - Bethpage Water District, Bethpage Chamber of Commerce, Bethpage Business Owner, Bethpage Resident
John Reinhardt - Levittown Water District Commissioner
Lijo Varghese - Hicksville Resident, Researcher
Maria B. Mangibin - Plainview Resident
Matthew Russo - Bethpage resident
Maurice Cosentino - Bethpage Resident, AAA Backflow Certification of NY, LLC., Bethpage Kiwanis
Michael Boufis - Bethpage Water District Superintendent, Bethpage Resident
Ronald James - United States Postal Service, Hempstead Resident
Applications to join the CPWG will be considered on a rolling basis. Applicants for the CPWG will be selected by the Consensus Building Institute in conjunction with the NYSDEC.
Application does not guarantee selection. Applicants who are determined to have a conflict of interest will be disqualified from consideration; a conflict of interest will include a person with a financial interest in a remedial design or representatives of Potentially Responsible Parties.