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PFOA Contamination Response: Community Updates
Week of October 3, 2016
You are receiving this e-mail because you have requested to be updated on Vermont's PFOA response efforts, or because your well was recently sampled. If you wish to stop receiving these updates, you may unsubscribe at any time using the link at the bottom of this e-mail. 

NOTE: Because the news pace has slowed down, we will now be sending community updates
every other week. 

Thank you.
healthTwo Additional Blood Testing Clinics in November
Update from the Department of Health
 
Two additional PFOA blood draw clinics will be held next month at the Department of Health Bennington District Office:
 
  • November 14 from 1:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
  • November 15 from 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Blood testing is by appointment for eligible participants. There will be no cost to participants.
 
Eligibility - You are eligible for the blood test if:
  1. The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation tested the well of the home in North Bennington or Bennington where you live now, or where you lived any time in the past eight years, and/or
  2. You worked or lived at the former Chemfab/Saint-Gobain site at 940/1030 Water Street in North Bennington, or you work or live there now.
To Register for an Appointment  --  Complete this online registration survey .
The Health Department will then contact you to schedule your appointment.
 

BenningtonNorth Bennington & Bennington Update
Bennington Community Meeting Presentation Slides -- Presentation slides from last week's community meeting on September 28 at Tishman Lecture Hall are now available on the DEC website. Access slides here. 

Status of Re-Sampling Effort:  The re-sampling effort to sample water supply wells that previously tested non-detect or less than 20 parts per trillion for PFOA is wrapping up this week. As with the initial sampling protocol, results from re-tests will be mailed to the respective owners and tenants. Expect to receive results two to three weeks after your well was re-sampled. If you have any questions about this re-sampling effort, please contact DEC staff Richard Spiese or John Schmeltzer at (802) 828-1138.

Geophysical well logging is underway by Vermont Geological Survey (DEC) and SUNY Plattsburgh partner: Ever wonder what is really going on when scientists approach a water supply well with fancy gear? Here's the scoop.

Geophysical tools that are attached to a cable and electric winch are lowered down into the well one at a time to measure: 1) water temperature and conductivity, 2) the natural radioactivity of rock formations, and 3) well diameter. The whole setup is run by a laptop, and helps the field scientists to understand what kind of rock is under the ground, and where the fractures are in the rock. 

A fourth tool called an Accoustic Televiewer constructs a 3-dimensional radar image of the whole well that shows the beds and fractures intersecting the well. The geophysical logging takes 3-5 hours per well and depends on the depth.

Two impacted homes connected to Fire District #2 water distribution system  -- Two homes with private wells that tested over 20 parts per trillion for PFOA back in March 2016 have been officially connected to the Pownal Fire District #2 water supply. Tying onto the municipal system was considered a viable alternative to installing individual point-of-entry treatment systems on the homes. 
shaftsburyShaftsbury Update
Latest Groundwater Monitoring Results at Shaftsbury Landfill
Results from the groundwater monitoring wells located on the closed landfill property have been received and are posted here. All groundwater monitoring wells returned PFOA results below the 20 parts per trillion (ppt) drinking water standard.  Monitoring Well #8 (MW-8), the well that was originally sampled with a result of 25 ppt of PFOA, had a concentration of 17 ppt in this most recent sampling event.
infoInformation Resources Available
For general PFOA questions and concerns:
Call 802-828-1138.
Visit: Vermont DEC PFOA Response Page

For questions about potential health effects of PFOA:
Call the Vermont Department of Health toll-free at 800-439-8550.
Visit: Vermont Department Health PFOA Page

You may also reply to this e-mail with general questions.