Hoosick Falls Area

Information for Communities Impacted by Per- and Poly-fluorinated Aklyl Substances (PFAS)

DEC works closely with New York State Department of Health (DOH) to ensure the safety and health of all New Yorkers. Through the work of the Governor's Water Quality Rapid Response Team, New York State has taken unprecedented action and spared no expense to secure clean drinking water for the Hoosick area. For the latest community information and updates, please visit the DOH website.

In 2016, Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was detected in the Village of Hoosick Falls' public drinking water supply and Town of Hoosick private drinking water wells above the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) health advisory level of 70 parts per trillion (ppt). The presence of PFOA in groundwater is linked to past manufacturing sites in the Hoosick area. PFOA is part of a group of compounds called Per- and Poly-fluorinated Aklyl Substances (PFAS).

Learn more about PFAS and how these issues have been addressed.

Read the Hoosick Area Cleanup Community Update Newsletter (October 2019) (PDF)

View the slide presentation (PDF) from the October 23, 2019 meeting

Previous Community Updates:

Fact Sheet (December 2021) (PDF)

August 2019 (PDF)

June 2019 (PDF)

Hoosick Falls Municipal Water Supply

Municipal Water Supply Remedial Action Groundwater Monitoring Plan (PDF, 2.1 MB)

Fact Sheet (March 2024) (PDF)

Section 401 Water Quality Certification Permit, February 2024 (PDF, 4,034 KB)

Article 15 Water Withdrawal Permit, February 2024 (PDF 792 KB)

Record of Decision for Saint-Gobain McCaffrey Street Operable Unit Number 02: Municipal Water Supply, December 2021 (PDF, 3 MB)

Community Participation Work Group (CPWG)

In 2019, DEC and DOH assisted the community in the facilitation of the formation of the Hoosick Area Community Participation Work Group. The Work Group provides a forum for the greater Hoosick area community to discuss the progress of PFOA clean-up and options for municipal water supply. The CPWG gives directly impacted residents an avenue to request and provide information, opinions, and perspectives on the projects.

Citizen Participation Work Group Plan April 2019 (PDF)

Technical Assistance Needs Assessment

The proposal for the Community Participation Work Group was developed as a result of the recommendations from the Technical Assistance Needs Assessment (TANA)(PDF, leaves DEC website) performed by the Environmental Protection Agency. The TANA was performed in order to identify whether the community of Hoosick will require additional support to understand technical information and enable meaningful community involvement in the Superfund decision-making process.

Environmental Testing and Cleanup

McCaffrey Street and Liberty streets (Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Sites)

Saint-Gobain McCaffrey Street Information

DEC has entered into a consent order (PDF) with Saint-Gobain and Honeywell for implementation of a remedial program. In February 2016, the Saint-Gobain McCaffrey Street Site was listed on the NYS Registry of Hazardous Waste Disposal Sites as a Class 2 site; and in July 2017, the EPA added the site to the Federal National Priorities List (NPL). The site is undergoing a remedial investigation. Work to date has included collection of samples from soil, groundwater and surface water. The main contaminant of concern (COC) is perfluorooctonic acid (PFOA) in soil and groundwater.

View more information about site #442046, including information about the history of the site.

Saint-Gobain Liberty Street Information

DEC has entered into a consent order (PDF) with Saint-Gobain and Honeywell for implementation of a remedial program. In February 2016, the Saint-Gobain McCaffrey Street Site was listed on the NYS Registry of Hazardous Waste Disposal Sites as a Class 2 site. The site is undergoing a remedial investigation. Work to date has included collection of samples from soil, groundwater and surface water. The main contaminant of concern (COC) is perfluorooctonic acid (PFOA) in soil and groundwater.

View more information about site #442048, including information about the history of the site.

As part of the consent order with Saint-Gobain and Honeywell, DEC subsequently negotiated for to:

  • install and pay for operation and maintenance of a full capacity carbon filtration system for the Village water supply;
  • implement a remedial program for the Saint-Gobain McCaffrey Street sites; and
  • conduct investigations of three other sites in the Village and Town to determine if these sites should be listed as State Superfund sites

River Road and John Street Sites

DEC has entered into a consent order with Honeywell (PDF) for implementation of investigations of the Oak Materials (River Road) Site (No. 442008) and the Former Oak Material (John Street) Site (No. 442049) in order to determine if either of these sites should be listed as a State Superfund site. In July 2017, the John Street site was listed as a Class 2 site and the existing consent order includes provisions for Honeywell to implement the remedial program at the site.

