Mid Hudson Times Jun. 22 2016 | Page 4

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secure the city ’ s future water supply .

PFOS was used in foams that put out fires in airfields , said Enck . In fact , PFOS was found at 5,900 parts per trillion at a pond at Stewart Air National Guard Base in the spring , more than 84 times the current EPA health advisory limit .

“ We know it accumulates in your blood , in your kidneys ,” she said . “ It accumulates in your liver . It takes about 15 to 20 years for all of it to leave your body .”

Studies show that exposure to PFOS at elevated levels may have developmental effects on fetuses and babies , she said . Studies also show that PFOS may contribute to decreased fertility , low birthweight , increased bloodcholesterol levels , thyroid and liver problems , Enck said .

The chemical slowly builds up in the environment . “ One way people get this chemical into their bodies is through drinking water ,” she said .

Enck underscored the first of three main goals moving forward : finding the source of the chemical . “ It needs to be tracked down , stopped and cleaned up ,” she said . “ Finding the problem at the source is essential . We also have to find the entities that caused pollution … and make sure they pay for the cleanup .”

She continued . “ Clean drinking water should continue to be provided all the time , 24-7 ,” Enck said , and “ the Hudson River needs to be protected .”

The EPA lowered its lifetime health advisory limit for PFOS from 200 parts per trillion to 70 parts per trillion in May . “ This means that your drinking water should not have more than 70 parts per trillion PFOS in it ,” explained Enck .

Shortly after PFOS was found in city water , the City of Newburgh declared a state of emergency , enacted a stage-III water conservation measure and switched its water source from the PFOS-contaminated Washington Lake to Brown ’ s Pond . The city tapped into the Catskill Aqueduct once water began to run low at Brown ’ s Pond this month .

“ Neither of these water supplies have problems with PFOS ,” Enck emphasized . “ Newburgh residents are drinking clean water today , free of PFOS contamination ,” DEC Region 3 Director Martin Brand added .

Brand explained PFOS was first detected at levels of 140 to 170 parts per trillion in the city water supply in 2013-2014 . Similar levels were found again this spring .

Brand said the state would fully support the city to find a permanent solution to the problem . “ The state is committed to fully funding the ( costs ) to pay the City of Newburgh for the Catskill Aqueduct water ,” he said , as well as construction of a permanent filtration system . “ It will be fully funded by the state .”

The most likely long-term solution to the problem will involve filtration using a “ granular-activated carbon system ,” said Nathan Graber , director of the Center for Environmental Health at the state Department of Health .

Graber described the water-crisis response by the city , state and EPA as “ very successful .” Unclear is the response by the U . S . Department of Defense to mounting evidence identifying the Stewart Air National Guard Base as the chief source of contamination .

George Heitzman , director of the remedial bureau for DEC Region 3 , said interviews have been conducted with Air National Guard and airport staff . “ We learned all about their use of foams ,” he said . “ It turns out the

Mid Hudson Times , Wednesday , June 22 , 2016

EPA , DEC address city water crisis

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Marines washed the airplanes while they were sitting on the tarmac .”

Staff explained there had been an “ accidental release ” of foam in 2000 and a plane fire in 1996 . “ What our sampling reveals is that there are storm drains that discharged into the recreation pond ,” said Heitzman , and then seeped into groundwater .

Another round of sampling to begin this week will “ focus on those areas ,” Heitzman said . “ Once the Department of Defense gets a contractor on board , they will hit the ground running ,” he said .

Heitzman pointed to a recent action by the state classifying PFOS and PFOA - a related chemical used to make Teflon and found in drinking water in Hoosick Falls earlier this year - as hazardous . “ New York State passed an emergency rule making PFOS and PFOA hazardous substances ,” Heitzman said . “ As a result , they can no longer be used for fire training .”

The new rule provides one year to replace PFOSbearing foams with more modern foams , he said . “ There is a concern for stockpiles ,” Heitzman said . “ They have one year to get rid of those stockpiles .”

An investigation is ongoing , Brand said . “ Our primary goal is to quickly identify and eliminate the source as quickly as possible ,” he said . “ We ’ ve taken the lead .”

Newburgh City Manager Michael Ciaravino said an original State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System ( SPDES ) permit for Stewart International Airport may have “ erroneously classified our Silver Stream as a class C ” body of water . “ It is my hope … we can once and for all agree on what is our watershed ,” he said .

Ciaravino said the city is now working to obtain two large diesel pumps to draw water out of Washington Lake – filling up as it sits no longer used for drinking water - in advance of the storm season .

Last month , diversion gates leading Silver Stream to Washington Lake were closed due to concerns of rising water levels and further contamination . Silver Stream , connected to the air base pond , was also found to have elevated levels of PFOS . “ The City of Newburgh is doing everything possible to give you the best drinking water we can ,” Newburgh Mayor Judy Kennedy said to residents .

Meeting-goers asked whether the stage IIIconservation measure remained in place . Ciaravino said yes . Colleen Battipaglia said her neighbors were not following the rule . “ You need to enforce the water restriction ,” she said .

“ It ’ s deplorable that this is happening in the United States of America ,” said Cynthia Mack , speaking of PFOS and other contaminants found in drinking water supplies . “ Who is going to be responsible ?”

“ Our primary concern is with the groundwater plume underneath the Air National Guard Base ,” Heitzman answered .

Shapley called for clear communication from local , state and federal officials . He described the water crisis as one “ that can ’ t go to waste .”

“ The city ’ s drinking water supply has not been protected for years ,” he said , giving examples of runoff pollution from pavement and parking lots emptying into storm drains and drinking water supplies . “ Our goal , in the end , is not just emergency response … but long-term protection of this drinking watershed .”

To reach the DEC Water Quality Hotline , call 800-801- 8092 .

In Brief Larceny suspect sought

The City of Newburgh Police Department is seeking the public ’ s assistance in identifying the suspect in a larceny investigation involving a threeyear-old Hispanic female .

On Friday , June 10 , 2016 at approximately 1 p . m ., the victim was playing with two young cousins on the playground at the City of Newburgh Recreation Park , located near South William St . and South Robinson Ave . when adult family members witnessed the suspect remove a gold bracelet from her wrist before fleeing east on South William Street . The child was not injured and family members were unable to catch the suspect .

The suspect is described as a black male , approximately 14 to 15 years-old with a shaved head and slender build . At the time of the incident , the suspect was wearing a blue t-shirt , blue shorts and black sneakers . The suspect is alleged to frequent this area .

If anyone has any information , they are encouraged to contact the City of Newburgh Police Department at 561-3131 .

Murder charge announced in ShopRite stabbing

Orange County District Attorney David M . Hoovler announced that on Tuesday , Andrew Goodenough , 42 , of New Windsor , was arraigned in Orange County Court on an indictment charging him with Murder in the Second Degree , Manslaughter in the First Degree , and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree . The charges stem from allegations that on June 11 , Goodenough stabbed and killed a man who was shopping at a supermarket in the Town of New Windsor .

Police and prosecutors have not thus far been unable to determine any motive for the slaying , nor

Andrew Goodenough have they discovered any prior interaction between Goodenough and the victim . Orange County Court Judge Edward McLoughlin set bail in the amount of one million dollars cash or two million dollars bond . Goodenough is next scheduled to appear in Court on July 15 , 2016 .

“ The apparent randomness of this attack is truly chilling ,” said Hoovler . “ Our hearts go out to family and friends of the victim , who was simply grocery shopping on a Saturday when he lost his life . Our investigation of this matter continues and I urge anyone with information concerning this incident , or Andrew Goodenough , to contact the Town of New Windsor Police Department .”

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Jason Rosenwasser .