MERRIMACK – Calling herself a“Water Warrior” due to her diligence in heightening public awareness about hazardous PFAS material, New Hampshire Rep. Nancy Murphy, D-Merrimack, saw a victory on Friday when Gov. Chris Sununu signed House Bill 737 into law.

Murphy served as the prime sponsor of this legislation, which states is “establishing a commission to investigate and analyze the environmental and public health impacts relating to releases of perfluorinated chemicals in the air, soil, and groundwater in Merrimack, Bedford and Litchfield.”

“The extent of PFAS drinking water contamination within these communities from airborne, soil and groundwater releases, has not yet been determined and is to be delineated by the commission,” Murphy said after Sununu signed the bill. “In addition to the public wells in Merrimack providing drinking water to residents; some private wells in Merrimack, Bedford and Litchfield have also been contaminated by PFAS.”

“On behalf of my community, I extend my thanks to the governor for acknowledging the need to support this legislation which will enable the commission to begin this most important work,” Murphy added.

The State of PFAS

Now commonly known as PFAS, they are officially known as per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances. They have also become recognized as “forever chemicals” in many circles.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency information states that PFAS are found in commercial household items, such as nonstick products (Teflon), cleaning products, waxes, polishes, paints and firefighting foams. The material has been identified near the Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics plant in Merrimack.

Additionally, PFAS have been confirmed at the EPA Sylvester Superfund site, which is in south Nashua, just west of Main Dunstable School. This identification took place after the EPA confirmed that in the year 1979 alone, polluters dumped “over 800,000 gallons of hazardous wastes” directly onto the ground at this site.

The EPA states that health effects associated with exposure to PFAS can include low infant birth weights, immune system problems and even cancer.

New Hampshire officials recently slashed the amount of PFAS material allowed in drinking water from 70 parts per trillion to just 12 parts per trillion. Water distributors are officially supposed to comply with this by Oct. 1.

Structure of

Commission

According to the legislation, the commission shall consist of:

Five New Hampshire House members;

Two state Senate members;

A representative of the state Department of Health and Human Services;

A representative of the state Department of Environmental Services;

A representative of the University of New Hampshire Institute for Health Policy and Practice;

A representative of the New Hampshire Medical Society;

Two residents with backgrounds in environmental science or public health;

A representative from each town of Merrimack, Bedford and Litchfield, to be appointed by the town government;

A representative from each town of Merrimack, Bedford and Litchfield, who are members of public advocacy groups, but not a government;

A hydrogeologist appointed by the U.S. Geological Survey; and

A toxicologist, epidemiologist, or environmental health professor from UNH.

The commission should, the bill states, submit interim reports of its findings to the Legislature by Nov. 1 of each year from 2020 to 2023. The final and full report is due by Nov. 1, 2024.

“My constituents, and those similarly impacted by PFAS in surrounding communities in Southern New Hampshire and throughout the state, deserve the transparency, answers, guidance, and recommendations that this commission can provide,” Murphy added.

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