Assemblyman Colin Schmitt (R,I,C,Ref-New Windsor) has announced that legislation he co-sponsored A.445-A, which would prohibit the use of PFAS in firefighting suppressants has passed the Assembly and Senate and is now awaiting action by the Governor.

Man-made chemicals called PFAS, are chemicals used in firefighting suppressant foams at numerous federal installations including at Stewart Air National Guard Base. The discharge of firefighter foams with these chemicals are the cause of the contamination of our water supplies in the eastern part of Orange County by the federal government.

Despite confirmation that PFAS found in the firefighting foam at Stewart is responsible for water contamination, as recently as late April the federal government was still allowing fire suppression foam containing these chemicals to be actively used on Stewart. As reported this caused additional contamination discharge into our area water supplies.

“As the Federal government continues to fail in its basic responsibilities to protect local residents, clean our water supply and prevent further water contamination,” Schmitt said. “ I am taking action in the State Legislature to address the serious water contamination crisis in our region. I am proud to be a co-sponsor of legislation that would ban the use of PFAS chemicals in all firefighting suppressants.”