The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Saint Gobain Agrees To Clean Up PFOAs In Hoosick Falls Water

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by Deb Alter

Philip Guy, Business Manager of the Saint Gobain facility in Hoosick Falls, told the Village Board and the community Tuesday, November 10 that  the Company will provide the funds necessary for a permanent carbon filtration system for the Village water plant as outlined by the Village. [private]

Mayor Dave Borge (left) and Saint Gobain Hoosick Falls Business Manager Philip Guy with the map showing where the soil and water samples were tested. The Mayor, the Village Board and Saint Gobain have been negotiating a solution to the PFOA problem. Photo by Deb Alter
Mayor Dave Borge (left) and Saint Gobain Hoosick Falls Business Manager Philip Guy with the map showing where the soil and water samples were tested. The Mayor, the Village Board and Saint Gobain have been negotiating a solution to the PFOA problem. Photo by Deb Alter

They will also pay for a temporary carbon filtration system until the permanent one is up and running. In addition, they will pay for bottled drinking water for Village residents until a filtration system is in place and working.

Some details of the deal are still being negotiated between the Village and the Company, but both Mayor Borge and Guy agreed that they were working together. Mayor Borge said “The discussions have been positive.” The cost of a carbon water filtration system, which research shows is a proven method of filtering out the PFOA contaminant in the water, can cost upwards of $2.1 million dollars for the system alone, excluding the cost of maintenance and filter recharging or replacements.

Philip Guy (standing), General Manager of the Hoosick Falls Saint Gobain plant, talks to the Village Board about the PFOA situation while Trustee Ben Patten listens intently. Photo by Deb Alter
Philip Guy (standing), General Manager of the Hoosick Falls Saint Gobain plant, talks to the Village Board about the PFOA situation while Trustee Ben Patten listens intently. Photo by Deb Alter

There were questions from the meeting attendees about various concerns that are yet to be addressed, such as how the bottled water will be distributed, the timeline, the replacement of carbon filters, how to get information out to the public as things progress, and so on. The Mayor responded that these are some of the things that are still being worked out. He welcomed some suggestions, such as creating an online forum.

In introducing his presentation, Guy emphasized that Saint Gobain is “committed to its employees, the community, and the environment.” He said that he is proud to work for Saint Gobain. He explained that Saint Gobain acquired the property from Furon in 1999. He said that Saint Gobain does not make PFOA itself, but they do manufacture PTFE films and silicone rubber products. These did contain the chemical PFOA, but they stopped using anything that contained it in 2003.

Kirk Moline, Managing Geologist of C.T. Male Associates, the engineering firm hired by Saint Gobain to test water and soil, explains the testing procedure and placement of the wells. Photo by Deb Alter
Kirk Moline, Managing Geologist of C.T. Male Associates, the engineering firm hired by Saint Gobain to test water and soil, explains the testing procedure and placement of the wells. Photo by Deb Alter

Saint Gobain tested and analyzed soil samples and the ground water in the area around the McCaffery Street plant and presented the findings which did show PFOAs to be present.

Joe Nuccio, a resident who was one of the first to bring up the PFOA problem said, “We started talking about this a year ago, and this is good news tonight.”

A group called Healthy Hoosick Water, led by Dr. Marcus Martinez, has been working with Albany attorney David Engel to negotiate a settlement with Saint Gobain. Engel said he was pleased with what he had heard in the presentation, and that the group “will continue working towards seeing this through to a settlement that’s good for all.”

The Town has started working with the State Department of Health on testing water outside the Village as some private wells have also tested positive.[/private]