HOOSICK FALLS, N.Y. (NEWS10) – The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation secures agreement that holds Saint Gobain and Honeywell responsible for PFOA contamination in Hoosick Falls.
According to the DEC, the announcement means the companies will have to pay for the village water system and will have to reimburse the state for costs incurred.“The State is taking aggressive action to hold all parties accountable for the costs associated with the full remediation of the contamination in the Hoosick Falls area,” DEC Acting Commissioner Basil Seggos said. “These orders send a strong message to industries operating in New York that they have an ethical and legal obligation to protect public health, safety and the environment. We will continue to ensure all communities across the state have access to clean, drinkable water.”RELATED: Hoosick Falls Mayor David Borge on NYS consent orders sent to Saint-Gobain and Honeywell
Under the agreement the State will require companies to:
- Investigate the source and determine the full scope and extent of contamination at four Honeywell and two St. Gobain plants;
- Investigate feasibility of an alternate water supply which may include a new well field, a surface water supply source, or an interconnection with an existing municipal water supply system, among others;
- Fund the installation and maintenance of temporary and full capacity filtration systems for the Village municipal water supply;
- Reimburse State for costs incurred for response and investigation into the contamination, and well sampling; and
- Continue to pay for bottled water for Village and Town residents until successful installation of the full capacity filtration system.
