Taconic Plastics Responsible For PFOA contamination, DEC Says
20 May 2016
The Department of Environmental Conservation will hold Taconic Plastics as the company responsible for a toxic chemical contaminating the water supply in Petersburgh, New York.
The small town in Rensselaer County has been dealing with perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA, the chemical that also caused a crisis in nearby Hoosick Falls. Taconic has already been directed to install a treatment system for the town's water supply and install filters for private wells, according to DEC.
In a statement, a spokesman for Taconic said more than 10 years ago the company did sampling that showed PFOA was present in groundwater. It "sought to address the issue immediately by providing DEC, the New York State Department of Health and the Rensselaer County Department of Health with sampling results, installing carbon filtration on facility wells and providing bottled water to employees and company-owned residences."
The statement said the company again approached DEC when PFOA was listed as a hazardous substance by DEC in January. Taconic submitted an application to a DEC program in February to start remediation.
"While that application has been pending, Taconic has installed carbon filtration systems on more than 30 drinking water wells, provided bottled water to residents and worked to further address water supply issues in the town, including agreeing to design and install a treatment system for the municipal water supply," the statement read.
The DEC declared the plant a superfund site, which gives the state additional tools and authority to respond to the contamination. A treatment system for the town's water supply is expected to be operational in August.
"DEC’s selection of the Superfund Program to oversee the cleanup will not affect Taconic’s continued cooperation in addressing this matter to protect our neighbors, employees and the community," Taconic's statement read.
Taconic Plastics, headquartered in Petersburgh, makes polytetrafluoroethylene, or PTFE, and silicone coated fabrics, tapes and belts for a variety of industries.
Source : bizjournals.com