Air Force updates residents on chemicals

CANNON AIR FORCE BASE — Officials with the U.S. Air Force updated residents Wednesday on the steps it is eyeing to mitigate groundwater damage done by its use of firefighting foams that contained the “forever chemicals” of PFOS/PFOA.

Those who attended the 90-minute virtual forum expressed frustration, disappointment and anger those steps aren’t already happening, more than two years after it first disclosed the contamination surrounding Cannon Air Force Base.

Meeting moderator Mark Kinkade said the public meeting was the first of what would be quarterly updates going forward. A recording of the meeting is available at cannon.af.mil/Environmental/.

Christopher Gierke, the remedial project manager at Cannon, noted the Air Force must follow Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability (CERCLA) processes, which has extended the process. He said the next step is to determine the extent of the plume and where it’s migrating, and that work cannot begin until a comprehensive work plan is approved. The Air Force is looking at late September for plan approval and October for taking samples, but Gierke added it is looking at ways to fast-track the process.

That timeline drew vocal critics, including Walter Bradley of Dairy Farmers of America and John Kern of the Cannon Clean Water Partnership.

Bradley noted the area is “vitally concerned” about the plume as long as mitigation is still pending.

“We have a number of other dairies and businesses that are very concerned as how this may flow and how quick it may be hitting it,” Bradley said. “That seems like it would be one of the first things you'd want to find out.”

Kern, who said the partnership is dedicated to working with the military to find solutions, fears the plume is spreading up to half a mile per year and is shocked the Air Force finds that acceptable.

The partnership, Kern said, is seeking some type of standard for milk contaminated with PFOS/PFOA.

The Environmental Protection Agency’s recommendation for water consumed by humans is 70 parts per trillion, but there is no EPA standard for water or agriculture impacted by the chemicals.

Perfluorooctane sulfonate and perfluorooctanoic acid are commonplace in many routine items, such as nonstick pans and the paper that wraps your to-go sandwich. They are known as “forever chemicals” because they do not deteriorate under extreme conditions.

That’s good in acqueous firefighting foams previously used by military firefighting departments to knock out petroleum-based fires and prevent loss of life. In a water supply, it’s a problem that doesn’t go away, and the chemicals have been linked to increased cancer and cholesterol and decreases in infant birth weights and pediatric vaccine responses.

Kern said he realizes 633 different military communities are impacted in some way by the contamination, but believes no other installation has been impacted like Cannon because of the agricultural business that surrounds the base.

“This is the poster child,” Kern said, “and to put it in the same category as other communities is a disservice.”

Kern recommended the Air Force find a way to take advantage of testing the state of New Mexico has already implemented to speed up the process.

Air Force officials repeatedly reiterated they were following certain processes that were required because their actions were tied to taxpayer dollars.

Kinkade said the meeting was eye-opening, and 27th Special Operations Wing Commander Col. Robert Masaitis said the work was important to everybody on the base.

“This is something we're interested in as residents and community members,” Masaitis said. “We appreciate everyone who has showed continued interest and patience. Going forward quarterly, we expect to provide some updates on progress.”