ALBANY —With the governor pushing to increase the use of cancer-causing material found in Bethlehem’s water supply, asked what the state legislature will do to stem the application of fertilizers containing so-called forever chemicals on farms all over the state, the chair of the State Assembly’s environmental conservation committee said conversations about the issue have taken place.

At the start of the year, Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy issued an executive order halting for 90 days the agricultural use of biosolids within county limits after it was found the material had been used on a New Scotland farm; the order was subsequently renewed on April 16 for another 180 days. 

The municipal-filtered wastes contain heavy metals like lead and mercury, numerous pathogens, and perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and have since been found in Bethlehem’s water supply, a short distance from where the biosolids were used. 

With the county moratorium in effect, Bethlehem paused activity on its own law to regulate the use of the biosolids in town. While Bethlehem officials acknowledged that full protection for the town requires cooperation from other governments, a local law would at least protect the town’s Selkirk wellfield along with private wells. 

“The best offense is prevention,” Councilman Thomas Schnurr said at a March town board meeting. 

In addition to Albany County’s moratorium, a bill has been introduced in the state legislature that would place a state-wide moratorium on biosolids and create both a PFAS agricultural response program to assist farms with PFAS contamination, as well as a biosolids task force that would look into the risks and benefits of biosolids disposal. 

The known risks associated with using sewer sludge as fertilizer are complicated by Governor Kathy Hochul’s goal of recycling 85 percent of all waste in the state since the use of biosolids is one way being promoted by the state to help reach that objective. 

On Tuesday, Assemblywoman Deborah Glick, chair of the Committee on Environmental Conservation, was at a screening promoting the documentary “How to Poison a Planet,” which looks at how PFAS have harmed communities worldwide.

The Enterprise asked Glick how she squares the governor’s push for the use of biosolids with her own attempts to reduce PFAS.

“Well, I don’t square it,” she said. “I think we’re going to be the agriculture chair, and I have had conversations with lots of different stakeholders, and I think we’ll be having a conversation with the DEC about [that].”

Asked what that conversation would be, Glick responded “It’s about biosolids. To recognize that we can’t poison the soil in New York state.”

As to whether it’s just recognition or if an actual law will come from the conversation, Glick said, “We’re working on it.”