Page 4 - aruba-today-20201111

A4 U.S. NEWS
Wednesday 11 november 2020
N.J. sues 3 firms over 'forever chemicals' in drinking water

By WAYNE PARRY requests for comment Tues-
Associated Press day.
New Jersey is upping its But one of them, Solvay,
efforts to force chemical also was included in a
companies to pay for de- March 2019 enforcement
cades of contamination order from the DEP direct-
of waterways by so-called ing it and four other com-
"forever chemicals" used panies to provide a de-
to stain-proof clothing and tailed account of their use
produce non-stick cook- and discharge of PFAS sub-
ware that have become stances over the years.
ubiquitous in everyday life. Solvay said at that time it
The state Attorney Gener- had already begun reme-
al's Office and the Depart- diation efforts.
ment of Environmental Pro- The status of enforcement
tection sued three compa- actions against the other
nies on Tuesday, alleging four companies could not
they have failed to clean immediately be deter-
up, and in some instances mined.
continue to release, chemi- Charlotte-based Honey-
cals that have polluted well is the successor to sev-
public drinking water at op- eral entities that owned
posite ends of the state. and operated industrial fa-
The substances are some- This Jan. 6, 2014 file photo shows a section of the New Jersey Pinelands region in Lakehurst, N.J. cilities at the Quanta prop-
times called "forever chem- Associated Press erty in Edgewater for more
icals" because they do not than a century.
break down, and tend to such as Stainmaster, had ever been reported in ty. In the early 1900s, the prop-
accumulate in the air, wa- Scotchgard, Teflon, Gore- drinking water anywhere "The days of free passes erty consisted of a substan-
ter, soil and even fish. They Tex, and Tyvek, according in the world, according to and soft landings for pollut- tial chemical works that
can harm fetuses and new- to the DEP. New Jersey officials. ers in New Jersey are over," included tar tanks, a tar
borns, and have been as- The authorities said levels New Jersey filed lawsuits said New Jersey Attorney paper factory, and an am-
sociated with kidney and of water contamination against Solvay Specialty General Gurbir Grewal. monia factory, and was
testicular cancer and other of a Delaware River site Polymers USA, LLC and "The corporations we're su- later used for storage and
illnesses. in Gloucester County by Arkema Inc., two compa- ing knew full well the po- recycling of oil before be-
They have been used for toxic per- and polyfluoro- nies it says are responsible tential harms they were in- ing closed in 1981.
more than 60 years and alkyl substances (PFAS) in for years of contamination flicting on our environment, According to the lawsuit,
have become staples of a 2007-2009 survey were at its West Deptford site. It but chose to forge ahead multiple hazardous sub-
modern life for consumers found to be the highest in also sued Honeywell Inter- anyway. When companies stances exist in the ground-
who want to protect their the world at that time. A national over similar con- disregard the laws meant water, soils, wetlands and
clothing from stains or wa- similar study in the Pauls- tamination at the Quanta to protect our environment, elsewhere including arse-
ter, and prevent food from boro water supply in 2014 Resources Superfund site they can expect to pay." nic, asbestos, benzene,
sticking to cookware. They also found levels of con- along the Hudson River in None of the companies chromium, lead, PCBs, and
have been used in brands tamination higher than Edgewater, Bergen Coun- immediately responded to other pollutants.q

Alaska Tlingits hold memorial ceremony online amid pandemic

and college professor nonprofit that promotes been transforming in-per-
David Katzeek died last Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian son programming such as
month, the tribe scrambled cultures. Worl said they un- theater lectures to virtual
to find a way to observe derstood the cause to be events due to the corona-
their sacred traditions while heart failure. virus.
keeping everyone safe The first president of what They figured, "If we can do
during the pandemic, with has since become the in- that for all of these other
coronavirus cases surging stitute, Katzeek is credited activities, why can't we do
in the state. with helping revive Alaska that for our cultural activi-
"We know that many of our Native culture in the state's ties?" Worl said.
people are grieving over southeast, encouraging During a memorial cere-
this great loss, but we also oral histories and efforts mony, leaders of the clans
recognized that we need to preserve the Tlingit lan- typically offer comforting
This Nov. 5, 2020, photo provided by the Sealaska Heritage to protect each other and guage. words while also bringing
Institute shows a Zoom memorial service for Tlingit elder Da- make sure we stay healthy. To honor him safely, the in- out regalia such as Chilkat
vid Katzeek, conducted by the Institute, showing highlights of
Katzeek's life as people honored him over the internet as the We also wanted to honor stitute turned to the same robes, clan hats and blan-
pandemic had made in-person ceremonies impossible. Kingeisti in our traditional technologies that people kets, invoking the spirits of
Associated Press way," Sealaska Heritage In- across the world have em- clan ancestors to assist the
stitute president Rosita Worl ployed to remain connect- grieving process.
By MARK THIESSEN typically come together said, using Katzeek's Tlingit ed in the coronavirus age, Held virtually, there had to
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) along with family and well- name. using Zoom video confer- be some adjustments such
— When a Tlingit elder dies, wishers for a memorial cer- Katzeek, 77, died unex- encing to bring people to- as not having people stand
leaders from the Alaska Na- emony featuring displays of pectedly Oct. 28, accord- gether while broadcasting near others in support but
tive tribe's two houses, the traditional tribal regalia. ing to the Juneau-based live on its YouTube channel. instead taking turns speak-
Raven and Eagle clans, After elder, tribal leader institute, an Alaska Native The institute had already ing on the video call. q