CITY OF NEWBURGH – Officials from the U.S. Department of Defense and Air Force will answer questions about their response to Stewart Air National Guard Base’s contamination of Newburgh’s drinking water during a public forum at 1 p.m. on Thursday in the city.
Two DoD officials – Robert McMahon, assistant secretary of defense for sustainment and Maureen Sullivan, deputy assistant secretary of defense (environment) – will be at the forum, which Orange County is hosting at the Newburgh Armory Unity Center, 321 S. William St. John Henderson, assistant secretary of the air force for installations, environment and energy will also be on-hand, along with state and county officials.
Washington Lake, Newburgh’s primary water supply, has been closed since May 2016 due to high levels of the toxic chemical PFOS.
The contamination has been traced to the use of PFOS-containing firefighting foams used at Stewart Air Base.
Following an open-house question-and-answer session, DoD officials will go over the current response to the contamination and planned steps.
“We welcome the DoD and Air Force in their agreement to come to Newburgh and address the concerns of both residents and local officials about the City’s water supply,” county Executive Steve Neuhaus said.