Memo from Town Administrator regarding NHDES response to PFAS Focused Site Investigation

TOWN OF AMHERST, NH

               Town Administrator                    2 Main Street

    Dean E. Shankle, Jr., Ph.D.           Amherst, NH 03031

    [email protected]             (603) 673-6041 Ext. 209

                                                                                                                                                     Memo

To:              Amherst Board of Selectmen

From:          Dean Shankle, Town Administrator

Date:           May 8, 2023

 You have seen the letter the Town received from the NH Department of Environmental Services (DES) regarding the Town’s Focused Site Investigation (FSI) Report, which was done by Sanborn Head.  It is also posted on the town website.     

The letter indicates the contamination from the fire station was found “down gradient to the south” and so the areas to the north and east of the fire station “will not require further investigation or remedial measures… unless new information” becomes available. 

They have also indicated that further studies and evaluation should be done to the area south of the station to determine what, if any, further remediation strategies should be implemented.  Sandborn Head is in the process of developing a scope of work to present to the NH DES for approval. 

Removing the north and east from the town’s area of “investigation or remedial measures” means that the households in this area are now covered by the PFAS program administered by the NH DES.  I have spoken with Amy Rousseau and she agreed that these households should be directed to her program.  She asked that we include the website program in any information that we distribute on this issue.  If anyone asks you, please direct them to https://www.pfas.des.nh.gov/funding/pfas-removal-rebate-program-private-wells . 

We will be communicating with the people in this area who have been receiving bottled water and informing them that this service will end on May 31, 2023.  We will also include the contact information for the state program.  

If you have any questions, please let me know.