The EPA kicks off its PFAS community engagements events in Exeter on June 25-26, offering citizens the opportunity to speak about their experiences with water contamination from the Saint-Gobain plant in Merrimack.
The meeting originally was scheduled to be at the Pease Industrial Port in Portsmouth, the site of water contamination at a former Air Force base, but was changed to Exeter.
“Exeter has a capacity for 1,000 people in the auditorium, and we are happy to accommodate anyone who wants to participate.” The event will be at Exeter High School, from 4:30-10 p.m. on June 25 and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 26.
Speakers will be allotted three minutes at the June 25 session, and can sign up in advance at https://www.epa.gov/pfas/forms/pfas-community-engagement-exeter-nh.
Allen has coordinated the participation of residents from Merrimack and other towns that have experienced water contamination, including Westfield, Massachusetts and Hoosick Falls, New York.
The EPA will establish clean-up regulations based on the toxicity levels of air and groundwater.
“Once we have established the levels, they can be used by regulators to make clean-up decisions,” Dunn said.
“We’re collaborating with state and federal partners to develop toxicity standards for GenX and PFBS,” she added.
“Following the PFAs National Leadership Summit, it’s critical that EPA visit communities to hear directly from those impacted by PFAS,” he said.
“This is the next step in our commitment to address challenges with PFAS and will provide valuable insight for EPA’s efforts moving forward.” When asked how Pruitt and the Trump Administration’s campaign to overturn environmental regulations established by President Barack Obama will impact the PFAS issue, Molly Block, an EPA spokesperson, said, “Under the Trump Administration, EPA has made concerted efforts to improve environmental and health outcomes by refocusing on the Agency’s core mission: protecting human health and the environment.