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Mid Hudson Times , Wednesday , July 26 , 2017
Catch and release advisory for PFOS-laden waters
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announcement .
Catch-and-release advisories are also in effect in Hoosick Falls and Petersburgh , which had drinking water supplies contaminated with perfluorooctanoic acid ( PFOA ). However , the commissioner explained , “ PFOS has a greater affinity for protein ” than PFOA , and can become concentrated in high-protein food such as fish .
The lakes and streams in question are all downstream of the Stewart Air National Guard Base , which was designated a state Superfund site last year when high levels of perfluorooctane sulfonate ( PFOS ) and other PFCs were found there .
Washington Lake – the city ’ s main drinking water source – was shut down due to PFOS contamination in May 2016 . State testing has shown the chemical leached from the air base into Recreation Pond , and further into Silver Stream and Washington Lake . The city issued a previous catch-and-release advisory for the lake last year .
“ There should be no more excuses after this week for the Pentagon to clean up this contamination at the source ,” said Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney .
The congressman announced that he
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos announces a catch and release advisory for fish in Newburgh-area streams and lakes .
would introduce an amendment to the 2018 Department of Defense Appropriations Act requiring $ 35 million be devoted to cleanups at Air National Guard bases contaminated by PFCs . “ The time for bureaucratic feet dragging is over ,” the congressman said .
Maloney was referring to the DoD ’ s lack of action in the water crisis , now more than a year old . The federal agency has been roundly criticized by elected officials , environmental groups and Newburgh-area residents for non-action in the face of DEC data which reveals the air base is the chief source of PFC contamination in the watershed . The DoD has stated it would carry out its own investigation of the base this year .
“ The state has done literally everything it can ,” said Seggos .
The DEC will pay for a new pump and filtration system at Washington Lake , an overhaul of the city ’ s water treatment plant and pricey drinking water from the Catskill Aqueduct , among other related expenses . The state has also carried
out a blood-testing program that found Newburgh residents have five times the level of PFOS in their blood as the average American .
“ The highest levels have been found among residents who have lived here a long time ,” Seggos said . These levels are “ still below what the average American would have had in their blood 30 years ago ,” Maloney noted .
Manufactured in the U . S . until 2000 , PFOS was used in Scotchgard products , cookware and other non-stick products . It was also a key ingredient in fire foam , used for decades at the air base . “ This is a public health problem ,” said Riverkeeper President Paul Gallay . “ This is an environmental problem ... people are being poisoned .”
While the state and local municipalities have done the utmost to address the water crisis for over a year now , the DoD has been the “ glaring exception ,” said Gallay . “ Every day that goes by , the problem gets larger ,” he said .
An additional $ 70 billion in defense budget spending is expected next year , Maloney said . “ We ’ re saying , ‘ You have more money than ever ,’” he said . “ These excuses have got to stop .”
For more information about the Newburgh water crisis and the catchand-release advisory , visit Health . ny . gov /
Addicts get second chance at city Drug Court
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addiction , Banks lives and works as a volunteer at Renwick Recovery , a transitional housing facility on Mill Street . “ I credit Judge Williams ,” he said . “ Doing time would have been easy .”
City Court Judge Eddie Loren Williams presides over the city drug court . “ It starts with the idea that you need treatment ,” he said . “ You need to embrace that idea up front .”
Some participants “ wrestle ” with that idea , the judge said . However , it ’ s part of the “ commitment we require as part of the treatment ,” Williams said . “ It requires a commitment from the community , as well .”
Especially , families , said the judge . “ Participants do better when families are involved ,” he said , as they can provide support , motivation and encouragement when the going gets toughest .
Participants typically face drug possession charges and other non-violent misdemeanors , said city Drug Court Resource Coordinator Lindsay Frusciante .
They come from all over Orange County . “ They ’ re usually referred by a judge , lawyer or prosecutor ’ s office ,” said Frusciante , a credentialed alcoholism and substance abuse counselor . “ Any legal entity can make a referral ,” she said , and individuals can also reach out to join the program on their own .
Newburgh City Court Judge Eddie Loren Williams ( left ) and Carl Banks ( right ) at a Drug Treatment Court Program graduation ceremony last week .
“ What distinguishes drug courts is their uniquely collaborative approach to treatment : upon voluntary entry into court-supervised programs , appropriate nonviolent addicted offenders become part of a dramatic intervention process ,” the New York State Unified Court System states .
“ This process involves coordination between defense attorneys , prosecutors , treatment and education providers , and law enforcement officials . Rules of participation are defined clearly in a contract agreed upon by the defendant , the defendant ’ s attorney , the district attorney and the court .”
There are 141 drug courts operating in the state . The Newburgh drug treatment court program currently has 33 students , some who were honored at the ceremony for reaching the halfway point in their treatment plans . More than 150 people have graduated from the program since it began in 2003 .
Participants are required to undergo drug testing , meet regularly with the judge and enter an inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation program .
Each participant gets an individualized treatment plan , which may involve seeking employment , housing and education services . Graduations are held three times a year . “ It ’ s a voluntary program ,” Frusciante said , and participants need to complete the program in order to receive a sentence reduction .
City of Newburgh Drug Court is held each Wednesday . To learn more about the drug treatment court program , contact Lindsay Frusciante at 845-483-8116 .