Residents sounded off Monday on a plan to clean up an underground plume in Bethpage.

During the public meeting, the DEC discussed the nearly $600 million proposal to clean groundwater contaminated at the old Grumman plant. Under the plant, 24 groundwater extraction wells will be installed.

Bob Toman, of Seaford, who grew up in Bethpage, says he and his wife are worried about the area.

"Our actual concern is removing a lot of water from the ground and recharging 85 percent of it back into the ground," says Toman. "We're concerned about undermining the streets and neighborhoods."

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Officials say the wells would extract about 12,000 gallons of water per minute. The water would be brought to nearby treatment plants before it is returned to the aquifer system.

Martin Brand, of the DEC, says, "We take public comment very seriously and we will often incorporate that into the final remedy, so if someone comes up with some new information or a better idea we'll certainly take that into consideration."

Residents at the meeting say seeing a detailed look at the plume helped them get a better handle on what the plan would mean.

DEC officials say the ultimate goal of the plan is to get rid of as much contaminated water as possible and try to keep the plume from expanding.