Here are more than 300 bases with possible toxic 'forever chemical’ contamination

Hundreds of military installations have either known or likely water contamination caused by runoff from firefighting foam used in response to vehicle and aircraft accidents, according to the Environmental Working Group.

Using Defense Department data, the organization built an interactive map of 305 sites, which are found in all 50 states. Each map dot opens up to information and links on perfluorooctane sulfonate or perfluorooctanoic acid, known as PFAS.

“Of these sites, 138 have not been previously identified on EWG’s map of known PFAS contamination at military bases, civilian airports and industrial sites,” according to a Tuesday new release. “In addition, 42 of these sites were not included on a list of 401 locations the Pentagon gave to Congress of active and former installations where PFAS contamination was known or suspected.”

The map went live the day after the House and Senate armed services committees finalized a compromise defense authorization bill for 2020, which includes provisions to approaching the PFAS issue going forward.

Expected to see a vote in the House on Wednesday, the law would prohibit the use of PFAS-laden firefighting foam after Oct. 1, 2024, and immediately ban any use of the foam outside of emergency situations.

RELATED

New housing protections, PFAS limits included in defense policy measure

The massive policy bill is expected to pass through Congress in the next few days.

By Leo Shane III

While the bill dropped a provision that would have brought PFAS-contaminated bases under the federal Superfund law, providing funding and a requirement to clean them up, the NDAA pushes the Pentagon to work with state governments to start clean up using funds from the Defense Environmental Remediation Account.

It would also require that military firefighters are testing for PFAS levels in their blood, as the chemicals do not break down over time and are known to build up in the human body.

In the mean time, the Air Force has been testing a system that might be able to remove PFAS from ground water, and DoD is funding research into a new firefighting foam.

More In Your Military

US: Couple accused in submarine espionage case indicted

A Maryland couple arrested earlier this month on charges of trying to sell information about nuclear-powered warships to a foreign country have been indicted, the Justice Department said Tuesday.

Taliban promise cash, land to families of suicide bombers

The Taliban have promised plots of land to relatives of suicide bombers who attacked U.S. and Afghan soldiers, in a provocative gesture that seems to run counter to their efforts to court international support.

USS Bonhomme Richard fire spread wildly due to ‘repeated failures,’ investigation finds

While the Navy has charged a junior sailor with starting the fire last summer, a command investigation lays blame for the botched response at all levels of command.

New Mexico finishes tests of wells for ‘forever chemicals’ near Air Force base

Contamination with PFAS chemicals has been documented at and around Cannon Air Force Base near Clovis as well as at Holloman Air Force Base near Alamogordo and other locations in New Mexico.

Army vet accused of faking paralysis to get $1 million in VA benefits, using some to buy BMW

The accused received more than $1 million in compensation and spent an adaptive vehicle grant ona BMW 645ci luxury sports coupe.

In Other News

First lady says more money needed to fight hunger in military families

The House version of the defense policy bill would create a “basic needs allowance” to supplement troops with a household income of less than 130 percent of the federal poverty line.

Shaving waivers disproportionately affect Black airmen, delay promotions

An article published in the Journal of Military Medicine in July demonstrated a significant association between shaving waivers and delays in promotion.

It’s time to focus on treating ‘invisible wounds’ of veterans, advocates say

The Cohen Veterans Bioscience Veterans Advisory Council calls for action on treating "invisible wounds" of war for veterans.

‘Forever chemicals’ detected in groundwater from 13 DoD sites in Gulf of Mexico

Groundwater from 13 Department of Defense sites in the Gulf of Mexico has been confirmed to contain high levels of "forever chemicals."

From barriers to bridges: how these Hispanic/Latinx military families created their own safety net

Janet Sanchez created Esposas Militares Hispanas USA Armed Forces as a support group for Hispanic military families who face language barriers in the U.S.

Someone hacked the USS Kidd’s official Facebook page

The hackers treated visitors to live streaming "Age of Empires" gameplay. l33t!

The Spouse Angle Podcast: Surviving Deployment as a Military Spouse

The Spouse Angle is a podcast breaking down the news for military spouses and their families.

Federal retirees to see record high cost-of-living increase for Social Security

The cost of living increase will fully benefit retirees under the Civil Service Retirement System, but have a lesser impact on Federal Employee Retirement System recipients.

Naval Community College prepares for second influx of sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen

The pilot program allows service members to earn an associate’s degree, with courses starting in January 2022.

Army joins Navy, Marine Corps in giving all tenant protections, including dispute process, withholding rent

Dispute resolutions, process for withholding rents -- all protections are in place for tenants of Army, Navy, Marine Corps privatized housing.

Load More