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No PFAS Turf in Burrillville

Children’s Environmental Health Center strongly discourages the installation of artificial turf playing surfaces and fields

RESOURCE LINKS:

https://mountsinaiexposomics.org/learning-hub/turf-sports/  

https://www.healthyplayingsurfaces.org/ 

https://www.healthandenvironment.org/webinars/96595 

https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2016-02/documents/federal_research_action_plan_tirecrumb_final_2.pdf 

https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2019-08/documents/synthetic_turf_field_recycled_tire_crumb_rubber_research_under_the_federal_research_action_plan_final_report_part_1_volume_1.pdf 

https://www.uml.edu/research/lowell-center/athletic-playing-fields/

Burrillville Residents Raise Concerns Over PFAS Potential in Turf Field

Burrillville Residents Raise Concerns Over PFAS Potential in Turf Field

By Colleen Cronin / ecoRI News staff  July 12, 2024

Plans to install an artificial turf field at Burrillville High School has generated some anxiety. (Colleen Cronin/ecoRI News)

BURRILLVILLE, R.I. — Dozens of concerned residents packed into the town municipal building Wednesday night to speak out against the installment of an artificial turf field at the high school.

The residents, some of whom had to line up out the door at the July 10 Burrillville Town Council meeting, said they worry the turf may contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), group of manufactured chemicals linked to serious health issues, including several types of cancers and developmental delays in children.

The Environmental Protection Agency regulates PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” which are found in many products, from firefighting foam to water-proof clothing to artificial turf.

Roberta Lacey, a local environmentalist and member of the town’s Conservation Commission, helped rally other concerned residents after hearing that the turf field construction was underway.

Lacey recognized that she had come late to the issue — excavators have already torn up the grass field where the turf is planned — but she believes there is time to change course. She retained an attorney to fight the artificial turf, if the project moves forward.

She initially realized the turf may contain PFAS after she started looking into buying a property in Oakland village and heard about how the chemicals contaminated the water there.

Burrillville had to take the village’s drinking water source offline after high levels of PFAS, above what the EPA said was safe at the time, were found. (The federal agency has since lowered the maximum again.)

The Oakland water source was downhill from a fire station where firefighting foams containing PFAS were stored. Some residents believe that contamination made them sick.

“I kind of went down a rabbit hole with the PFAs, learning all I could,” Lacey said. “That’s when a light bulb went off, like, ‘Oh my God, it’s in artificial turf, and that’s what they’re putting at the high school.’”

FieldTurf, the company hired by Burrillville to install the field, didn’t respond to requests for comment, but company representatives attended a June Town Council meeting to respond to questions from council members and dispute that its products pose a threat to the town’s health and safety.

“We know that PFAS is a growing concern throughout the country, and as a company, we go to great lengths to test all of our materials,” Chris Hulk, director of design and construction for FieldTurf in New England, said.

When asked if FieldTurf could guarantee that water coming off the field wouldn’t contain PFAS, Hulk said “it’s hard to describe that as a guarantee.”

Elizabeth Denly, vice president and chemistry director at Connecticut-based TRC, an engineering and consulting firm, said some tests that mimicked weathering on FieldTurf products over time did have positive results for PFAS, but not in amounts that would be harmful to people or the environment.

“We saw very trace levels,” she said.

Construction is already underway. (Colleen Cronin/ecoRI News)

Lacey said any level of PFAS concerns her. She cited recently passed Rhode Island legislation to ban the manufacture and sale of dozens of products, including artificial turf, that contain intentionally added forever chemicals. She also noted EPA’s tightening PFAS restrictions.

Several other members of the public echoed these concerns. School Committee Chair Silvia St. Pierre said the committee has “major concerns” about how potential PFAS in the turf could hurt the kids who play on it, in addition to worries about how it could contaminate local water resources.

St. Pierre asked that the council look further into the costs of putting in grass over artificial turf.

“Do not use a rushed, cheap option, full of buyer’s remorse,” she said.

The Harrisville Fire District, where the high school is located and which includes the fire and water departments for the village, wrote a letter to the Town Council citing concerns over possible drinking water contamination.

“Harrisville respectfully urges the town to exercise due diligence in reviewing all precautions during the construction and use of the new synthetic field,” district chairman Brayton Round II wrote.

Other concerned residents included high school basketball coach Amy Hauser, who attended the meeting despite being sick with kidney issues.

“My question is why on earth would this field even be considered after knowing the harm it will do, not only to our athletes, but our entire community?” Hauser asked. “Is it the money? Because there is no monetary value you can put on life. Is it the timeline? Because I would rather our kids risk home-field advantage than lose their health. Is it your pride? Because I would have so much more respect for you all, if you’re willing to change your opinion after hearing the facts presented to you.”

