Letter to Gina McCarthy, Administrator, US Environmental Protection Agency - Water Testing in Coakley Landfill

Letter

Dear Administrator McCarthy:

I write regarding the ongoing water contamination issues affecting several New Hampshire communities.

As you recall, on April 26, 2016, I wrote the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) encouraging the Agency to address the North Hampton Select Board's request for testing within the Coakley landfill and the surrounding watershed. Traces of contaminates have already been identified in some residents' wells nearby the Coakley landfill site giving rise to public concern about the safety of their water supply. Testing outside the boundary of the landfill should be carried out and analyzed in a timely manner to determine if contaminates are indeed leaching outside the landfill perimeter. Additionally, testing should be continued until residents and officials fully understand the extent of contamination.

I reiterate my earlier point that all New Hampshire residents deserve to know whether their water is safe, local officials need to be able to respond to concerned residents and water treatment professionals need to have clearly defined objectives for treatment.

I urge the Agency to work with town officials and residents to address concerns and questions, and I respectfully request that the Agency copy my office on any relevant correspondence. Thank you for your attention to this critically important matter, I look forward to your timely response.

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