[CPEO-MEF] PFAS: "DEC Announces New Comprehensive Sampling Initiative for Communities Surrounding Norlite" incinerator site

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

News Release
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
July 24, 2020

DEC Announces New Comprehensive Sampling Initiative for Communities Surrounding Norlite
State Responds to Community Concerns with Science-Based Soil and Water Sampling Plan


New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced a new comprehensive soil and water sampling initiative to help determine if contaminants are present in the communities surrounding the Norlite facility in the city of Cohoes as a result of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) incineration and past practices of the facility. This action builds on DEC's ongoing response to community concerns to ensure the environment and community are protected since aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) containing PFAS was disposed at Norlite.

"DEC is working with the city of Cohoes and local residents to deploy New York State's expert scientific capabilities so that we can get real answers about the potential impacts of past AFFF incineration at Norlite," Commissioner Seggos said. "The sampling plan will collect essential data to guide future actions and will be valuable to both DEC and the community in the agency's rigorous review of Norlite's proposed permit renewal. DEC will be treating the renewal as a new application to ensure a full evaluation of all applicable potential environmental impacts and we will continue to involve this community in our decision-making every step of the way."

DEC directed Norlite to cease thermal treatment and disposal of AFFF containing PFAS compounds after the facility temporarily suspended operations at the end of 2019. Since that time, DEC has worked with local and state elected officials to assess the potential impacts of Norlite's past incineration of firefighting foam. DEC secured a commitment from Norlite to suspend all processing of AFFF materials until additional testing is conducted that establishes that high temperature incineration destroys these compounds. In addition, DEC has informed Norlite that the future incineration of any substances, including emerging contaminants like PFAS, not previously addressed in its permits, will trigger a requirement to seek a permit modification prior to processing in the facility.


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For the entire release, see
https://www.dec.ny.gov/press/120924.html

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Lenny Siegel
Executive Director
Center for Public Environmental Oversight
A project of the Pacific Studies Center
LSiegel@cpeo.org
P.O. Box 998, Mountain View, CA 94042
Voice/Fax: 650-961-8918
http://www.cpeo.org





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