Vermont Business Magazine Governor Peter Shumlin provided the following update on PFOA private well and agricultural product testing results from North Bennington and Pownal. Three maple syrup samples were taken in North Bennington two weeks ago and tested for PFOA. All results came back clean with no detection of PFOA. The Agency of Agriculture has been working in tandem with the Department of Environmental Conservation to determine if the environmental contamination of PFOA extends to soils and the agricultural products produced in the area. Soil results are expected within a week. The “non-detect” result of the maple syrup testing is a welcome early sign.
North Bennington Sediment results
The Department of Environmental Conservation received results from seven sediment samples that were collected in early March from Paran Lake, Paran Creek Mill Ponds, the Walloomsac River, and a small pond in North Bennington. Three sediment samples contained concentrations of PFOA from 1.2 to 2.4 ng/g (parts per billion), and four samples were found to be non-detect. The highest sediment concentration of PFOA (2.4 ppb) was found in the Walloomsac River, and is considerably lower than the concentration in sediment that would pose a risk to human health or the most sensitive aquatic species.
Pownal Private Water Sample Results
Results have been received from 63 well samples collected and analyzed for PFOA in Pownal. These wells were tested after results received in late March indicated that the Fire District #2 municipal water source in Pownal showed PFOA levels of between 26 and 27 parts per trillion (ppt).
Of the 63 new results, four wells were found to contain PFOA above Vermont’s health advisory limit of 20 ppt. The highest concentration found was 66 ppt. Seven locations contained concentrations under 20 ppt, and 52 were non-detect.
Several locations in Pownal Center had no detections for PFOA, including: Pownal Elementary School, Oak Hill Children’s Center, the Pownal Town Office, the Cozy Meadow Mobile Home Park.
Results from recent well testing in Pownal will be discussed at the public meeting for residents scheduled for April 19th at 6pm at the Pownal Elementary School.
For more information on Vermont’s PFOA response, visit www.anr.state.vt.us/dec/PFOA. For questions and concerns, call 2-1-1.