Schumer, Bosworth Urge PSEG to Suspend Use of Penta on Utility Poles

Officials and community leaders are calling on PSEG Long Island to suspend the use of pentachlorophenol – or “penta,” as the wood preservative is called – on wooden utility poles on Long Island.

Standing at Manhasset Valley Park on Monday, state and town officials also asked the Environmental Protection Agency to investigate the use of the preservative, claiming that it can trigger health concerns such as neurological issues.

“There’s no debate that penta is a highly toxic chemical that should be nowhere near playgrounds or our drinking water, and I am petitioning the federal EPA to step in and investigate the long-term impact of using this toxic chemical on utility poles in Long Island neighborhoods and parks,” Sen. Charles Schumer said.

Supervisor Judi Bosworth said that she and ”many of the town’s residents are extremely concerned about the continued use of penta as a wood preservative for utility poles.”

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Calling on the EPA to investigate, Bosworth said penta is a “probable carcinogen” that is recognized as a public health threat.

Asked for comment, PSEG-LI Spokesman Jeffrey Weir said in a statement that “the health and safety of our customers and employees is a top priority.”

“PSEG Long Island is relying on the current EPA registration determination, which permits the use of penta in utility poles,” he added. “If the EPA issues a revised determination, of course, we will respond and comply accordingly.”

Joining Schumer and Bosworth in Manhasset Monday were Patti Wood, director of Port Washington-based Grassroots Environmental Education; Mindy Germain, executive director of Residents for a More Beautiful Port Washington; and Chuck Idol, an environment advocate from Port Washington.

“A growing number of citizens use the sidewalk to travel to and from work, school and shopping,” Wood noted. “Bus stops where parents wait with their children are located all along these paths and near these poles.”

“As advocates for a walkable and vibrant downtown, these unprotected poles in our community run contrary to our vision of a pedestrian friendly downtown,” Germain said.

“There are alternative methodologies to using penta, including using composite utility poles,” Idol pointed out.

According to Weir, five wood preservatives are used by utilities across the country, “with penta capturing 55 percent of the market,” he said.

These poles, he noted, “have a long, proven track record for withstanding the elements and protecting utility workers who work on these poles every day, and continue to be the preferred choice among utilities across the country. Utility poles are treated with preservatives so that they can withstand the elements and last for decades.”

In 2014, the town passed legislation requiring utilities to place a warning sign on every fourth pole, installed after January 2014 that has been treated with penta. According to reports, PSEG Long Island is currently challenging that law in court.

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