A massive defense spending bill that includes provisions meant to help the Air Force clean up chemical contamination in New Mexico and elsewhere has been sent to President Donald Trump for his signature.
At issue is the impact of PFAS, an umbrella term for thousands of chemicals that have contaminated groundwater near military bases, including Cannon and Holloman Air Force Bases in New Mexico. Years of using firefighting foam at the bases has allowed the cancer-causing chemicals to leach into the groundwater.
In the past, the Department of Defense has refused to take responsibility for cleaning up the groundwater, saying that it did not have the authority to do so.
New Mexico state Sen. Tom Udall (D-Santa Fe)
| https://www.tomudall.senate.gov/
“Federal agencies have dragged their feet for too long, but this bill will finally push them into action,” New Mexico state Sen. Tom Udall (D-Santa Fe) said in a statement after the announcement. “I’m proud that the New Mexico delegation has secured this important measure to provide deserved relief to the families, business owners, farmers, service members and communities who have suffered from exposure to PFAS chemicals in New Mexico.”
U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján (D-3rd District) says it will help farmers in Curry County who have been impacted by PFAS pollution. U.S. Rep. Xochitl Torres Small (D-2nd District) says she personally introduced an amendment to the bill that requires the Air Force to provide water to farmers who have faced contamination that exceeds a federal advisory level.
PFAS pollution has found its way into several agricultural wells near the Cannon Air Force Base, causing one dairy farmer in Clovis to have to destroy thousands of gallons of milk.
Udall’s office says the pollution “has caused major disruptions for the local dairy industry." He says the extent of the contamination outside of Holloman is still uncertain. A plume of contaminated water is thought to be moving in the aquifer.
The legislation calls for Secretary of Defense Mark Esper to submit a cleanup plan that would include budget requests for remediation to Congress for water that has been polluted by two kinds of PFAS: PFOA and PFOS.
There are thousands of chemicals in the PFAS category. Several hundred Air Force bases across the country have been contaminated.
In addition to being found in firefighting foam, PFAS are used in many popular products that have been widely available to consumers for years, including teflon pans, microwave popcorn containers and some types of waterproof clothing.
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