Cohoes to vote on plan to halt PFAS burning

Cohoes

With state lawmakers unable as yet to take action because of the coronavirus pandemic, a proposed moratorium on burning toxic PFAS chemicals, such as those that have been incinerated at the Norlite aggregate plant, will be tackled by the Cohoes Common Council next week.

Tuesday’s vote, to be webcast, is the latest chapter in a saga that began last winter when city officials learned the plant had been incinerating unused firefighting foam that contained aqueous film-forming foam with perfluorocarbon, or PFAS chemicals under a federal Department of Defense contract to dispose of the substance.

The incineration was used to fuel one of the kilns at the Norlite plant, which is used in producing aggregate, or mined rock material that goes into roads and construction.

Norlite earlier told the state Department of Environmental Conservation about the incineration but city officials learned of it when environmentalists filed a federal lawsuit seeking to stop the burnings.

Norlite was not under a legal obligation to provide notification of the incineration.

Despite that, the burning has raised safety alarms, especially given the growing awareness of PFAS contamination in water supplies around the state.

Known as “forever chemicals,” PFAS, per and polyfluoroalkyl substances, have raised concerns due to their sturdy chemical makeup, which means they can persist in a person’s bloodstream for a long time. The substances are associated with illness such as thyroid disorders, cancer and other ailments, mostly in people where the public water supplies have been contaminated.

The Rensselaer County village of Hoosick Falls is rebuilding its municipal water systems after PFAS substances were found in their system, coming from nearby industrial plants. PFAS were used in making Teflon and other nonstick surfaces as well as firefighting foam.

Shortly after learning of the incineration last winter, Cohoes Mayor Bill Keeler reached out to the company and local lawmakers.

By then, Norlite had halted the incineration amid upgrades to its kilns but said it wanted to resume burning in June.

Assemblyman John McDonald and Sen. Neil Breslin then put in a bill that, if passed, would ban such incineration of firefighting foam with PFAS statewide.

Before that bill had a chance to move forward and possibly be debated, though, the COVID-19 pandemic took hold. After hastily passing a 2020-21 state budget at the start of April, legislators went home and it’s uncertain when they will be back.

With Norlite saying it wanted to resume incineration concluded that the city should look at passing a yearlong moratorium on its own.

“The next best thing for us is to plug that hole until they can get the Legislature back in session,” Keeler said.

He added that he has spoken of the moratorium proposal during recent Common Council workshops.

Keeler has previously said he favors a moratorium since science is still uncertain as to whether incineration at high temperatures is safe or effective.

Norlite officials didn’t return an email on Wednesday.

The plant is located near a public housing complex where 70 families live.

PFAS contamination from firefighting foam, which has mostly been phased out, is more common than previously thought. Norlite, for instance was burning unused foam from Vermont as well as New York state.

Recently, evidence of potential contamination was found in Cairo, Greene County, at a site that had been used for firefighting drills.

And a recent survey by the Environmental Working Group suggested that other sites such as airports or industrial spots may have similar deposits of PFAS from firefighting practices.

The moratorium will go before the Council at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Due to the pandemic, the public won’t be allowed in City Hall but can dial in that day at 646-749-3122 and by using the Access Code: 457-528-253.

People can also submit email comments by 5 p.m. Tuesday, to PublicComment@ci.cohoes.ny.us

. rkarlin@timesunion com 518 454 5758 @ RickKarlinTU