APRIL 2, 2015
Solvay Specialty Polymers claims "major findings"
in a water contamination investigation revealed no contaminants in surface
water and most private drinking wells.
The investigation, however, is far from over and the West
Deptford plastics company's cooperation is waning, according to the New Jersey
Department of Environmental Protection
Solvay is blamed for perfluorononanic acid (PFNA)
contamination in private and public wells in at least six Gloucester County
towns, with NJDEP identifying the company as the "point source" for
the chemical, according to NJDEP spokesman Larry Hajna.
In a full-page paid advertisement in a South Jersey
newspaper Thursday, Solvay provided a written update on "what we have done
so far and what we have learned."
The ad — an outrage to NJDEP commissioner Bob Martin —
indicated "major findings" from Solvay's "voluntary and
extensive" work with the NJDEP and the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency.
Solvay claimed PFNA was found in sediment, but not surface
water samples of the Delaware River; PFNA was not found in most of the 95
private drinking wells samples; and PFNA was detected in other locations
farther from its plant, suggesting "the existence of sources closer to
those locations."
"Our results indicate that PFNA comes from multiple
sources in the region," the ad indicated.
NJDEP officials call Solvay's statement "extremely
premature."
"They have made it seem like they're taking themselves
off the hook," Hajna said.
"The data we've gotten so far has been incomplete and
inconclusive."
Martin released a statement indicating extreme disappoint at
Solvay's suggestion the investigation is near completion.
Weiss True Value, on Broad Street in Paulsboro, is a
distribution point for bottled water paid for by Solvay Solexis, owner of a
West Deptford plastics plant that many fear has contaminated the water supplies
around it. (Photo: Carly Q. Romalino/Courier-Post )
"Solvay appears to be trying to absolve itself of any
further responsibility, when, in fact, we are only in the first phase of
investigation," Martin's statement said.
"Investigation work Solvay has submitted to the DEP to
date falls far short of our expectations, neglecting to investigate pathways by
which PFNAs have gotten into the area's ground water and failing to outline
future steps to be taken as the investigation continues."
High levels of PFNA were discovered in public wells in
Paulsboro, Woodbury and East Greenwich in 2013 by an environmental watchdog
group.
The group's results — the highest at 150 parts per trillion
in Paulsboro — exceeded the state's proposed 20 parts per trillion standard,
spurring NJDEP to test private wells in areas surrounding the plant.
PFNA is used for waterproofing, stain and grease resistance,
fire-fighting foams. Solvay did not manufacture PFNA, but it used it as a
production process aid until 2010, the company wrote in its ad.
An NJDEP draft report on the chemical noted a link to
cancers in lab mice.
"Our concern is the chemical is traveling through
shallow grand water aquifers," Hajna said.
"NJDEP has had to step up and do some of this work
because Solvay has not. While they started off cooperating with the DEP it has
become increasingly difficult in recent months."
Source: http://www.courierpostonline.com