InDepthNH.org (https://indepthnh.org/author/ani-freedman/)
The New Hampshire legislature has finished its most recent session, an important one for several lawmakers who have made PFAS chemicals a hallmark of their careers.
The National Weather Service issued an excessive heat warning for southern New Hampshire, with “heat index values up to 105 expected.”
A new EPA classification of two PFAS chemicals as hazardous under the Superfund Law has also entered the conversation about the cleanup of the Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics site in Merrimack, a manufacturing company notorious for widespread PFAS contamination of drinking water.
“The people in that building have not been on our side and have not been ensuring the rights of all citizens,” Grace Murray, Political Director of the New Hampshire Youth Movement, said in front of the State House.
Conflict stirred on the House floor when SB 476 was brought forward. The bill would allocate funds to the Department of Corrections toward the replacement of the New Hampshire state prison for men, but an additional amendment is what sparked controversy among representatives.
Nine employees at a Littleton Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) office have been diagnosed with cancer, prompting a cancer cluster investigation into the potential causes for their illnesses, according to letters shared with InDepthNH.org.
“Kids are on the ballot, whether you know it or not,” Gleason said to introduce the discussion. “Kids don’t have to be voters to be central and important to the race.”
Ayotte answered questions about New Hampshire’s education, childcare system, and youth mental health crisis, all while giving a nod to Gov. Chris Sununu’s policies and prioritizing strong connections with businesses.
The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services confirmed that Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics, whose manufacturing facility in Merrimack became known for contaminating drinking water in Merrimack and neighboring towns with PFAS chemicals, has not fulfilled the department’s recent requests regarding the polluted area.