CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. – The Air Force Civil Engineer Center is asking local landowners near Cannon Air Force Base for access to their property to enable contractors to extract water and soil samples needed to define the nature and extent of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances coming from the installation. The sampling is an important step forward in the Air Force’s ongoing response to PFAS at the installation.
Col. Terence Taylor, 27th Special Operations Wing Commander, has signed the access agreements, and AFCEC is working to obtain the signatures of various plume-area property owners. AFCEC is awaiting the return of these signed agreements before proceeding with off-base water and soil sampling. The results of these samples will determine where and how far PFAS has traveled, helping identify the best course of clean-up efforts. While waiting to proceed with off-base sampling, AFCEC’s contractor is beginning a sample collection on base to push forward with the investigation.
In March 2019, the Department of the Air Force completed an off-base site inspection which determined three sites near CAFB exceeded the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Lifetime Health Advisory of PFAS in drinking water. The Air Force immediately provided alternate drinking water to the locations exceeding the EPA lifetime health advisory according to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liabilities Act (CERCLA), which specifies a process to follow when responding to PFAS impacted drinking water. This method enables the Air Force to understand the nature and extent of the threat posed by PFAS and outlines possible mitigation steps. The Air Force later installed Point of Use Filtration Systems in March 2021.
In August 2020, CAFB was prioritized in the top 10 active Air Force bases and awarded a RI contract. The RI consists of a detailed investigation determining the potential impact and necessary clean-up efforts for surrounding soil, sediment, surface water, fish and wildlife.
In May 2021, the USAF awarded a $16.6M contract for an Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis, or “EE/CA,” with a pilot study to evaluate and determine the appropriate interim responses to implement while the investigation is ongoing. The pilot study will expand to accommodate full-scale treatment requirements if test results indicate it as the most effective way to reduce and eliminate off-base PFAS migration.
Since the discovery of PFAS, the Air Force has replaced the Aqueous Film Forming Foam mixture with a formulation that meets EPA guidelines. Additionally, the Air Force implemented stringent AFFF training and guidance limiting the use of AFFF to emergencies only, requiring immediate clean-up of any dispersal to prevent future impacts to local water sources.
New Mexico Environment Department Report:PFAS sampling in Curry and Roosevelt Counties, Oct 2021
For more information regarding PFAS updates, contact Cannon Air Force Base Public Affairs at (575) 784-4131 or via email at27sowpa.publicaffairs@us.af.mil.
