Two wells near Dover AFB have possible elevated PFOS/PFOA levels

DNREC, EPA told results from USAF sampling are not yet validated

Dover, Del. – The U.S. Air Force (USAF) and Dover Air Force Base (AFB) notified Delaware’s

Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) that preliminary (i.e., not yet validated) results show two wells near the base have possible elevated levels of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). The preliminary results indicate concentrations above the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s lifetime health advisory for these substances of 70 parts per trillion (ppt).

The preliminary, unvalidated results for these two wells are in addition to validated detections of PFOS and PFOA for four wells announced in July 2019. The USAF continues to provide alternative water supply to those properties. The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) is working with DNREC, USAF, Dover AFB, and the owners of the affected wells to protect public health. The owners of the two wells, who each provide water to a single commercial business, have been notified and provided with bottled water by Dover AFB.

The unvalidated results of water samples recently collected by the USAF from ten other wells reported PFOS and PFOA below the federal health advisory level. Although the recent test results are unvalidated at this time, validation of the data is expected within 30 days.

PFOS and PFOA are part of a group of synthetic chemicals known as perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) used in a variety of products that over time have become widely distributed in the environment. These chemicals have been found at Dover AFB and other air bases and airports in firefighting foam. The USAF and EPA have been working with DNREC and DPH to determine the impacts of PFOS and PFOA on private wells in proximity to the base.

A USAF fact sheet about the Dover AFB PFOS and PFOA sampling published in spring 2019 indicated that groundwater samples collected in shallow monitoring wells on the base also showed levels of PFOS and PFOA above EPA’s 70 ppt health advisory.

No PFOS or PFOA have been detected in five nearby municipal water wells tested by Dover AFB’s water supplier, Tidewater Utilities. Tidewater sampled four on-base municipal supply wells and the off-base municipal supply well nearest the base. All these wells draw water from a deep, confined aquifer. There were no PFOS or PFOA detections in any of them.

The primary step necessary to protect the public’s health from exposure to PFOS and PFOA in drinking water is to use an alternate water source until a permanent solution can be determined, which may consist of treatment, connecting to a new system, or other solution. DPH encourages the impacted businesses, office building, and dwellings in the affected area to use the bottled water provided by the DAFB until a permanent solution is in place. Anyone with specific health concerns or questions about potential health impacts is encouraged to contact their primary care provider. General questions about the health effects from, and exposure to, PFAS can call DPH at 302-744-4546.

At this time, there is no federal or state required standard for PFAS substances in drinking water supplies, so actions taken are based on the federal lifetime health advisory level.

EPA Exhibit at 2020 Philadelphia Flower Show

Highlights the American Riviera

PHILADELPHIA

— This year’s Philadelphia Flower Show showcases the

Riviera Holiday

and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) exhibit,

called “American Riviera,” is no exception. The exhibit shows the wonderful aquatic treasures of the Mid-Atlantic region and educates guests on the human health benefits provided by wetlands, streams, and rivers.

“Riparian areas are an extremely important component of healthy watersheds and ecological function,” said EPA Regional Administrator Cosmo Servidio. “The establishment, enhancement and protection of riparian areas can promote clean and healthy water, while serving as a sustainable landscaping practice.”

EPA’s flower show team, along with other exhibitors, are setting up the exhibit this week at the Philadelphia Convention Center, 1101 Arch Street, Philadelphia where the flower show runs February 29 through March 8.

EPA’s exhibit will showcase a variety of native plants of the Mid-Atlantic region. Some of the environmental benefits of these native plants include: better adapted to local weather conditions; little to no need for pesticides, fertilizers, or supplemental watering; less maintenance; help to restore natural habitats; and provide buffers for aquatic resources to naturally manage stormwater – all of which can directly improve water quality.

Exhibit volunteers will engage with the public on the connection between healthy aquatic resources and drinking water, as well as provide visitors with information on the benefits of using native plants, sustainable landscaping, and stormwater management practices to instill positive ways of protecting our water. To learn more about these topics, visit EPA’s websites:

■

https://www.epa.gov/soakuptherain

■

https://www.epa.gov/wetlands/why-are-wetlands-important

For more information on the flower show, visit:

https://theflowershow.com/

Pelosi & Murphy\’s Political Event Raises $1.75 Million for Congressman Norcross

Nikita Biryukov

February 29 2020

4:06 pm

A fundraiser for Rep. Donald Norcross headlined by U.S. Senator Cory Booker, Gov.

