NEWBURGH, N.Y. --- Representatives from the Campaign for Water Protection held a forum Saturday to discuss how the PFOS and PFOA contamination is affecting the city's water source.
"We want to continue to protect and preserve our most important element resource which is our water, it’s an inalienable right and we have a responsibility to ensure that our citizens are drinking clean water," said Assemblyman Frank Skartados.
Jerry Ensminger's daughter died at the age of nine from Leukemia she developed from toxic well water at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.
"The Department of Navy and Marine Core tried to cover it up," Ensminger said. "The United States Department of Defense is our nation's largest polluter."
In 2012, President Obama passed the Janey Ensminger Act which provides medical care for people who may have been affected by the Camp Lejeune contamination. Ensminger said over one million people have been affected.
State officials said the contamination comes from Stewart Air National Guard Base and they said the water is safe to drink and use now. But local officials have called for investigations and are finding ways to make the air base and Department of Defense liable for the contamination. Local officials said Newburgh should not be responsible the cleanup and test costs. Next week local officials will be introducing legislation to ensure the Department of Defense pays for the removal of PFOS and PFOA from Newburgh's water.