EPA, EnCon raid Momentive in Waterford

WATEFORD - Federal and state environmental agents spent Tuesday carrying out a search warrant at Momentive Performance Materials in Waterford.

The agencies involved - the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Attorney's office and the state Department of Environmental - have been extremely secretive about the investigation at the silicones plant.

"The agents indicated the investigation involved an issue we self disclosed to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation last year," Momentive spokesman John Scharf said in a statement.

While nobody would confirm it, it may have something to do with a hydrochloric acid spill in December. Eighty-nine pounds of the chemical spilled. Some of it emptied into the Hudson River. Local leaders were furious Momentive didn't notify them right away.

"We have a right to know when that happens. We have an obligation to protect our people," Waterford Town Supervisor Jack Lawlor said on Dec. 10. "And I believe Momentive has an obligation to tell us when that happens. It's a phone call. It's a simple phone call."

Employees have apparently been instructed not to talk to media because some claim they have no idea what's going on and others say they were told they can't say what's going on.

Many neighbors in the area say the same thing - that there's often commotion at Momentive and they don't like how secretive the company is. Neighbors say sirens usually ring out when there's a serious incident, but that didn't happen Tuesday - leading them to believe this has something to do with the December spill.

Even the mayor didn't know the nature of the investigation. The public safety commissioner said he was notified the DEC would be on site, but wasn't sure what they were looking for either.