PFAS

(Airs 01/02/26 @ 10 p.m.) The Legislative Gazette is a weekly program about New York State Government and politics. On this week’s Gazette: New York state sees a record-breaking number of flu cases, we’ll speak with WNYC’s Jimmy Vielkind about some of the top political stories of the year, and the New York Farm Bureau says there should be no more bio-solids used as fertilizer unless they’re clear of P-FAS forever chemicals.

Federal PFAS limits were put into place for the first time during the Biden administration. Current federal limits are 4 parts per trillion for PFOA and PFOS, while New York’s are much higher at 10 parts per trillion.

PFAS chemicals, including Perfluorooctanoic Acid or PFOA, Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA), Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) were discovered in the town’s water system in 2016, shortly after the discovery of similar chemicals in Hoosick Falls.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced it is moving forward with a plan to scrap limits on several PFAS chemicals in drinking water.

The Williamstown, Massachusetts select board has voted against backing a controversial sludge composting plan.

(Airs 04/04/25 @ 10 p.m.) The Legislative Gazette is a weekly program about New York State Government and politics. On this week’s Gazette: we’ll take a deeper look at New York’s prison system which has been under intense scrutiny in recent months, the budget is late again, we’ll talk with WNYC’s Jimmy Vielkind about the elephant in the room, and we’ll report on North Country residents keeping their eyes on strained relations between the U.S. and Canada over tariffs.

A sewage plan in Williamstown, Massachusetts has sparked debate over environmental concerns around so-called forever chemicals.

After PFAS contamination was first detected more than a decade ago, the Village of Hoosick Falls is now celebrating a new water supply.

A new report released to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Safe Drinking Water Act claims toxic landfill pollution threatens drinking water in 19 New York communities.

As the dangers and long-term effects of PFAS come more into focus, detection for the so-called “forever chemicals” remains paramount, but also costly. It’s a hurdle researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst is looking to clear.