Oak Materials River Road Information

The Oak Material River Road site is a potential hazardous waste disposal site (P-site) and is in the site characterization phase of investigation. Upon completion of the site characterization, the DEC and DOH will determine the need for a remedial investigation and feasibility study. Work to date has included soil, groundwater, surface water and sediment sampling. Perfluoroctonic acid (PFOA) and Vinyl Chloride have been identified as contaminants of concern (COCs). Upon completion of the site characterization a determination of need to perform a remedial investigation will be made by DEC and DOH.

View more information about site #442008, including information about the history of the site.

Former Oak Materials John Street Information

In July 2017, the Former Oak Materials John Street site was listed on the NYS Registry of Hazardous Waste Disposal Sites as a Class 2 site and the existing consent order includes provisions for Honeywell to implement the remedial program at the site. Advanced remedial investigation tasks are underway. Work to date at John Street has included collection of soil, groundwater, and soil gas/indoor air samples. Trichloroethene (TCE) and other chlorinated volatile organic chemicals (CVOCs) along with perflorooctonic acid (PFOA) are the primary contaminants of concern.

View more information about site #442049, including information about the history of the site.

Hoosick Falls Landfill, Mechanic Street and First Street Sites

Hoosick Falls Landfill

The Hoosick Falls Landfill has been designated a Class 2 State Superfund Site (PDF). Recent environmental investigations have identified significant concentrations of perfluoro-octanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluoro-octanesulfonic acid (PFOS) within and surrounding the site. These chemicals have been released from the Hoosick Falls Landfill and resulted in the potential for people to be exposed to site-related contaminants through direct contact, ingestion of contaminated drinking water, or through the consumption of contaminated fish. Additional investigation is recommended to further define the nature and extent of site-related contamination and to better understand potential exposure pathways.

View more information about site #442007, including information about the history of the site

Allied-Signal Laminate Systems Mechanic Street

DEC has entered into a consent order with Honeywell (PDF) for implementation of investigations of the Allied-Signal Laminate Systems - Mechanic Street site (No. 442050). Mechanic Street is a potential hazardous waste disposal site (P-site) and is in the site characterization phase of investigation. Upon completion of the site characterization, the DEC and DOH will determine the need for a remedial investigation and feasibility study.

View more information about site #442050, including information about the history of the site

Former Oak-Mitsui First Street

DEC has entered into a consent order with Oak-Mitsui (PDF) for implementation of investigations of the Former Oak-Mitsui - First Street site (No. 442052). Former Oak-Mitsui First Street is a potential hazardous waste disposal site (P-site) and is in the site characterization phase of investigation. Upon completion of the site characterization, the DEC and DOH will determine the need for a remedial investigation and feasibility study.

View more information about site #442052, including information about the history of the site

Other Environmental Sampling in the Hoosick Area

Saint-Gobain PTFE Sintering Facility Emissions Characterization Study
• Final EPA ORD Report (PDF)
• DEC Summary Memorandum (PDF)
• DEC presentation slides from 12/18/2019 CPWG meeting (PDF)

Hoosick Falls Air Deposition Study

Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics and Honeywell (the Companies) are moving forward with an Air Deposition Study in the Hoosick Falls area (PDF) to evaluate the potential for per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and specifically perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), to be dispersed in the environment through the air dispersion pathway. The work plan has been prepared in accordance with the NYSDEC Order on Consent and Administrative Settlement between the Companies and NYSDEC (Index No. CO 4-20160212-18). This work plan is not associated with any single facility, but serves as supplemental information for multiple NYSDEC Class 2, and P-Sites located in the Hoosick Falls area.

Supplemental Groundwater Source Investigation

Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics and Honeywell (the Companies) have performed a Supplemental Groundwater Source Investigation Program as a part of the ongoing Municipal Water Supply Study (Study) for the Village of Hoosick Falls (Village) under the terms of their existing Consent Order with DEC.

