Vermont Business MagazineOn Monday, the Bennington Superior Court granted the State of Vermont’s motion to enter the Consent Order between the state and Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Corporation. The Consent Order memorializes the settlement agreement between the state and Saint-Gobain for PFOA contamination in western portions of Bennington and North Bennington. Under the settlement, Saint-Gobain will fund municipal water line extensions costing an estimated $20 million and conduct an expedited investigation in the eastern portion of the Bennington site.
Saint-Gobain bought Chemfab in 2000. In Bennington, the Chemfab plant produced Teflon-covered fabrics. The Teflon-coating process is considered the source of the PFOA.
“I am very pleased that the Court has entered Vermont’s settlement agreement with Saint-Gobain” said Governor Phil Scott. “We can now begin the real work of extending water lines to more than 200 residents of Bennington and North Bennington impacted or at risk of being impacted by PFOA. This is the result of many months of hard work by the Agency of Natural Resources and Attorney General’s Office working with state legislators and local officials - across multiple administrations - and the work is not done. The Attorney General and I will continue to push Saint-Gobain to address all residents affected by PFOA contamination. We will not stop until we have long-term drinking water solutions in place for everyone.”
“This settlement is a first step,” said Attorney General TJDonovan. “Work can begin this year to bring clean drinking water to many in Bennington and North Bennington. But the job isn’t done. Clean drinking water is a human right and my Office, with our state and community partners, is committed to fight until everyone gets the clean water they deserve.”
The settlement addresses approximately one-half of the Bennington site, roughly to the west of Route 7A. Approximately 200 homes will be connected to a municipal water line, with others receiving a new well or long-term point-of-entry-treatment (POET) filters. Under the settlement, Saint-Gobain is responsible for providing clean drinking water to homes in this portion of the site until long-term sampling shows that PFOA is below the State’s standard of 20 parts per trillion (ppt). Saint-Gobain has also agreed to conduct an expedited investigation in the other half of the site, roughly east of Route 7A. The State is continuing negotiations with Saint-Gobain regarding the eastern portion of the site.
The Consent Order was filed in late July and announced at a public meeting in Bennington that evening. A thirty-day public comment period followed the filing. At a status conference in Bennington Superior Court last week, the Court requested more information from the parties. The parties provided that the next day and the Court’s October 2, 2017 Order followed.
Related Documents:
Pleadings by Agreement (7/26/17)
Stipulation for Entry of Consent Order, with Consent Order (7/26/17)
Consent Order Appendices (7/26/17)
Letter regarding Public Comment Period (8/22/17)
Letter regarding Entry of Consent Order (8/29/17)
Motion for Entry of Consent Order (9/29/17)
Entry Order (10/2/17)
Consent Order Fact Sheet (7/26/17)
Consent Order FAQ (7/26/17)
Vermont AG: Oct 4, 2017