Navy officials expanded the area where they need to gather water samples to include those living near the former Naval Weapons Industrial Reserve Plant Calverton.

Officials discussed the need for more samples and the ongoing cleaning up of toxic chemicals in the soil and groundwater at the site during a meeting Thursday of the Restoration Advisory Board.

Tensions rose at times during the meeting as some residents called for greater transparency and the ability for greater comment from community members. 

Toni Pawson, of Manorville, has lived near the site for over 30 years.

"For years, I, we, have been saying when are you going to test beyond that magic fence line," she said during the meeting. 

The meeting also centered around the ongoing cleanup of potential carcinogens, including PFAS and 1,4 dioxane, found in the groundwater and soil near the former naval site.

 "In our area, there's 64 residents. 24 of those 64 residents have or had cancer," said Pawson.

Some residents who live right outside the testing zone, like Michele Wagner, of Calverton, say they want to be included in the sampling.

"The preventative issue, like, I have to be poisoned to get tested,” she said.

As for Pawson, she’s not sold yet on getting sampled. 

"Now you want to test my water, why? All of a sudden now they want to test the water,” she said. “What if my results come back negative, then they wash their hands? What about 10, 20 years from now?”

Contact the Navy at 800-906-9339 or via their website here to find out how to get water sampled.

A representative from the navy said they could not make someone available to speak to News 12 at the meeting Thursday evening.