PFOA Meeting Slated for May 18 in Amherst

CONCORD, NH – The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services and the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, in coordination with the town of Amherst, invite the public to a public information meeting on May 18, 2016, to discuss the results of recent drinking water tests related to an investigation of the presence of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in drinking water.

The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 18, 2016, at the Souhegan High School Theater, 412 Boston Post Road in Amherst.

For more information related to the investigation please visit the NHDES website at des.nh.gov/organization/commissioner/pfoa.htm or contact Jim Martin, NHDES Public Information Officer at 603 271-3710.

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U.S. Sen. Kelly, Ayotte, R-NH, sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy on May 16, 2016, to again urge the Agency to expedite the release of a new health advisory for the chemical perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA).

Ayotte wrote, “I reiterate my request for the expedited release of the long-term exposure health advisory standard for PFOA so that residents know whether their water is safe, local officials are able to respond to concerned residents, and water treatment professionals working to design treatment systems have a clearly defined objective.”

In March, Ayotte wrote to EPA to urge the Agency to expedite the release of a new health advisory standard for the chemical PFOA. In April, she met with local officials from towns experiencing water contamination issues and sent another letter to EPA that raised several questions and concerns, as well as renewed her call for the expedited release of the new standard. Also in April, Ayotte wrote to EPA to encourage the Agency to address the Select Board of North Hampton’s request to test for contaminants within the Coakley landfill and the watershed testing sites.