Officials Request to Expedite Clean-Up of Toxic Chemicals in Newburgh, NY

Federal officials are seeking to expedite the environmental remediation of the toxic PFAS at the Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh, New York.  It has been determined to be the cause of the contamination of the city's water supply.  Since the discovery, Newburgh has been using the New York City Catskill Aqueduct for its water with the state picking up the bill.

Clean-Up Of PFAS At Stewart Air National Guard Base Requested By Federal Officials

The per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of chemicals used to make fluoropolymer coatings and products that resist heat, oil, stains, grease, and water. According to the CDC, PFAS can be found in everyday items such as non-stick cookware, water-repellent clothing, stain-resistant fabrics and carpets and even cosmetics.

Too much contact with the chemicals can result in liver damage and weakened immune systems, birth defects and low birth weights, along with more prevalence in certain forms of cancer.

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Elected federal officials are calling on the Department of Defense (DoD) to get moving on the environmental remediation of the toxic PFAS at the Stewart Air National Guard Base. The installation spans a portion of the towns of Newburgh and New Windsor and has been determined to be the cause of the contamination of the City of Newburgh’s water supply, Washington Lake as well as streams in the area.

The City of Newburgh has not used Washington Lake, its primary drinking water source, since 2016. Wells serving the Town of New Windsor and fish in area waterways are also contaminated with PFAS.

According to the Center for Disease and Control Prevention (CDC), firefighting foam used at Stewart National Guard Base by the U.S. Department of Defense led to the contamination. The foam is known to consist of PFAS, which, if ingested, can cause long-term harm.

As a result, the base and surrounding area received funds to help remediate and reverse the damage

Among the officials who are urging the DoD to prioritize the cleanup of Stewart are Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirstin Gillibrand, and Representative Pat Ryan. They are pushing that the DoD explore new measures to stop the ongoing pollution of downstream waters by PFAS from the base.

Schumer said,

“[from] day one, I’ve pushed DoD’ top brass to clean up the Air National Guard’s mess at Stewart and we need more meaningful action to restore health, safety, and peace of mind to nearby Orange County residents in Newburgh and New Windsor.”

Gillibrand said residents of the area “deserve to have access to clean waterways, free from the toxic PFAS pollution originating from Stewart ANGB.”

Organizations such as Riverkeeper, New York's clean water advocate, have been fighting to speed up the clean-up efforts and spread awareness about this problem to the community. You can sign their petition here.