EPA Funding to Bring Safe Water to Residents Affected by Contamination at the American Thermostat Superfund Site

CAIRO — Greene Government News: Moving Our County Forward

February 4, 2025

EPA Funding to Bring Safe Water to Residents Affected by Contamination at the American Thermostat Superfund Site

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a new study at the American Thermostat Superfund site in December 2023 and held a community meeting to discuss the planned work in July 2024. Since that time, the EPA has been working cooperatively with the Village of Catskill, Town of Catskill, Town of Cairo, Greene County, New York State Department of Health, or NYSDOH, and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, or NYSDEC, to extend the Village’s waterline to residents that are affected or potentially affected by contamination from the American Thermostat site.

Working to obtain funding to extend the Village of Catskill’s waterline to Country Estates Mobile Home Park and to any other affected and potentially affected homes.

The EPA determined that extending the waterline to Country Estates and any other affected and potentially affected homes can be addressed under the federal Superfund program.

As the provider of drinking water in the area, the Village of Catskill will be responsible for designing and constructing the waterline extension.

To perform the extension work most efficiently, taking into consideration the anticipated schedule for future federal funding, Greene County provided money to the Village to perform the first phase of the design of the waterline. Phase 1 covers the less complex part–extending the existing waterline to Country Estates. The owner of Country Estates has agreed to connect to the waterline. Phase 2 will include a waterline loop that begins at Country Estates, then goes to and around Scotch Rock Road, to and around Route 23B to R McLaren Road, and then back to Country Estates. A total of 61 residents will be served.

“We are very pleased that funding for this project will be coming from the federal Superfund program”, notes Harry Lennon, Minority Leader and Greene County Legislator representing the Town of Cairo. “Water supplied by pipeline extended from the Village of Catskill will alleviate the concerns of residents in the area who rely on wells that could be affected from the site.”

Also representing the Town of Cairo, Greene County Legislator Sherry True stated “We are also very pleased that the owner of Country Estates Mobile Home Park has agreed to connect to the waterline. The safety and peace-of-mind of its residents will be greatly improved.”

The EPA will provide funds to the Village to perform the design work for Phase 2 (the waterline loop). It’s anticipated that these funds will be awarded in the coming months. The EPA expects that funds for the construction of Phase 1 (connecting Country Estates to the waterline) will be awarded after the design is approved.

In the meantime, Country Estates and one private home have treatment systems on their water supply wells. The NYSDEC will continue to oversee the operation and maintenance of the treatment systems until the waterline extension is completed.

“This is an excellent example of how infrastructure improvements funded by the federal government can improve the lives of local residents”, says Patrick Linger, Chair of the Greene County Legislature. “We are also very fortunate the our legislature facilitates the collaboration of all municipalities we represent, for the benefit of everyone who lives and works in Greene County.”

“The extension of the village’s water infrastructure to surrounding communities has many benefits”, says Matthew Luvera, Majority Leader and Greene County Legislator representing the Catskill District. "We are always pleased when our municipalities work together for the well-being of our residents, and happy that Catskill is able to provide the water required.”

You can view the January 2025 EPA update with FAQs at https://www.greenegovernment.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/American-Thermostat-Company-FAQ-1.pdf

Residents who have specific questions about the design and construction of the waterline should contact Matt Davis with Delaware Engineering (Village of Catskill’s engineering company) at (518) 452-1290 or mdavis@delawareengineering.com.