Hoosick Falls Votes to Accept Reimbursement from Companies Responsible for PFOA Contamination

On Tuesday night, the Hoosick Falls Village Board unanimously voted to accept a $330,250 reimbursement from Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics and Honeywell International for costs to run and maintain the filtration system put in place after the village’s water supply was contaminated with PFOA.

This resolution is not a settlement agreement and so it does not exempt the companies from any future costs and damages.

It’s a huge help to our immediate cash flow. But there are no strings attached. It does not release them from suing them in the future,” stated Hoosick Falls Mayor Robert Allen.

According to Village calculations, Hoosick Falls has spent $707,392.62 due to the chemical PFOA contaminating their water supply. Mayor Allen stresses that they will continue to fight for complete reimbursement from the companies deemed responsible for the contamination.

The filtration system has been in place since 2016 and was paid for by Saint-Gobain and Honeywell. Since then, the energy and labor costs to run and maintain the system have been incurred by the Village.

In a statement, Saint-Gobain’s director of communications Dina Pokedoff said, “Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics and Honeywell have been in continuous dialogue with this administration, as well as the previous administration, to provide reimbursements to the village for the costs it incurred regarding the treatment systems that ensure village residents have access to potable drinking water.”

This resolution has come one year after the Hoosick Falls Village Board voted to reject a $1 million partial settlement agreement with Saint-Gobain and Honeywell due to widespread community opposition.

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