The exploration drilling and sampling work to characterize and assess the thickness and the water-bearing potential within targeted areas of the Hoosick River Valley Aquifer is discussed in detail in the approved 2018 Supplemental Groundwater Source Investigation Work Plan (PDF, 6 MB) (CHA & ERM, July 2018). This work is a component of the New Groundwater Source Option being considered and assessed as a viable drinking water source for the Village in the Study.

Municipal Water Supply Study for the Village of Hoosick Falls

Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics and Honeywell (the Companies) have conducted a Municipal Water Supply Study (Study) for the Village of Hoosick Falls (Village) under the terms of their existing Consent Order with DEC.

Virtual Public Meeting on the Proposed Remedial Action Plan for the Village of Hoosick Falls Municipal Water Supply, May 2021 (leaves DEC's website)

Power Point Presentation, May 2021 (PDF, 3 MB) -- Virtual public meeting regarding the Proposed Remedial Action Plan: Saint-Gobain McCaffrey Street Operable Unit OU02: Municipal Water Supply -- Village of Hoosick Falls

McCaffrey Street OU02 Proposed Remedial Action Plan (PDF)

McCaffrey Street OU02 PRAP Fact Sheet, April 2021 (PDF)

The Former Columbia Corporation

The Former Columbia Corporation site has been designated as a Potential State Superfund Site (P-site) which requires the completion of a Site Characterization investigation to determine if the site meets the criteria for placement on the New York State Registry of Inactive Hazardous Waste Disposal Sites. The Site Characterization will be State-led and the work plan is currently being prepared. Investigation results will be evaluated by DEC and DOH to determine if hazardous waste is present and if that waste poses a significant threat to human health or the environment.

Interface Solutions

DEC has entered into a consent order with Lydall Performance Materials (US), Inc. (Lydall; the responsible party) for the implementation of a site characterization investigation at the Interface Solutions Site. The site has been designated a Potential State Superfund Site ("P" site) because preliminary information indicates the site may contain contamination. This designation as a "P" site makes it eligible for consideration for placement on the State's Registry of Inactive Hazardous Waste Disposal Sites (the Registry). Further information and/or investigation, in the form of a site characterization, is required to determine if this site qualifies for listing on the Registry. A work plan has been prepared by Lydall, and approved by DEC and DOH, describing the scope of work required to determine the presence or absences of any hazardous waste at the Site. Such work includes the collection of samples from soil, groundwater, surface water, and sediment. Based on results of the Site Characterization, DEC and DOH will determine if the site meets the criteria for placement on the State's Registry.

Site Characterization Work Plan (PDF)
Appendix A (PDF)
Appendix B (PDF)
Appendix D (PDF)
Exhibits 1 through 4 (PDF, 19 MB)

Potential PFAS Dump Sites Investigation

DEC has received information indicating that dumping has potentially occurred on specific properties in the Town of Hoosick, and in southern Washington County. The chemicals which are allegedly disposed of are potentially related to manufacturing of products containing PTFE, PFOA, or PFOS. The timeline of potential dumping varies according to the different reports, but generally is thought to have occurred during the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. Production of PTFE materials began in the Town of Hoosick as early at 1955.

DEC has reviewed the list of tips which have been received and in 2018 will pursue the collection of data at sites located throughout the town of Hoosick, The Village of Hoosick Falls, and in southern Washington County. This work will determine if the sites contain elevated levels of contaminants and require further site characterization.

Environmental Sampling

In 2016, DEC conducted environmental sampling of soil, groundwater, surface water, and sediment in the Hoosick area to determine if these environmental media have been impacted by PFCs. This has helped determine sources of contamination. Additional investigations are now ongoing by potentially responsible parties with oversight and direction by DEC.

How to Get Your Drinking Water Tested

New York State continues to sample private wells in the Hoosick area. If you would like to schedule a technician to visit your home for well water sampling, call DOH at (518) 402-7860.

Point of Entry Treatment System (POETS)

As of the end of December 2023, 1045 POET systems have been installed and are currently being monitored and maintained by DEC in the Hoosick Falls Area. 

 
Contact for this Page

Division of Environmental Remediation
625 Broadway
Albany, NY 12233

This Page Covers
Region 4 - Capital Region/Northern Catskills
Icon