by Carmen Chau, originally posted on May  22, 2016

NASSAU, N.Y. (NEWS10) – The Town of Nassau is calling for additional EPA testing for PFOA contaminants at the Dewey Loeffel Superfund Site after initial results showed groundwater impacts at the site.

The first round of testing started when the news broke out on Hoosick Falls and Petersburgh. Those results just came back a week and a half ago and it showed very low levels of PFOA in the groundwater.

As for PFOA contaminants, it showed 84 parts per trillion.

Nassau Town Supervisor David Fleming said it’s nothing community members should be too alarmed about.

“At this point, the levels are extremely low. Our consultants have told us they’re very low but out of the abundance of caution, we think it’s extremely important that we let folks know what we’re doing,” said Fleming.

The EPA’s initial testing combined multiple sources into one sampling area, which may have diluted the PFOA impacts.

“Part of the problem here is that we have a large area where wells are being tested and you can have twelve wells that are contributing water to one location as testing is occurring. So there’s a lot of pollution in that sampling and that’s what the town is concerned about,” said Fleming.

However, the Superfund site has had a long history of water contamination. Between 1952 and 1968, an estimated 46,000 tons of toxic industrial waste were dropped at the site.

Many of these toxic materials were solvents, waste oil, PCBs, and scrap materials. That’s why the town said they want to be safe rather than sorry for the additional testing, especially with the recent scare in Hoosick Falls and Petersburgh.

As of now, the levels of PFOA have not been found in residential wells but the town said the possibility of the PFOA spilling from the site to those wells could happen.

However, the Town Supervisor said this second round of testing will ensure it never gets to those wells.

“It seems like it’s building. People don’t know about it until they have their waters tested,” said Edward Jahn, who is concerned about PFOA.

One Nassau Community member said he is concerned, especially seeing what’s happened to Hoosick Falls and Petersburgh.

“I’m just concerned. I hope the officials do the right thing,” said Jahn.

David Fleming said the EPA has responded very quickly in reviewing the town’s request for testing. They’re expecting to hear back from the EPA at the beginning of this week.