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

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 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

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

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 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 Merrimack PFAS Community Meeting, November 20, 2019

NHDES has extended the deadline to submit written comments for the draft temporary permit (air permit) to Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Corporation to 4:00 pm on Tuesday, December 31, 2019. The comment period was set to close December 6, 2019. The application and draft permit are on file with the Director, New Hampshire Department of Environmental Read More

Water Quality Standards Advisory Committee Friday, December 6, 2019, 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm Department of Environmental Services Room 112, 113, and 114 29 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH Proposed Agenda Include Discussion of NHDES Draft Surface Water Quality Standard Plan Legislative Update EPA Update Dissolved Oxygen Update Water Quality Standards Advisory Committee Meeting Agenda, Dec. Read More