NH DES: Former Landfill Contains 'Elevated Concentrations of PFOA'

CONCORD, NH - The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) announced on May 17, 2016, that it has received draft results for groundwater samples collected at the former Merrimack town landfill that showed elevated concentrations of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), according to a press statement.

In response to a request from NHDES, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) collected and analyzed water samples from 10 monitoring wells adjacent to the landfill. These wells were previously installed to monitor the potential impact of the landfill on groundwater. The draft test results, which are being reviewed by US EPA for quality assurance, showed that the groundwater samples contained perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) at concentrations ranging from none detected to 2,200 parts per trillion (ppt); eight of the samples showed concentrations more than 100 ppt.

To further evaluate the extent of the impact, NHDES will begin sampling private residential water supply wells in the vicinity of the landfill today, according to Jim Martin, the public information officer for the department.

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The former Merrimack town landfill property consists of two unlined landfills, totaling 25 acres, near the current Merrimack transfer station. The landfills were operated from the early 1970s to 2003, and received solid waste from households and businesses in Merrimack. The landfills, according to the NH DES, were capped with an impermeable membrane in 2004. Groundwater monitoring began in 1987 and continues under a Groundwater Management Permit issued by NHDES.

For more information regarding NHDES’ investigation into PFOA found in southern New Hampshire drinking water, visit des.nh.gov/organization/commissioner/pfoa.htm.

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.