Keeping the community informed at every step.
The Hoosick Area Community Participation Work Group (CPWG) was formed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) in 2019 in response to concerns about perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) contamination affecting the Village of Hoosick Falls and the Town of Hoosick.
The CPWG is charged with:
- Sharing updates on remediation activities, the water supply project, and Point-of-Entry
Treatment (POET). - Gathering community feedback and helping residents understand remediation activities.
- Providing a forum for community information, questions, and concerns.
- Sharing updates on lawsuit settlements.
- Supporting state and federal legislation related to clean drinking water and regulatory
compliance.
In March 2024, when Governor Kathy Hochul announced the start of construction on the new Hoosick Falls water supply, NYSDEC officials recognized CPWG as a key partner in addressing the legal and public health aspects of the contamination crisis.
The CPWG provides residents a forum to raise concerns and share input about state Superfund sites, remediation activities, and water quality projects. It works with NYSDEC, the New York State Department of Health, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, local officials, and private entities to bring community concerns to decision-makers and help ensure transparency and accountability throughout the remediation process. The CPWG’s outreach and community feedback have helped inform remediation efforts and projects, including development of the new water supply.
The CPWG follows a monthly meeting schedule that alternates between public meetings and working sessions. Public meetings offer in-person and virtual participation, giving residents opportunities to ask questions, learn about the progress of remediation and water quality related to the new water source, and provide feedback. The group brings community input to state agencies and responsible companies, and invites agency and company representatives to join public meetings to explain how concerns are being addressed.
The CPWG is proud to serve as a voice for the Hoosick community, keeping residents informed and bringing any concerns to state and federal agencies during the cleanup process.
Membership Criteria
With the exception of the chief elected official of the Village of Hoosick Falls and the Town of Hoosick, CPWG participation is an individual membership; members are not appointed to represent the agenda of other groups (e.g., employer, special interest group, or other club or organization). With the exception of the chief elected official of the village and town, members are appointed for a renewable two-year term.
Current Members
The following are current members of the Hoosick Area CPWG, all of whom are residents of the town or village
- Christopher Bettis, Co-Chair
- Pat Daily, Co-Chair
- Michael Hickey, Village Liaison
- David Lukas
- Eric Sheffer, Town Supervisor
- Mark Surdam
- Marianne Zwicklbauer
Application Process
CPWG members are expected to attend monthly meetings and uphold the principles and standard of conduct as defined in the bylaws of the CPWG. Meetings are facilitated by The Paige Group, an independent third-party consulting firm that specializes in stakeholder engagement.
Residents, community and business leaders, and other local community stakeholders interested in participating in this group should submit a one-page letter of interest and include the following information
- Name
- Address, email, and phone number
- Reason for interest in participating on the CPWG
- Particular topics of interest
Interested community members should submit a letter of interest to the attention of CPWG facilitator, The Paige Group, via mail or email.
Hoosick Area Community Participation Work Group
Attn: The Paige Group
258 Genesee St., Suite 204
Utica, NY 13502
Meeting Schedule
Public CPWG meetings are typically held from 6–8 p.m. at a convenient local venue such as the Hoosick Falls High School or the Hoosick Armory. These are in-person meetings and a virtual meeting link also is provided. The CPWG announces meeting location and other details well in advance via a press release to the media and a notice sent to all those signed up on the CPWG Listserv.
All Hoosick area residents and guests who would like to access the public meetings, as well as receive meeting reminders and ongoing communications about the CPWG, should join the CPWG listserv by sending an email to: hoosickfallscpwg@paigegroup.com
Please include your full name (first and last) and email address.
2026 Public Meetings:
History
In late 2014, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was detected in the Village of Hoosick Falls public drinking water supply wells at levels higher than the recommended U.S. EPA advisory level. Subsequent testing also identified PFOA in private wells in the Town of Hoosick. Following the installation of water filtration units, all municipal water supply testing results have indicated non-detectable levels of PFOA since March 13, 2016.
PFOA is a man-made chemical used to make non-stick and other household products that are resistant to water, grease, and stains. The chemical is also used in Teflon coating and manufacturing processes.
In the Hoosick area, PFOA-contaminated groundwater is linked to past manufacturing sites throughout the town and village. The NYSDEC has identified Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics and Honeywell International as responsible parties for the contamination.
Since then, they have completed a $5.5 million project on a new permanent water transmission line for the village of Hoosick Falls.
The new water supply distribution system is part of a $45 million agreement between New York State, Saint-Gobain, and Honeywell to implement the new water supply, address perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) contamination from historic industrial operations at the McCaffrey Street facility and other sites in the village, and reimburse the State for costs incurred by taxpayers for the cleanup.
Today, the Hoosick area Superfund sites include:
- Saint-Gobain–McCaffrey Street
- Former Oak Materials–John Street
- Saint-Gobain–Liberty Street
- Hoosick Falls Landfill
- Alexander Schmigel Property
Investigative work is also being performed at potential Superfund sites, or “P” sites, which include:
- Oak Materials–River Road
- Interface Solutions
- Former Dodge Machine
- Allied-Signal Laminate Systems–Mechanic Street
- Former Oak-Mitsui–First Street
Superfund Process
Superfund is a program for identifying, investigating, and cleaning up sites where consequential amounts of hazardous waste may have been disposed. Identified sites go through a process of investigation, evaluation, cleanup, and monitoring that has several distinct stages:
- Site characterization: Initial investigation of potentially contaminated site, or “P” site, to determine if hazardous waste was disposed in a consequential amount and if it poses a significant threat; site and classification are listed on the Superfund registry
- Remedial investigation: Follows preliminary site investigations by NYSDEC and New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) that verify the presence of hazardous wastes that pose a significant threat to public health and the environment
- Feasibility study: Remedial alternative evaluation is determined based on nine evaluation criteria; proposed remedial action plan is created
- Record of Decision (ROD): State presents the proposed remedial action plan to the public for comment; final remedial decision is documented in the ROD
- Remediation and reclassification: Following remediation as determined by the ROD, the site is reclassified
There are five classifications for hazardous waste sites specified in the Environmental Conservation Law:
- Class 1: Causing, or presenting an imminent danger of causing, irreversible or irreparable damage to the public health or the environment; immediate action is required
- Class 2: Significant threat to the public health or environment; action is required
- Class 3: Does not present a significant threat to the environment or public health; action may be deferred
- Class 4: Site properly closed; continued management is required
- Class 5: Site properly closed; continued management is not required
