EPA Considering Testing Waters Near Closed New Hampshire Landfill

The city of Portsmouth closed the Haven well at Pease International Tradeport in May 2014 after the Air Force found levels of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid 12.5 times higher than the EPA’s Provisional Health Advisory, or PHA.

The EPA classified PFOS and perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA, which was also found in Haven well but below health advisory levels, as “contaminants of emerging concern.” PFOS and PFOA are a class of chemicals known as perfluorochemicals. PFCs were also found in the city-owned Smith and Harrison wells at Pease but never above the PHA.

The EPA has not set an enforceable drinking water standard for PFOA under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, the state Department of Environmental Services stated following the recent discovery of PFOA in wells in Merrimack and Litchfield. DES is now providing bottled water for anyone whose wells test above 100 parts per trillion.

EPA’s Office of Water has, however, established a PHA of 400 parts per trillion for PFOA, but that level is only for short-term contact, it acknowledged.