Vermont Business Magazine Governor Peter Shumlin announced today new test results from precautionary groundwater sampling of perfluorinated compounds at the closed Shaftsbury Landfill. Results showed PFOA to be present at a concentration of 25 parts per trillion in the one monitoring well tested. The combined Vermont Health Advisory limit for PFOA and PFOS is 20 parts per trillion. Additional monitoring wells at the landfill will be tested within the next several weeks.
Residents with private wells living within a quarter mile of the closed landfill will be contacted by the Department of Environmental Conservation to have their wells tested. Bottled water will be supplied to residents as a temporary source of drinking water until test results are received. A pick-up location is currently being identified and will be made available tomorrow. Residents should contact the Department of Environmental Conservation at (802) 828-1138 if their drinking water well is located within a quarter mile radius and they have not heard from the Department by Friday, July 22.
Approximately 15 residences with private wells are believe to be located within a quarter mile of the closed landfill. A quarter mile radius was set based on the size and nature of the Shaftsbury Landfill site. The municipal water supply system in Shaftsbury shared with the Village of North Bennington does not contain any perfluorinated chemicals, and is safe to drink.
The Department of Environmental Conservation asked the Town of Shaftsbury to test for perfluorinated compounds including PFOA and PFOS after several residents expressed concerns of possible contamination at the site. The town agreed to test for the potentially harmful chemicals due to its proximity to the former Chemfab plant in North Bennington.
The Shaftsbury Landfill has always been owned and operated by the Town of Shaftsbury. It operated from 1967 to 2006. The town is the current steward of the landfill’s post-closure maintenance plan.
For questions related to PFOA or private drinking water well testing, call the Vermont Dept. of Environmental Conservation at (802) 828-1138.
For health-related questions, call the Vermont Dept. of Health at (800) 439-8550.
Source: Governor's office 7.20.2016