by Alex Brooks
Rensselaer County Environmental Health Director Rich Elder and Deputy County Esecutive Chris Meyer came to the Petersburgh Town Board meeting to present a map the County has created based on the results of the first 47 samples from private wells that were tested for PFOA contamination. The hot spot was of course the Taconic campus and its immediate surrounding area. High readings extended down Hewitt Road to some extent and areas downstream (north) of Taconic. But the area contaminated by PFOA does not seem to extend very far south of the campus, or up Toad Point Road, or across the Little Hoosick River. [private]
The data is very sketchy so far, and the County is continuing to take more samples. Meyer said they have submitted 30 more samples recently, and when results come back, those will be incorporated into the map. The idea is that over time a fairly precise picture will emerge of exactly where the plume of PFOA contamination is and where it is not.
Rich Elder said if anyone has had their well tested privately and would be willing to share the results, it would be useful to the County to have additional data points. Homeowners who are willing to share test results may call the County Health Department at 518-270-2655 and ask for Rich Elder.
Meyer said Taconic has agreed to fund treatment systems for private wells with PFOA contamination of 100 parts per trillion or greater, and those systems will be installed starting the week of March 21. He was asked if homeowners would then have the trouble and expense of maintaining these systems and replacing the filters, and he said, “operation and maintenance of the filtration systems is part of the agreement with Taconic.”
Many of those who live near the Taconic plant were at the meeting, and they had many more questions than Meyer had answers. One question that was asked was what about people whose wells tested in the 80 or 90 parts per trillion range. Apparently Taconic has not agreed to do anything for them other than supply bottled water, but neither the NYS Health Department nor the County Health Department can provide assurances that drinking water with that level of contamination is safe.
Rich Elder said that until a month ago, the only standard in effect here was the EPA health advisory of 400 parts per trillion. He said the working standard has been lowered to 100 ppt by recommendation of the Region 2 EPA, but this new standard has not been formally enacted in law or in enforceable regulations. He said the EPA said it is working on a long-term standard, which it promises to put forth sometime this spring, but until then, “we do not have long-term guidance” on what level of PFOA concentration is safe. More research about what level of PFOA concentration should be considered dangerous is needed, and now that this is a high profile situation, it is likely to get more attention.
When questioned about the effectiveness of the granulated carbon filters being used to remove PFOA from the water, Elder said there is no uncertainty there. Carbon filtration is a very well-developed and reliable technology, and he has great confidence that it will solve the problem where the filters are installed.
Meyer was asked if he had any test results of surface water or from the river. He said the County is only testing drinking water. DEC has been testing water in the river, but he said he has not been given any results from their testing.
Chris Meyer said Supervisor Peter Schaaphok has asked the County and the State agencies that are working here to hold a public forum to answer questions from the public. He said they will do this as soon as they have gathered enough information to have the answers. Schaaphok is planning a public meeting for Tuesday April 5 at the PVMCC. A historical meeting was planned for that evening as part of the 225th anniversary celebration, but it will be devoted to a PFOA informational meeting instead. The Pot luck supper planned for 5:30 will happen as scheduled, but the meeting at 7 pm will be about the water instead of being a historical presentation. County representatives have already agreed to come to the meeting, and Schaaphok is trying to get representatives of State agencies to come to it as well.
Water Superintendent Ben Krahforst said he has been consulting with experts to find a way to get more water from Wells 5 and 6, which have lower levels of PFOA in the water they pull up. The Town’s well company came last week and pulled the pumps and did some diagnostic work, and Rich Winters from the Rural Water Association also came and assessed the situation. Krahforst has also met with CHA Design/Construction Company about the design of a filtration system for the Water District. They have asked him for a lot of data about the water system going back three years, and he has been working on gathering that information. Krahforst has been spending a lot of time holding meetings and working on finding a solution to the Water District’s PFOA problem.
Chris Gibson Promises Help
A number of politicians who were in the area for the Hoosick Falls St. Patrick’s Day Parade held a meeting with the Petersburgh Town Board on Saturday morning. It was attended by Congressman Chris Gibson, County Executive Kathy Jimino, Chairman of the County Legislature Stan Browned and Assemblyman Steve McLaughlin. Petersburgh Town Board members said Chris Gibson had promised to help the Town secure a grant for improvements to the Water District.
Other Business
Robert Couser came to the meeting to offer a proposal for improvements to the phone system at the Town Hall. This would involve adding phones in the offices downstairs, and modernizing the system. The Board said they will consider the proposal, but took no action at this meeting.
Town Clerk Deidra Michaels said the grant application for improvements to the Records Room in the Town Hall has been completed and submitted, and she is waiting for a response. She expects to hear from them in a month or so, and is expecting a positive response. She also said a representative from Williamson came to demonstrate the municipal software they are offering, and she was favorably impressed.
Plans For 225th Celebration
Peter Schaaphok described plans for the 225th Anniversary Celebration outlined at a recent meeting of that Committee. A Pot Luck Supper is planned for April 5 at 5:30 pm, which was to be followed by a historical presentation, but that meeting at 8 pm will be a PFOA informational meeting instead. The historical presentation will be rescheduled.
On June 11, a meeting is planned on Memories of Old Petersburgh. There will be entries in the Berlin July 4 parade on the theme of Petersburgh’s 225th celebration. Schaaphok himself plans to do a presentation in September on “Calamities of Petersburgh.” In October there will be a Harvest Fest Dinner with historical elements, in November a salute to Petersburgh veterans, and in December a tree lighting and Christmas carol singing.
The Board scheduled a workshop meeting for March 21 on the related issues of updating the Site Plan Review Law, the recently approved Manufactured Homes law, and Code enforcement in general.[/private]