Phil Murphy

, former Gov. Jim Florio and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi brought in roughly $1.75 million, according to a campaign staff source.

The $2,800-a-head event was followed by a rally featuring the big-ticket Democrats.

“When I need help on the other side of the capitol for raising the minimum wage, for protecting retirement security, for making sure that working conditions are not so perverse that sexual harassment reigns in the workplace like we see in corporations like the McDonald’s, the champion of workers’ rights in the House that I turn to is Donald Norcross.” Booker said.

President Donald Trump’s name frequently came up during the rally, which lasted for roughly an hour.

Booker, Norcross and Murphy each attacked Trump and members of his administration, with Booker lending specific focus to Attorney General William Barr and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos.

“Nothing compares to this. When we say god bless America, what are we talking about in America? we’re talking about America, our constitution, our rights, our liberties, our republic, our separation of power,” Pelosi told the crowd of about 900. “They are dishonoring our constitution.”

Read the full article here

Yanick gets 100th hit as Raptors win fourth straight

COLLEGE

VILLE,

Penn.

(

March

, 2020) –

The

Rutgers University-Camden baseball team received strong pitching, a milestone performance and broke open a tie game with a five-run seventh inning on the way to an 8-2 victory here Monday at Ursinus College.

The win was the third in two days for the Scarlet Raptors, who swept a doubleheader from Oneonta Sunday, have now won four straight games and stand at 4-1 overall.

It was the season opener for Ursinus.

The Scarlet Raptors had heroes up and down the lineup, beginning with starting pitcher

Ethan Pritchett,

a junior transfer who was making his second appearance at Rutgers-Camden and his first start. Pritchett hurled five innings of two-hit shutout ball, walking four and striking out nine batters.

Sophomore pitcher

Stephen Brady

picked up the win for his first career decision at Rutgers-Camden. He worked three innings, allowing two hits and one earned run, while striking out three.

The Scarlet Raptors broke a scoreless deadlock in the fourth inning when sophomore designated hitter

Brett Yurgin

hit a leadoff home run to left field.

It was his second home run of the season.

The Bears tied the game in the sixth off Brady, aided by a leadoff triple from senior right fielder Alex Mumme. He scored on an infield error.

Rutgers-Camden unleashed its potent attack in the top of the seventh inning, sparked by a leadoff single from senior catcher

Thomas Gosse.

Gosse stole second and freshman shortstop

Danny Vazquez

was hit by a pitch. Junior center fielder

Billy Eisler

dropped down a sacrifice bunt and, one out later, Yurgin was intentionally walked, loading the bases for dangerous cleanup hitter

R.J. Concepcion.

The junior left fielder ripped a tie-breaking two-run single to left.

Senior first baseman

Matt Yanick

followed by etching his name in program history. Yanick unloaded a three-run home run to left-center field for his 100th career hit. He became the 37th player in program history to reach the century mark

. Ten of those hits are home runs, tying for sixth on the program’s career list with Connor Hall (2012-15). Yanick

will soon have more company

in the 100-hit club,

with Concepcion

on the verge of that milestone

. Concepcion, who went 3-for-4 with one run and two RBIs on the day, pushed his career high total to 96.

The Raptors added their final two runs in the eighth inning after a walk to Gosse and an error on a grounder by Vazquez. One out later, sophomore third baseman

Jesse Gerdes

delivered a two-run double to center.

Ursinus collected its final run in the ninth when Eisler came on to make his first collegiate pitching appearance. He worked one inning, allowing one hit and one earned run.

In addition to three hits by Concepcion, Gosse went 2-for-3. Gosse, Vazquez and Yurgin all scored two runs. Yanick’s three RBIs led the way in that category, while Gerdes and Concepcion had two apiece.

