Environmentalists are lining up against a plan to build a 97-acre cemetery in Old Westbury, saying it?s dangerous to put grave sites over the drinking supply.

The Catholic Church wants to build a new 42,000-plot cemetery on land located between Hitchcock Lane and Powell's Lane off Jericho Turnpike in Old Westbury.

Adrienne Esposito, of Citizens Campaign for the Environment, says the proposed cemetery is within the state-designated ground water protection area. She says corpses and coffins leak bacteria and lethal toxins like formaldehyde, which ultimately will end up in the water supply.

The diocese claims the environmentalists don't understand the chemistry involved, and have no proof that toxins will leak.

The Village of Old Westbury will hold a public hearing about the proposed cemetery on Feb. 23.

Public HearingMonday, February 237 p.m.Old Westbury Village Hall1 Store Hill RoadOld Westbury, NY 11568