Delgado Takes Hickey To State Of The Union Address
By Doug La Rocque
To emphasize the importance he is placing on the PFOA water problems in both Hoosick Falls and Petersburgh, 19th District Congressional Representative Antonio Delagado announced earlier this week he would bring Hoosick Falls resident, and the man credited with discovering the elevated levels of PFOA in the village’s drinking water supply, Michael Hickey, to Washington as his guest for the State of the Union Address on Tuesday night, February 5.
When making the announcement, Congressman Delgado said “I’ve seen personally the devastating effects that PFOA chemicals have had on our communities and on families like Michael Hickey’s. He is a true hero in what he has done to create action, and I’m pleased he will join me for the State of the Union as we send a powerful message that this crisis cannot be ignored,” Delgado further said. “I am committed to working with members on both sides of the aisle to take decisive steps to address water contamination. And I will be a strong voice urging the Administration to step up its efforts to protect the health and safety of communities in Upstate New York and across the country.”
For his part, Mr. Hickey said he was honored to be joining Representative Delgado for the Address, adding that, “putting a spotlight on the poisoning of residents of Hoosick Falls and Petersburgh is exactly what we need to spur action on a local and national level. I’m grateful for the work that Representative Delgado has done already to support our community and I look forward to working closely with him as we continue our efforts.”
On Wednesday, March 30, it was reported the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had decided not to limit PFOA/PFAS in drinking water, prompting the Congressman to immediately send a letter to the Acting Administrator of the Agency Andrew Wheeler, in which he labeled the agency’s inaction, “unconscionable.” He wrote in part, “Many of my constituents have lost loved ones or suffer themselves from the adverse effects of PFAS water contamination. Americans have a right to know how much, if any, of this chemical is in their drinking water. They have a right to be informed if the problem is getting worse, and they should be able to trust that federal regulators will work to ensure that their communities are safe. To issue a plan without these critical provisions would be to turn your back on communities like mine that have suffered from PFAS contamination.”
In a conversation with The Eastwick Press on the day he was sworn into office in Washington, Mr. Delgado emphasized the need for the federal government to get involved in finding an alternative drinking water source for the village. We asked him this week if, in light of the EPA’s reported decision, this will hinder his efforts. He told us, “I have every hope that given the outcry against the EPA for its reported decision not to set limits on PFOA/PFAS, the EPA will take the issue of water contamination seriously and not turn its back on our communities. Regardless, I will continue to be a vocal advocate for federal support for Hoosick Falls, Petersburgh, and other communities harmed by PFOA. I’ve cosponsored legislation that designates all PFAS chemicals as hazardous substances, and I’m also looking at legislative ways to proactively test for these chemicals in drinking water and make those results public. I will keep calling for additional action so this problem does not continue to spread.”
Vermont Settles with Saint Gobain
Last week, the State of Vermont announced an agreement with Saint Gobain, one of the companies said to be responsible for the Hoosick Falls contamination, to spend nearly $30 million to extend municipal water lines to the eastern part of the town. The company agreed in 2017 to put the homes in the North Bennington area on PFOA free municipal water wherever feasible, or to place point of entry treatment (POET) systems on private wells. That prompted Hoosick Falls Deputy Mayor Bob Ryan to tell The Eastwick Press he has again started the conversation with Mayor Rob Allen, as to why a settlement with the company is taking so long on this side of the border. “They settle in Vermont, but here it is a matter for the courts.” As to whether the reported EPA decision will impact efforts to fund an alternative drinking water source, he says “I hope not,” but he also adds he believes that burden “should be on Saint Gobain.”
The Deputy Mayor also said he believes New York State should “put the thumb down” on the company, to step up efforts to find that alternative water source. As to Congressman Delgado’s efforts, he said he is supportive. “The more noise that is made, hopefully the more pressure will come to bear.”
District 5 Rensselaer County Rensselaer County Legislator Bruce Patire tells The Eastwick Press, “water is a non-partisan issue, and I support Mr. Delgado and anyone’s efforts to help find a solution to the water contamination problems plaguing portions of the Taconic Valley.” He also expressed his opposition to the reported EPA decision on PFOA levels, and, until an alternative water source is found, called upon federal and state regulators to work together, and to insure that the polluters are responsible for maintaining the filtrations systems currently in place to keep the drinking water in Hoosick Falls, Petersburgh and Berlin clean.
Still Waiting on NYS
In December last year, the New York State Water Quality Council, after missing its deadline for recommending levels for PFOA/PFOS and 1.4 Dioxane in drinking water by six months, issued a report that called for PFOA levels to be set at no more than ten parts for trillion (PPT). To this point however, those numbers have not been finalized by the NYS Department of Health or by legislative action.