**View video of the full update HERE.**
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Westchester County is committed to working cooperatively with NYS DEC and NYC DEP to protect our drinking water.
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Westchester County welcomes all suggestions on environmental issues.
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Westchester County Airport has an Environmental Management Program that has been in existence since 2004.
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The prior administration suspended the ground water monitoring program.
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The ground water monitoring program samples and monitors wells at the airport but these are not drinking wells. There are no drinking water wells on the airport property.
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The monitoring is done to see if contamination is or could potentially threaten the Blind Brook Watershed or the Kensico Reservoir.
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Contamination can be from jet fuel or deicing fluid or other sources
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Among these contaminants are PFAS.
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PFAS are an emerging unregulated contaminate.
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PFAS are used in many products from carpeting, apparels, upholstery, food paper wrappings, fire-fighting foams and metal plating.
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Military began using firefighting foam with PFAS.
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3M was the manufacturer of this foam and the County is taking steps to file suit against 3M.
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Unfortunately, we are finding PFAS in our testing of the ground water monitoring wells.
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The County has hired a consultant to help us track where the water is migrating to and how to best deal with remediation.
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At the airport we are using water instead of foam to practice putting out fires – however it is important to note that to saves lives in a real aircraft fire we will use foam.