Update on Newburgh Water Contamination Issue

By Jennifer L. Warren

NEWBURGH – Perfluourooctanesulfonic acid, PFOS and Perfluorooctanoic acid, and PFOA have become common language for many in the City of Newburgh and New Windsor.

These synthetic fluorinated organic compounds are applied to numerous industrial and consumer products, including cookware, stain-resistant fabric and carpet as well as fire fighting foam. Falling under the umbrella of Perfluourinated Compounds (PFCs), PFOS and PFOA are the sole two compounds carrying the Environmental Protection Agency’s tag of lifetime, health advisories for drinking water. Both the Air Force and the Air National Guard have been using Aqueous Film Forming Foam, containing these contaminants, since 1970 as the most effective way of extinguishing petroleum fires, protecting people and property.

However, when Stewart Airforce Base began using these highly potent chemicals years back, something else happened: many of the surrounding water supplies were contaminated, causing a host of health issues, fear and overall distress. Angered by the lack of progress, a grassroots group, The Newburgh Clean Water Project, surfaced, diligently attempting to expedite the process of rectifying the contamination and providing a guaranteed clean water source. Insistent upon the DoD performing a complete ground remediation of the entire Stewart Air Force Base/Stewart Air National Base, ensuring safety for both its people and residents, they further want accountability and a detailed timeline on the process. Although some progress has been made, they remain unsatisfied.

Many from that group, along with a host of emotionally-charged affected residents, were on hand Thursday evening at the Newburgh Unity Center listening in to an update from the National Guard.

“We are here because we care and want to follow up on our commitment,” said Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, John Henderson. “We take this very seriously, and we believe we need to all work together as a team; it’s going to take a whole national response to what is just the start of a national problem.”

Henderson went on to relay how his team is working closely with the Department of Conservation and Transportation as well as community members. He further alluded to a 2015 preliminary assessment at 13 investigated sites, 2017 samplings of the water as well as an ongoing investigation that is highly regulated by strict, federal guidelines, foremost the CERCLA Law.

“I wish the process was faster,” said Henderson, as he looked out to the frustrated crowd.
Elaine Magdinec of the National Guard Bureau, who manages the Remediation Group, added during her update of the engineering piece, “As engineers, we need data to take action; PFOS are very complicated.”

Although there has been some movement, water filteration from Recreation Pond, discharging into Silver Stream, it’s by far not enough to appease the countless affected people who rely and insist upon a healthy water source. The recent discovery of further contaminants has added more fuel to the fire.

“The elephant in the room is the contamination in the ground; I would like to know more about what’s being done about the toxins in the ground, and there is no reason we should feel safe with a filter until the ground is remediated,” said Ophra Wolf, one of the organizers of The Clean Water Project. “Why aren’t we hearing about a plan for medical monitoring, and what is being done for human interest?” She added, “We need to be assured we will have access to clean water.”

Despite the Air National Guards’ representatives ongoing explanations of how they are taking tangible measures within the limitations they have, more questions, confusion, and powerful emotions lingered after the over hour update and discussion.

“I know there is a process, but it is unacceptable how long it has been taking for the Restoration Advisory Board (used for exchange of information between the Air National Guard and the community about present and future restoration) to be convened; waiting for the fall or until November is too long,” said Manna Jo Greene of the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, located in Beacon. “It should have been covered by now; I ask that you take the necessary action and accelerate that process.”