FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. – Officials from the Air Force Civil
Engineer Center began conducting face-to-face notifications today to inform
residents living near Fairchild AFB if their water wells were found to have
Perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)
concentrations above the EPA lifetime Health Advisory (HA) levels based upon
preliminary results of phase three water sampling conducted July 12-15.
Fifty residential wells were tested to the north and south of the base.
Twenty-one wells to the north were found to have PFOS/PFOA concentrations
above the EPA lifetime HA levels, while all southern-tested wells were
non-detect for PFOS/PFOA. Affected residents are given the option to
immediately begin receiving bottled drinking water from the Air Force until
a long-term solution is implemented to provide them with clean drinking
water.
In addition, nineteen wells were found to have PFOS/PFOA concentrations
below the EPA HA levels. With owners’ permission, AFCEC will continue
monitoring those wells to ensure the PFOS/PFOA levels remain below the HA.
If at any time subsequent sampling indicates detections above the HA, these
residents are also given the opportunity to receive bottled water. Ten wells
did not have any detectable PFOS/PFOA.
“We will continue our goal to follow through with our neighbors to provide
the information they rightfully deserve,” said Col. Ryan Samuelson, 92nd Air
Refueling Wing commander. “We remain committed to working together with our
community partners and Air Force Civil Engineer Center to provide a
community-wide solution.”
Residents were initially notified of the potential for PFOS/PFOA
contamination and the Air Force’s request to sample their water wells
earlier this month after on-base testing near the northern fence line
revealed three of nine base wells had concentrations above the EPA lifetime
HA levels.
PFOS/PFOA are classified by the EPA as unregulated “emerging contaminants”
and are present in common household items and heat and fire resistant
products. The EPA issued updated PFOS/PFOA lifetime HA levels in May of
2016.
The Air Force looks to the EPA for standards and guidance on environmental
issues, and will continue to take proactive steps to protect communities
from negative impacts of mission areas.
Information about the Air Force’s environmental stewardship programs and
PFOS/PFOA contaminant testing can be found on Fairchild’s website at
www.fairchild.af.mil.
For additional questions and information, contact the Fairchild AFB Public
Affairs office at 247-5705 or email 92arw.pa@us.af.mil.
TANYA N. WREN, 1st Lt, USAF
Chief, Public Affairs
92nd ARW Public Affairs
Fairchild AFB, WA