Stewart Air National Guard Base Declared Superfund Site

NEWBURGH, NY — Stewart Air Force National Guard Base has been declared a Superfund site by New York State.

The Department of Environmental Conservation made the decision after three months of investigation in the wake of contamination found in Newburgh’s drinking water, WAMC.org said.

Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) was found at levels of above what state health and environmental officials recommend.

The city declared a water emergency and restrictions May 2, but the emergency was rescinded the next day, drawing water from Brown’s Pond and the Catskills Aqueduct.

The Times Herald-Record said DEC investigators believe the use of aviation firefighting foams, which have an one key ingredient PFOS, to be the source of the contamination.

For more information, including the next steps that will be taken, read the article at WAMC.org by clicking here and the Times Herald-Record article here.

Photo credit: Google Maps.