Hauser, who struggled to walk out of the meeting room after speaking, said she felt it was especially important to come, even though she is in pain, because, although her illness wasn’t caused by PFAS, she doesn’t want anyone’s health to be impacted or for someone to feel the way she currently does.

“My first thing is always to do no harm to anybody,” said Irene Watson, a resident and retired nurse, arguing exposing people to carcinogens is harmful.

But, she added, as a taxpayer, she said she was also worried about the liability the field could be to the town.

“We want to make sure we protect the town’s people and the town’s financial stability,” Watson said.

The turf field issue wasn’t on the agenda Wednesday night and the council took no official action. Following the public hearing part of the agenda, the meeting proceeded with other business, and after it adjourned, council member Justin Batalon said, “I haven’t been yelled at by that many women since I was married.”

Council President Donald Fox told ecoRI News after the meeting was over that the town is in the process of gathering more information about the turf and potential PFAS issues.

“Right now, the town is doing and conducting its due diligence and that involves working with experts that we hired, conducting tests, and doing a whole slew of things that we feel are appropriate to protect the town and the townspeople,” Fox said. “That takes time. I am not sure that any of us are prepared to, you know, offer changes on opinions at this point. We’re still waiting to hear back from our own experts. There’s a lot of hyperbole out there.”

Burrillville School Committee will discuss banning the use of the new artificial turf

Burrillville Town Council

105 Harrisville Main Street

Harrisville, RI. 02830

July 10, 2024

Good Evening,

Regarding the new athletic field in construction at the Burrillville High School, the Burrillville School Committee has major concerns. Our concerns are with the "forever chemicals", particularly polyfluoroalkyl substances (PAS) in the artificial turf soon to be installed within the next 2 to 3 weeks!

These are our concerns:

• The immediate danger is to the health of athletes and kids who will use this field. These children, as they play on this field will inhale these microplastics, wear them on their equipment and clothing and carry them into their homes to expose the rest of their families.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), these PAS have affected children's development and contributed to learning and behavior disorders. They have been connected to some cancers, lower immune function, thyroid problems, reproductive issues, and liver disease.

Knowing all this information, the Burrillville School Committee will discuss banning the use of the new artificial turf, and considering the urgency of this matter, legal council will be contacted. It is up to us to protect our children and that means not allowing them to play on this field.

• The longer term danger is that these poisonous chemicals will be installed over our last remaining clean water source for our town! As you know, our town has experienced permanent drinking water contamination in the western and eastern parts of our town. As water leaches off this artificial turf carpet, it will permanently contaminate the aquifer under it. Where will we get our water then? This contamination will also affect the rivers wetlands and waterways, especially those directly below this field. Protecting our water is a huge concern! The Town Council has already received letters that express serious concerns over the installation of the PFAS loaded artificial turf, in particular the Pascoag Utility District, which will soon be responsible for all of the municipal drinking water in Burrillville. they have a major stake in keeping our water safe!

• As of January 1, 2029, the State of Rhode Island will effectively ban the use, sale of, or distribution of artificial turf containing intentionally added PFAS. When these PFAS are banned, it will be illegal to replace the field. This means the Town's warranty is null and void. As of now, there is no alternate product to use that does not contain PFAS. How can we dispose of the used turf so as not to contaminate the environment? Will we have a guarantee from the company supplying the turf that in the future, the replacement turf is PFAS free? Clearly the trend is to move away from their use in any case, so our focus is on the injuries that are clearly associated with artificial turf and the impact related to the budget.

• The School. Committee needs a copy of the contract regarding the artificial turf. Does the Town's contract with the company include a warranty?

• What would a shift to a grass-covered field include, regarding materials and price? Was the loam that was removed part of the bargained agreement? We will need to reacquire it. Spend the money to complete a new field properly that is durable and safe. Do not use a rushed, cheap y option, full of buyers remorse!

Please give our concerns your utmost attention.

We look forward to discussing this matter with you in the very near future.

