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PFOA Contamination Response: Community Updates
Week of October 31, 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.
healthNovember 7 Deadline to Sign-Up for Health Blood Testing Clinics

  Update from the Department of Health
 
Two additional PFOA blood draw clinics will be held in November 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 by November 7 .
The Health Department will then contact you to schedule your appointment.
 
For more information, visit: http://healthvermont.gov/enviro/pfoa_clinics.aspx

BenningtonNorth Bennington & Bennington Update
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 complete. Out of 270 wells that were re-tested, 258 remained below 20 parts per trillion or at non-detect levels. The twelve homes that received re-sampling results above 20 parts per trillion in this second round of sampling are scheduled to receive point-of-entry treatment systems (POETs).  

Testing Results from Local Fish Tissue Sampling -- The Departments of Environmental Conservation and Fish & Wildlife tested fish for evidence of PFOA as part of a robust environmental review to determine the extent of PFOA contamination in the North Bennington area. Samples of several fish species were collected in April 2016 from four different locations in North Bennington: Lake Paran, Paran Creek, Mill Pond and the Walloomsac River. A total of 15 fish were tested. According to standard methodology, PFOA was considered non-detect in all of the 15 fish samples taken from waters near the former Chemfab facility in North Bennington. PFOS was detected and measured in trace amounts in 10 of 15 of the samples.
 
The results were analyzed by a technical review team of scientists representing the Departments of Health, Fish & Wildlife and Environmental Conservation. The results from these limited data do not prompt the Health Department to issue any specific advice regarding fish consumption in the Bennington area. The results did not prompt the technical review team to recommend any additional fish testing at this time.

From Toxics Action Center Coordinator Shaina Kasper:
Water and test result data can be hard to understand. At Toxics Action Center, we believe it's important for concerned residents to understand their test results in and out.  That's why we're calling on impacted residents to join us on November 16th for an in-depth workshop to look at real test results, work as a group to look at data together, identify the important questions  to bring experts and make a plan to get satisfying answers in plain english.  Learn more and sign- up here:  http://bit.ly/2fkiTNT, or contact Shaina Kasper at  802-223-4099 or shaina@toxicsaction.org.

Nothing to report this week.

shaftsburyShaftsbury Update
Nothing to report this week.

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.