Senator Schumer Calls on EPA to Investigate Use of Toxic Chemical

U.S. Sen. Charles E. Schumer recently called on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to immediately investigate the specific use of pentachlorophenol, a toxic chemical used as pesticide and disinfectant, on utility poles throughout Long Island.

PSEG has been installing new, more resilient chemically treated utility poles throughout the Town of East Hampton as well as the Town of North Hempstead.

In December, a private firm conducted a study on the groundwater when the chemical was found in the soil around newly installed utility poles in East Hampton.

According to Schumer, the poll is based on a very limited sample size that does not consider long-term risks as the pole decomposes.

The study showed the chemical levels measured far exceeded the State Department of Conservation standards, according to an article in Patch.

The EPA has noted public health concerns related to the chemical when ingested or inhaled, like neurological, respiratory, kidney and immune system concerns.

However, Vaughn McKoy, managing director and vice president of PSEG, sent a letter to town and village officials saying that the study did not change their position based on scientific data that “penta-treated utility poles pose no unreasonable risk to human health or the environment”, according to the article.

Penta has been used on at least 95,000 of LIPA’s 324,000 wooden utility poles on Long Island, and will continue to be used in future installation, according to Schumer.

On Tuesday, Schumer said that because the penta treated telephone and electrical poles can be found in populated areas like yards, parks, outside schools and around local businesses, it is critical that the EPA quickly conduct a safety review of penta related to human health risks and risks to soil and groundwater.

He believes there is ‘serious concern’ that treating the poles with such a toxic chemical could potentially cause health risks to utility workers, adults and children and could leach into ground water over the long-term as the poles deteriorate.

He also urged that PSEG suspend the use of this chemical in utility poles until the EPA investigation proves this chemical appropriate for use in these poles.

Localities throughout Long Island have voiced concern about the use of this chemical and the potential for it to leach into the ground water.

The Town of East Hampton proposed legislation banning the use of penta within the town.

“I join Senator Schumer and [Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Judi Bosworth] in raising serious health concerns over pentachlorophenol contamination,” Town of East Hampton Supervisor Larry Cantwell said. “Recent soil and groundwater tests adjacent to newly installed utility poles in East Hampton found penta in the soil at extremely high levels—at amounts far exceeding New York State Department of Environmental Conservation standards—and chemical components associated with penta in the groundwater.”

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