The Latest: New York to co-operate with drinking water probe

ALBANY, N.Y. – The Latest on a House committee’s probe of New York and Environmental Protection Agency response to water contamination (all times local):

6:44 p.m.

A spokesman for Gov. Andrew Cuomo says the state will co-operate with a congressional committee request for information about the chemical PFOA in an upstate New York village’s drinking water.

He said Cuomo hopes the end result is that Congress and the government act swiftly to implement nationwide regulations for PFOA and other unregulated contaminants.

The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform says in letters Wednesday to Cuomo and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy it is concerned about a “sluggish response” by New York officials to the findings in Hoosick Falls and a possible communication breakdown at EPA.

An EPA spokeswoman says the agency will respond to the committee’s request for documents.

The toxic chemical was discovered by a resident concerned about cancer rates in the village.

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10:48 a.m.

A congressional committee is asking state officials and federal environmental regulators for information about their responses to drinking water contaminated with the chemical PFOA in an upstate New York village.

The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform says in letters Wednesday to Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy it is concerned about a “sluggish response” by New York officials to the findings in Hoosick Falls and a possible communication breakdown at EPA.

The letters were sent the same day the state Assembly said it will conduct hearings.

The contamination was discovered by residents concerned about spikes in certain cancers. PFOA is a toxic chemical long used in the manufacture of Teflon and similar materials.

The letters were first reported by the Times Union of Albany.