Long Island MacArthur Airport Named To New York Superfund List: DEC

RONKONKOMA, NY — Long Island MacArthur Airport was recently designated a state Superfund site after the confirmation of significant Polyfluoroalkyl substance contamination in groundwater, the state's Department of Environmental Conservation said Friday.

The agency will oversee "a comprehensive investigation to define the full nature and extent of the contamination and take appropriate action to address the contamination to ensure the protection of public health and the environment," according to a statement to Patch.

After confirming PFAS in the airport's groundwater, the DEC evaluated the potential for public exposure and offered testing of adjacent private drinking water wells, DEC officials said. The state offered alternate water supplies when the protective Maximum Contaminant Levels for PFAS were exceeded, officials said, adding, that additional actions to address contamination "will be determined once the investigation is complete."

The DEC will continue to keep the community informed throughout the process, according to officials.

As part of the state’s comprehensive evaluation of potential sources of PFAS contamination in the environment, the DEC has been examining locations with documented storage and use of aqueous film-forming foam with PFAS, often used in firefighting, DEC officials said.

Governor Kathy Hochul’s 2023 State of the State proposed a program offering financial assistance to local governments to investigate sources of contamination like AFFF and also to remediate sites, officials said.

The state also continues to increase its investments in clean water infrastructure to reduce the impact of contaminants like PFOA, PFOS, and 1,4-dioxane on the state’s water resources, according to officials.

"The state continues to lead the nation in responding to emerging contaminants like Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances and its working to clean up these forever chemicals from the environment," DEC officials said.

In a statement to Patch, airport operators, the Town of Islip, said there are no health concerns and that officials there are working with the DEC and the Suffolk County Water Authority "in an ongoing effort to address the impacts of PFOS and PFOA, which began in the 1970s with the military use of firefighting foam, and continued with airline use until 2000."

"Public drinking water supplies are closely monitored and continue to meet standards," the statement said.

Over the last 10 years, the Suffolk County Water Authority has very carefully examined developments that could impact nearby SCWA wells, the agency's chairman, Patrick Halpin told Suffolk County Water Authority chairman Patrick Halpin told Newsday.

"A Superfund site is never good news, but frankly, it's not surprising, considering the industrial development that has occurred on Long Island over the decades," he told the outlet.

A resident, who was informed by the DEC of the Superfund designation, provided Newsday with a letter outlining a “significant threat to the public health or environment" due to the presence of contaminants in groundwater and soil, the outlet reported.

Six private wells have been tested, and alternate water supplies were offered to property owners if PFAS concentrations were above the state’s drinking water standards, according to the outlet.

For more in Newsday, click here.