On January 27, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced a series
of immediate actions by New York State to address contamination in the Village
of Hoosick Falls’ water supply and at the Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics
Site. These announcements follow today’s meeting between the Governor and
senior state and local officials.
“We are taking immediate and aggressive actions to protect the health of
Hoosick Falls residents,” said
Governor Cuomo. “These actions will ensure that the source and
extent of PFOA contamination is identified, and all necessary steps are taken
to swiftly address the chemical’s presence. My administration is investigating
this situation fully, and we will do whatever is necessary to ensure safe,
clean drinking water for local residents.”
These actions include to:
Issue Emergency Regulation to
Classify PFOA as Hazardous Substance: The state Department of Environmental
Conservation today issued an emergency regulation to classify Perfluorooctanoic
acid (PFOA), the contaminant found in the Village’s water supply, as a
hazardous substance. This provides DEC with the legal authority to pursue State
Superfund designation and cleanup of the site using State Superfund resources.
Classify Saint-Gobain Facility as
a State Superfund Site to Unlock State Resources to Address Contamination: Further, the
state announced it will classify the Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics
Corporation McCaffrey Street Plant and other possible sources of contamination
that may be identified in Hoosick Falls as State Superfund sites to unlock
state funding resources under the State Superfund Program to address the
contamination in the community. DEC has already initiated its investigation and
inspected the Saint-Gobain property. If in the course of its continuing
investigation DEC finds any additional sources of PFOA contamination, they will
also be listed. The Superfund Class 2 designation will allow the state to use
State Superfund resources to investigate and clean up PFOA contamination much more
quickly than waiting for a federal Superfund designation. In addition, the
state will be able to seek cost recovery for the investigation and cleanup
activities. DEC will collaborate closely with EPA in the investigation of PFOA
in groundwater, soil and other media in Hoosick Falls to determine appropriate
cleanup activities.
Conduct Health Risk Analysis to
Establish PFOA Drinking Water Guidance Level: To address the
water supply contamination, the state Department of Health will conduct a risk
analysis, examining the latest national research, to establish a drinking water
guidance level for PFOA.
Retest Private Wells in the
Village of Hoosick Falls: In addition, the state Department of Health will
retest 24 private wells in the vicinity of the Saint-Gobain facility.
Immediately Install Filtration
Systems at School and Other Community Gathering Places: Out of an
abundance of caution, the state committed to installing water filtration
systems at the local school, public health facilities and other community
gathering places.
Blood Testing of Community
Members to Begin in Mid-February: Beginning in mid-February, DOH will
begin blood testing for community members for those who wish to be tested.
Establish State Hotline for
Public to Stay Informed: Residents can contact 1-800-801-8092
for more information.
Further, once PFOA contamination is addressed, the state committed to work with
the community and banks to safeguard property values.
Department of Environmental
Conservation Acting Commissioner Basil Seggos said: “Under the direction
of Governor Cuomo, New York State is working collaboratively with all levels of
government from the EPA to the village and town, to address the contamination
in Hoosick Falls. Classifying PFOA as a hazardous substance and making the
Saint-Gobain site a State Superfund site will free up resources to investigate
and clean up the contamination quickly. We will continue our open dialogue with
local officials and the people of Hoosick Falls to ensure they are informed throughout
our investigation and remediation.”
Department of Health Commissioner Dr.
Howard Zucker said: “The actions taken today by Governor Cuomo,
the Department of Environmental Conservation and the Department of Health will
safeguard the residents of Hoosick Falls and help address their concerns. The
Department of Health will continue to test private wells, and will soon begin a
blood testing program to measure residents’ exposure to PFOA. Additionally, DOH
will continue to examine the latest and best scientific research to establish a
drinking water guidance level for PFOA.”
Senator Kathy Marchione said: “I
want to personally thank Governor Cuomo for convening this afternoon's highly
productive and positive meeting regarding Hoosick Falls. The announcement that
the state recognizes the seriousness of this issue and is taking purposeful
action that will help Hoosick Falls families is welcome news. Our discussion
today focused on realistic solutions including the state’s regulation of PFOAs,
testing of all local wells, blood testing and carbon filtration systems to help
protect the health and well-being of families in Hoosick Falls. The positive
steps agreed to today are welcome news for the community. I have been carefully
monitoring this situation and will continue advocating for Hoosick Falls
families as this process moves forward.”
Town of Hoosick Supervisor Mark Surdam
said: “I am thankful for the Governor’s recognition of the
problem our community is facing with its water supply, and for the actions the
state taking today. I want to assure all of the residents in the Town of
Hoosick that we are undergoing a tremendous effort to deal with these
concerns.”
Village of Hoosick Falls Mayor David
Borge said: “I am grateful for Governor Cuomo’s swift action to
help our community quickly restore the use of our water supply – and am pleased
by the level of coordination by state agencies responding to this issue. This
is a major step forward for all residents of the greater Hoosick Falls
community.”
Hoosick Falls
Central School Superintendent Kenneth Facin said: “Today’s meeting
with Governor Cuomo was productive and meaningful, and promises real results
for our students and parents. We are appreciative to be a part of a singular,
concerted effort to rectify the environmental issues surrounding our water
supply. As a proactive measure to ensure the health and safety of our students,
the state is assisting our school district with the installment of a carbon
filtration system. We are grateful for the Governor’s leadership in galvanizing
resources to assist our community.”
State’s Earlier Actions to Address PFOA
Contamination
Today’s actions build upon DEC and DOH’s
initiatives announced earlier this month to address the PFOA contamination to
protect public health and the environment. The state urged EPA to take vigorous
action on the federal level to regulate PFOA and to quickly add the Hoosick
Falls site to the Superfund National Priorities List. The state, Saint-Gobain
and the Village are collaboratively working on an agreement to install water
treatment systems to remove hazardous chemicals from the Village’s water
supply. In addition, DOH is undertaking a cancer registry study to investigate
the incidence of cancer among Village residents and biomonitoring studies.
Further DOH is offering PFOA biomonitoring to measure the level of PFOA in
Village residents.
PFOA was detected in the Village’s public drinking water in 2014. Since then,
DOH has worked closely with the Village to provide technical advice and
assistance for water sampling and to evaluate water treatment options to
eliminate health risks. Because the levels of PFOA in public water were higher
than the EPA health advisory level, DOH determined that people should reduce
their exposure by avoiding the use of tap water for drinking and cooking. In
addition, DOH continues to monitor private wells and will have more results
very soon.
Although the use of PFOA is being phased out, it is still used to make
household and commercial products that resist heat, and repel oil, stains,
grease, and water. This includes nonstick cookware, surface coatings for
stain-resistant carpets and fabric, and paper and cardboard food packaging.
Studies of people have associated exposure to PFOA with an increased risk for
several health effects. This includes associations with effects on the liver,
immune system, thyroid gland, cholesterol levels, blood pressure during
pregnancy, and kidney and testicular cancer.
Source:
Press Office, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
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