New Hampshire House Bill HB478

New Hampshire 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/10/21
• Refer: 1/10/21
• Refer: 2/5/21
• Report DNP: 11/12/21
• Report Pass: 11/12/21
• Engrossed: 1/18/22
• Refer: 1/18/22
• Refer: 4/27/22

Caption

Relative to treatment of PFAScontaminants in thedrinking water of the Merrimack Village Water District.

Impact

The bill outlines that Saint Gobain must assume full responsibility for costs associated with the water treatment of the affected wells starting October 27, 2025. This includes all operational costs and any necessary modifications to ensure compliance with existing and future water quality standards. By mandating these responsibilities, the bill seeks to protect public health and ensure that water quality is maintained at acceptable levels without passing the costs onto residents who are not responsible for the contamination.

Summary

House Bill 478 aims to address the contamination of drinking water in the Merrimack Village Water District by perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), particularly perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). The bill specifically requires Saint Gobain Performance Plastics, the entity responsible for the contamination, to fund the operation, maintenance, and enhancements of a water treatment system established to restore water quality in the affected wells. This legislation intends to relieve local water district ratepayers from bearing the financial burden of the ongoing remediation efforts.

Contention

During discussions surrounding HB 478, there were points of contention regarding the adequacy of Saint Gobain's commitment to effectively manage the ongoing contamination. Critics raised concerns about the long-term implications of PFAS contamination, specifically citing that the half-life of PFOA is approximately 95 years, making the remediation a prolonged process. Furthermore, historical concerns were noted regarding the effectiveness of previous agreements and measures taken by Saint Gobain in addressing contamination issues, raising questions about the reliability of future compliance and remediation efforts.