“Saint-Gobain Performance Plastic and Honeywell International will pay Hoosick Falls nearly $200,000 for lost sewer and water revenues due to the PFOA contamination of its water supply.

The Village Board on Monday unanimously approved an agreement for the companies to pay $195,478.50 for the lost revenues spanning June 1, 2015 through May 31, 2018, the second such agreement the village has struck with the two companies this year that does not preclude Hoosick Falls from filing additional claims.

Meanwhile, the state Department of Health is beginning round two of blood testing for residents, which will help show whether PFOA levels have gone down in those who were tested in the first round as well as give others the opportunity to get tested who may not have done so before.

‘We had our first settlement back in February where they reimbursed us for engineering and other costs,’ village Mayor Rob Allen said. ‘This will get us back to where we should have been with water and sewer revenue, and the process of negotiations will continue.’

Saint-Gobain officials issued a statement Monday evening recognizing the vote the board was to make on the payment.

‘This proposed agreement is not an admission of liability by either company and demonstrates the companies’ ongoing commitment to work with local, state and federal officials,’ said Dina Pokedoff, director of communications at Saint-Gobain.

Honeywell also issued a statement, saying the company ‘remains focused on conducting the environmental investigations under the state’s supervision and direction. We are pleased to resolve the village’s lost water and sewer revenue claim.’

In February the board accepted a $330,251 payment from Saint-Gobain and Honeywell to reimburse the village for some of the costs associated with the PFOA contamination of its water supply.

The board Monday night also unanimously approved entering into a ‘tolling’ agreement that will prevent the parties from suing one another for a year while they continue negotiations. Should negotiations stall, the village must give a 30-day notice of its intent to file a lawsuit…

Last year, Hoosick Falls trustees came close to settling with the companies for just over $1 million, with the caveat that the village would be prohibited from bringing future claims against Saint Gobain and Honeywell related to pollution. That proposed deal sparked outcry from residents as well as state and federal leaders and eventually was rejected.

The stay on litigation against the companies allows the village to better understand the full scope of the contamination, Allen said.”

Read the full article by Amanda Fries