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Mid Hudson Times , Wednesday , July 20 , 2016

PUBLIC AGENDA

THURSDAY , JULY 21 Town of Newburgh Planning Board , 7 p . m . Town Hall , 1496 Route 300 , Town of Newburgh .

MONDAY , JULY 25 Town of New Windsor ZBA , 7:30 p . m . Town Hall , 555 Union Ave .

TUESDAY , JULY 26

Newburgh Enlarged City School District Board of Education , 6-9 p . m . Board of Education Auditorium , 124 Grand St ., Newburgh .

THURSDAY , JULY 28

Town of Newburgh ZBA , 7 p . m . Town Hall , 1496 Route 300 , Town of Newburgh .

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The Mid Hudson Times , ( USPS 000-5947 ) is a weekly newspaper published every Wednesday at Newburgh , N . Y . 12550 , with offices at 300 Stony Brook Court , Newburgh , N . Y . . Single copy : $ 1 at newsstand . By mail in Orange , Ulster or Sullivan Counties : $ 40 annually , $ 44 out of county . Periodicals permit at Newburgh , N . Y . POSTMASTER : Send address changes to Mid Hudson Times , 300 Stony Brook Court , Newburgh , N . Y . 12550

The City of Newburgh stopped drawing water from Washington Lake when PFOS was found in city drinking water this spring .

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historically been exposed to PFOS in their drinking water , we believe there is adequate justification for the Department of Health to institute a biological testing program and health assessment study in the City of Newburgh ,” Ciaravino wrote to New York State Department of Health Commissioner Howard Zucker on July 13 .

The city began using Catskill Aqueduct water in June and the city ’ s drinking water is now PFOS free . State and federal agencies are investigating why PFOS was found at more than 140 ppt in the city and at 5,900 ppt - more than 84 times the current federal health advisory limit – at the Stewart Air National Guard Base in the spring .

In his letter , the city manager explained residents were asking for blood tests . “ Many of our city council members are being asked by residents whether the city or the state is going to offer blood testing and health assessment programs to help residents understand the significance of the exposure they have already experienced ,” he wrote .

“ At the public information meeting sponsored by the EPA and held in the City of Newburgh , many residents asked the same question , particularly mothers who are concerned about their young children .”

At an information meeting at Mount Saint Mary College last month , Environmental Protection Agency Regional Administrator Judith Enck said PFOS accumulates in the blood , kidneys and liver , taking about 15 to 20 years to leave the body .

Enck said exposure to elevated levels of PFOS may have developmental effects on fetuses and babies , and may contribute to decreased fertility , low birthweight , thyroid and liver problems .

State Department of Health records show PFOS was first detected in the city water supply in 2013 . City officials have been at a loss to explain why the public wasn ’ t made aware of the risks from PFOS following the 2013 tests .

Banned from manufacturing in the U . S . in 2000 , the chemical was used in fire-fighting foam , cleaning products , sealants and other industrial products . The state Department of Environmental Conservation added PFOS and PFOA to its list of hazardous substances earlier this year .

The water crisis took place a few months after perfluorooctanoic acid ( PFOA ), a chemical related to PFOS , was found in the drinking water of the Village of Hoosick Falls , Rensselaer County . The contamination was eventually linked to a

Teflon manufacturing plant .

According to the Hoosick Falls website , Ciaravino wrote , “ the Department of Health is collecting blood samples as part of a PFOA biomonitoring study for people who live in or near Hoosick Falls .”

“ The results of the first round of sampling have been compiled and residents who have had blood tests have begun receiving results ,” Ciaravino stated .

Moreover , he said , the village website “ indicates that the Department of Health will conduct an investigation to see if there are unusual elevations of cancer among Hoosick Falls residents .”

Ciaravino continued , stating the city is willing to offer “ whatever facilities ” needed for testing and laboratory space . He noted , “ the ( DEC ) seems to be following the rules for responding to a release of an inactive hazardous waste site ” following the city ’ s water crisis .

Ciaravino referenced New York State Public Health Law section 1389- b . “ That section makes the New York State Department of Health responsible for ‘ assessing serious health problems at , and in the immediate vicinity of inactive hazardous waste disposal sites and any health problems deemed by the department to be related to conditions at such sites .”