Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr. (I, D, WF, WE - Sag Harbor) today announced that he has called on the Commissioner of the New York State Department of Health, Howard Zucker, for the necessary establishment of Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) of PFOS, PFOA, and 1,4-dioxane in drinking water supply, echoing the requests made by his colleagues, Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee and Senator Liz Krueger, earlier this week.

“All over the State, the emergence of these contaminants in our drinking water supply and their harmful effects are becoming an increasingly prevalent, and unacceptable, reality. Seven locations are currently being impacted by PFOS and PFOA within my Assembly District alone,” Assemblyman Thiele stated in his letter to Commissioner Zucker, “It is undeniable that these contaminants can have significant public health consequences and have been linked to several potentially life-threatening conditions.”

In response to the increasing threat of these emerging contaminants, the 2017-18 State Budget created the Drinking Water Quality Council, which was charged with recommending MCLs to the Department of Health for PFOA, PFOS, and 1,4-dioxane. The Council was mandated to produce these MCLs. The New York State Department of Health has the authority to create MCLs for these contaminants without waiting for the Drinking Water Quality Council to act.

As per recommendations by the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Assemblyman Thiele urged the DOH to establish a combined MCL for PFOS and PFOA no greater than 11ppt. Additionally, Thiele supported his colleagues’ request to establish a MCL for 1,4-dioxane at 0.3ppt, as was successfully done in Massachusetts.

“Access to safe drinking water should be a right, not a privilege, and no New Yorker should fear for their health when turning on their faucet,” stated Assemblyman Thiele, “I stand with my colleagues to strongly urge the New York State Department of Health to take action and establish enforceable MCLs for these harmful contaminants now.”