PFAS Press Conference A Success

Our fledgling Coalition to Prevent Westchester Airport Expansion took a major step forward this past Wednesday, April 17, holding a successful press conference at the BelleFair Community Room in Rye Brook near the airport on PFAS chemical contamination of ground water at and around the County airport.  PFAS is a family of toxic chemicals -- per/polyfluoroalkyl substances found in airport fire fighting foam.

Coalition Chair George Klein educated the public about the situation and recognized the serious efforts being made by the County to address it.  He then put forth a set of concrete proposals to better protect the Kensico Reservoir next door to the airport, the Blind Brook that runs through it, and nearby private drinking water wells from further chemical contamination in the future.

Click here to view our Press Release and here for our Presentation.  Click here to watch the press conference via Facebook.

We attracted favorable media coverage from both News12 Westchester and Fios1 TV stations.  Print media converage included LoHud/Journal News, the Examiner, the Westmore News and Greenwich Time.  Citizens for a Responsible County Airport livestreamed the event on Facebook.

A number of prominent elected officials showed up as well.  State Senator Shelley Mayer and State Assemblyman David Buchwald came to listen and show solidarity.  They both made brief statements expressing their support and pledging to make sure that the State does its part.  State Assemblyman Thomas Abinanti could not attend but sent a staffer and a message of support.  The County Legislature was represented by Legislator Nancy Barr, the Chair of the Environmental Committee, and Senior Counsel Chris Crane.  

After the meeting, we received expressions of support for several of our most impactful proposals from members of the County government, and we look forward to working with the administration and legislature to implement our proposals to safeguard our water and to drive home the message that the County airport must be managed with a hefty degree of extra caution to avoid risks of expanding airport capacity or introducing toxicity.

Now is the time to capitalize on this success by reaching out to your friends and neighbors to point out the good work we are doing and encourage them to become supporters too.  Thank you for doing your part.

We are grateful to all the volunteers who worked so hard and contributed to the success of this event.