Burrillville Conservation Commission Advisory Letter to the Town Council

BURRILLVILLE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

105 HARRISVILLE MAIN STREET

HARRISVILLE, RHODE ISLAND 02830

July 8, 2024

To: Members to the Burrillville Town Council; Council President Donald A. Fox, Councilors Stephen N. Rawson, Dennis M. Anderson, Raymond J. Trinque, Jeremy P. Baily, Justin P. Batalon, and David Houle

Cc: Vicki T. Martin, Town Clerk

Subject: Burrillville Conservation Commission Advisory Opinion on the New BHS Athletic Turf Field

The Burrillville Conservation Commission request to place a pause or halt in the construction of the Burrillville High School new turf field until more information can be gathered to perform a new risk assessment of the PFAS (Polyfluoroalkyl Substances or Poly Fluro Alkyl Substances having both PFOA & PFOS acids) found in the materials used in turf fields. We understand that the town has identified a need for an improved playing field, but we are also concerned that the public and town officials may not be aware of the health hazards associated with the installation of the artificial turf field, especially with it being installed over an aquifer zone and close to Clear River.

There is evidence, now, that all artificial turf fields contain PFAS, the “forever chemical” which persists forever and bio-accumulates in the environment and our bodies and moves easily into fresh waters. When PFAS leaches into drinking water and the environment, it is known to harm aquatic life and to cause cancer and a host of other human health problems. The current site of the Burrillville High School Soccer field sits on top of a A-100 Aquifer Zone and is 90 yards uphill from the Clear River and is within 150 to 190 yards to the nearest homes found on Whipple Avenue who may also have private wells.

We need to make the time to hear from the experts on this issue, so many towns have made the mistake of relying on the safety information from companies selling and installing these fields. We need to better understand the environmental and human health risks posed by installing these turf fields. During the pause in the construction of the field, we need to listen to the experts and consultants who are professionals who understand the chemicals found within the turf material and with this site being installed over an aquifer zone we need to closely understand what will be the risks in eight to ten years down the road for any leakage and contamination harm it has done to our environment and ecosystem. If we continue to build this field and find out in a couple or more years from now that we have increased levels of PFAS chemicals found leaching into the test sites at this field this will be a grave concern and could stop the continued use of this field short of its 8-10 life expectancy.

Effective July 8, 2024, The Environmental Protection Agency has designated Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid (PFOS) as hazardous substances. According to the town ordinance (Section 30-202, subsection (f)) hazardous substances are prohibited from aquifer zones. We are asking the Town Council to please reconsider and place an emergency pause on the installation of this turf field and to take another look and to listen to what the experts have to say about the risks and hazards.

Sincerely,

Ronald P. Lapierre

Chairperson

Burrillville Conservation Commission

Pascoag Utility District: The project should be reexamined

July 3, 2024

President Donald A. Fox

Town Manager Michael C. Wood

DPW Director Jeffrey McCormick

Town of Burrillville

105 Harrisville Main St.

Harrisville, RI 02830

Re: Turf Project at Burrillville High School

Dear Gentlemen:

During the Pascoag Utility District's ("PUD") June Board meeting, a concerned citizen notified the Board that there may be a potential threat of Per- and polyfluoroakyl substances (PFAS) contained in the material of the synthetic turf that is scheduled to be used for the football field project at the Burrillville High School. As you know, PUD water consumers have already suffered through Rhode Island's worst Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) release in history, back in 2001, which single handedly eliminated our only drinking water source for the residents of Pascoag.

The Town of Burrillville has always been proactive regarding important issues concerning the Town. In fact, on page 32 and listed as number three in the Town's Burrillville Hazard Mitigation Plan dated July 2021, aquifer contamination was added. If you refer to page 33 of that plan and the 2014 risk assessment, aquifer contamination was not even a concern at the time. This topic was brought to light, after I mentioned what had happened to our only water source in the Pascoag and Oakland Villages. Both Villages' wells were contaminated and taken out of service. The Pascoag wells that are located at 44 Silver Lake Avenue are contaminated with MTBE and the Oakland Association well located at 1264 Victory Highway, were contaminated with PFAS. Both well sites remain closed. Thankfully, our neighbors from Harrisville were able to provide both Villages with potable water so our customers' water service was not interrupted.

l am happy to report that the merger between the Pascoag Utility District and Harrisville Fire District Water Department passed both the House and Senate and was signed by the Governor on June 17, 2024, creating Clear River Electric and Water District effective January 1, 2025. Harrisville Water District is currently the sole water source provider for three Villages within the Town of Burrillville.

Based on our experience, we have some concerns regarding the possibility of trace amounts of PFAS chemicals found in the turf field product. To protect our customers, we are respectfully requesting that the Town review all precautions prior to installing the synthetic turf at the high school.

Since three Villages within the Town are relying on Harrisville as Its sole water supplier, it is Imperative that the Town and local water utilities work together to protect our aquifer for current and future generations. If there is even a chance that any contaminant could infiltrate the water supply, the project should be reexamined.

Very truly yours;

William J. Guertin

General Manager