Clements Bridge Road in Barrington to be Closed March 3 to 6 During The Day

Barrington Police Department advises you to AVOID Location due to an upcoming traffic issue. A road construction project near Clements Bridge RD and Trinity PL. will close Clements Bridge RD. Southbound at Gloucester Pike and will require a

detour of traffic from March 3-6. 7:00am- 5:00pm. Southbound vehicles can either take W. Gloucester Pike into Bellmawr and utilize Black Horse Pike, or take E. Gloucester Pike to utilize Atlantic Ave and White Horse Pike. Businesses between Gloucester Pike and Williams Ave will be accessible to southbound traffic. No vehicles will be allowed southbound past Williams Ave. All northbound traffic will flow normally.

Address/Location

Barrington Borough, NJ

229 Trenton Ave

Barrington, NJ 08007

Contact

Emergency: 9-1-1

Non-emergencies:

856-547-0706

Federal Court Orders Deposition of Hillary Clinton on Emails and Benghazi

Court: ‘It is Time to Hear Directly from Secretary Clinton’

(Washington, DC) March 2, 2020–

Judicial Watch today announced that U.S. District Court Judge Royce C. Lamberth

granted

Judicial Watch’s request to depose former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton about her emails and Benghazi attack documents. The court

also ordered the deposition of Clinton’s former Chief of Staff, Cheryl Mills and two other State Department officials.

Additionally, the court granted Judicial Watch’s request to subpoena Google for relevant documents and records associated with Clinton’s emails during her tenure at the State Department.

The ruling comes in Judicial Watch’s

lawsuit

that seeks records concerning “talking points or updates on the Benghazi attack” (

Judicial Watch v. U.S. Department of State

(No. 1:14-cv-01242)). Judicial Watch famously uncovered in 2014 that the “talking points” that provided the basis for Susan Rice’s false statements were

created by

the Obama White House. This Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit

led directly

to the disclosure of the Clinton email system in 2015.

In December 2018, Judge Lamberth first

ordered discovery

into whether Secretary Clinton’s use of a private email server was intended to stymie FOIA; whether the State Department’s intent to settle this case in late 2014 and early 2015 amounted to bad faith; and whether the State Department has adequately searched for records responsive to Judicial Watch’s request. The court also authorized discovery into whether the Benghazi controversy motivated the cover-up of Clinton’s email. The court

ruled

that the Clinton email system was “one of the gravest modern offenses to government transparency.” The State and Justice Departments continued to defend Clinton’s and the agency’s email conduct.

Judge Lamberth today overruled Clinton’s and the State and Justice Department’s objections to limited additional discovery by first noting:

Discovery up until this point has brought to light a noteworthy amount of relevant information, but Judicial Watch requests an additional round of discovery, and understandably so. With each passing round of discovery, the Court is left with more questions than answers.

Additionally, Judge Lamberth said that he is troubled by the fact that both the State Department and Department of Justice want to close discovery in this case:

[T]here is still more to learn. Even though many important questions remain unanswered, the Justice Department inexplicably still takes the position that the court should close discovery and rule on dispositive motions. The Court is especially troubled by this. To argue that the Court now has enough information to determine whether State conducted an adequate search is preposterous, especially when considering State’s deficient representations regarding the existence of additional Clinton emails. Instead, the Court will authorize a new round of discovery …

With respect to Clinton, the court found that her prior testimony, mostly through written sworn answers, was not sufficient:

The Court has considered the numerous times in which Secretary Clinton said she could not recall or remember certain details in her prior interrogatory answers. In a deposition, it is more likely that plaintiff’s counsel could use documents and other testimony to attempt to refresh her recollection. And so, to avoid the unsatisfying and inefficient outcome of multiple rounds of fruitless interrogatories and move this almost six-year-old case closer to its conclusion, Judicial Watch will be permitted to clarify and further explore Secretary Clinton\’s answers in person and immediately after she gives them. The Court agrees with Judicial Watch – it is time to hear directly from Secretary Clinton.

“Judicial Watch uncovered the Clinton email scandal and we’re pleased that the court authorized us to depose Mrs. Clinton directly on her email conduct and how it impacted the people’s ‘right to know’ under FOIA,” stated Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton.