U.S. Senator Charles Schumer called on the Director of the Air National Guard on July 20 to immediately release an expedited timeline for the identification and cleanup of any and all PFOS pollution. Toxic PFOS, possibly from Stewart Air Base, has contaminated the City of Newburgh’s drinking water supply.
PFOS—perfluorooctanesulfonic acid—is a persistent environmental toxin believed to be responsible for a wide range of health problems, including cancer. Used in the fire-suppressing foam that military bases use to train soldiers in putting out plane fires, PFOS contamination has been found near other air bases.
In his letter to Lt. Gen. L. Scott Rice, director of the Air National Guard, Schumer said the Air National Guard committed to releasing a timeline and to award a contract for an interim site investigation. They have yet to deliver on that promise.
