Welcome. This website will be used to update interested parties on NHDES’ current investigation into the presence of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in New Hampshire. You can access our previous webpage for archived information: https://www.des.nh.gov/organization/commissioner/pfoa.htm.
Saint Gobain Performance Plastics Submits a Request for a Variance Related to Air Permit
On June 4, 2020, Saint Gobain Performance Plastics (SGPP) submitted a request for a variance of the February 11, 2021 deadline for completing construction and installation of the PFAS air emission controls as required in RSA 125-C:10-e and the air permit TP-0256 issued by NHDES on February 11, 2020. In the variance request, SGPP cited Read More
Human Health Risk Assessment of Fish Consumption and Detected PFAS at Squam Lake, April 13, 2020
The NHDES Environmental Health Program (EHP) has reviewed the 2018 Squam Lake Fish Tissue Results for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and has released the following Human Health Risk Assessment of Fish Consumption and Detected PFAS at Squam Lake, April 13, 2020.
Recording – Londonderry Town Council Meeting/PFAS and Drinkingwater Presentation and Discussion
Recording of the March 2, 2020 Londonderry Town Council Meeting. At the meeting, Clark Freise, NHDES Assistant Commissioner and Jeffrey Marts, P.G., Senior Hydrogeologist in the NHDES Hazardous Waste Remediation Bureau appeared to give a presentation on PFAS and other ground water and drinkingwater issues in the Town of Londonderry – and to answer questions. Read More
Issuance of Temporary Permit for Installation of Equipment to Control Air Emissions of PFAS – Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics, Merrimack, NH
On February 11th, the NHDES Air Resources Division issued a Temporary Permit (i.e. Permit to Construct) to Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics (SGPP) in Merrimack. The permit authorizes SGPP to install air pollution control equipment for the purposes of removing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). As part of this decision, NHDES determined that the proposed control equipment Read More
Reports #7 and #8 – PFAS Sampling Conducted by the EPA Office of Research and Development
In 2017, NHDES requested assistance from the U.S. EPA’s Office of Research and Development (EPA ORD) to conduct analyses of various samples for the potential existence of PFAS compounds. On January 30, 2020 EPA ORD issued Reports #7 and #8 in a series of work products that document results of the analyses performed on the Read More
Saint-Gobain Issues Letter on the Status of the Water Supply Well Sampling Program
Saint-Gobain sent a letter to NHDES on January 13, 2020 outlining how it intends to proceed with the Water Supply Well Sampling Program in light of the status of the PFAS Drinking Water Standards (MCLs) and Ambient Groundwater Quality Standards (AGQS). The Sampling Program is outlined in a Work Plan submitted on behalf of Saint-Gobain Read More
Update on New Hampshire PFAS Drinking Water Standards (MCLs)
In 2019, the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) adopted rules that establish health-based drinking water standards or Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) and Ambient Groundwater Quality Standards (AGQS) for four per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that include: 12 parts per trillion (ppt) for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), 15 ppt for perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), 18 Read More
Plan to Generate Surface Water Quality Standards
On December 30, 2019, NHDES submitted a plan to the legislature to establish surface water quality standards for four per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). This plan, in accordance with Chapter 368 laws of 2018, contains a schedule and cost estimates, was required to be delivered to the legislature for their consideration by no later than January 1, Read More
Legislative Commission on the Environmental and Public Health Impacts of Perfluorinated Chemicals.
LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION ESTABLISHED TO STUDY PFAS IMPACTS TO LOCAL AREA A law passed in 2019 establishes a commission to investigate and analyze the environmental and public health impacts relating to releases of perfluorinated chemicals (PFAS) in the air, soil, and groundwater in Merrimack, Bedford and Litchfield. The commission began meeting in October 2019 and information Read More
Slides from Nov. 20 Merrimack PFAS Community Meeting.
Slides from Merrimack PFAS Community Meeting, November 20, 2019