The EPA announced its proposal today to add the Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics site in Hoosick Falls, N.Y. to its Superfund National Priorities List of the country's most hazardous waste sites.
The Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics facility is located at 14 McCaffrey Street and its groundwater has been contaminated with Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Trichloroethylene. The village's public water supply has also been found to be contaminated with PFOA.
"By placing this site on the federal Superfund list, the EPA will continue to work hard to address the contamination at the source, and hold the polluters accountable for the full cost of cleanup," said Judith A. Enck, EPA Regional Administrator.
- In January 2016, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation added the Saint-Gobain site to the state's Superfund list and nominated the site for inclusion in the federal Superfund list.
- In April 2016, the EPA installed groundwater monitoring wells near the Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics facility.
- In early May 2016, the EPA conducted groundwater sampling at and around the Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics facility.
- In mid-May, the EPA conducted drinking water sampling at drinking water wells used by the Village of Hoosick Falls.
- After testing in Hoosick Falls, the EPA determined that inclusion in the federal Superfund program was an effective course of action to address the contamination.
After this proposal of inclusion to the National Priorities List, a 60-day comment period will begin in which the EPA will accept public comments until November 10th.
Following the comment period, designation to the National Priorities List will make the site eligible for funds to conduct long-term cleanup.
The Superfund program allows the EPA to search for the polluters legally responsible for contaminating a site and holds them accountable for cleanup costs, rather than pushing costs onto taxpayers.
Read the EPA's complete news release here.