The State of Politics blog reports that Sen. Kathy Marchione, (R-Halfmoon), who represents parts of Columbia and Rensselaer County, and who has been criticized by Hoosick Falls residents for not calling for hearings on the PFOA water contamination in her district, still is not calling for those hearings, but released a letter June 30 saying she held a productive meeting and listed what is getting done on the issue in Albany. Marchione's meeting with state Operations Director Jim Malatras, DEC representatives and local officials from Hoosick Falls and Petersburgh yielded this information from Marchione:
• Officials are trying to get a water filtration system for the Berlin School;
• A preliminary report about fixing the municipal water system in Petersburgh says it will cost around $8.5 million;
• Officials will continue the “if you want it, you get it” policy for POET carbon filtration systems for in Petersburgh and Hoosick Falls;
• New York will study fixing Hoosick Falls’ municipal water system;
• New York will pay for six months of water for Town of Petersburgh residents, just like the state did for Hoosick Falls residents;
• Blood tests for Petersburgh residents start on July 23 at the Petersburgh Community Center;
Marchione listed a few other items, and said this is “not the end of this effort." Read the full story in The State of Politics blog.