U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Alex Leonard, 27th Special Operations Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter, drains water out of a hose April 8, 2015 at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Alex Mercer)
New Mexico environment officials issued a nearly $68,000-dollar fine to the Cannon U.S. Air Force Base Tuesday, stating the military had failed to immediately report a 4,000-gallon spill of PFAS into the groundwater in August.
What are PFAS?
Per- and poly-fluorinated alkyl substances – aka PFAS – are a class of thousands of manmade chemicals used in waterproofing. They are in everyday items such as cookware or takeout containers and also in fire-fighting foams for aircraft. But the chemicals’ resistance to breaking down from exposure to water, heat and sunlight mean that they are accumulating in the soil and water and in the bodies of animals and people.
Health officials have linked PFAS to health risks such as decreased fertility, immune system damage, lower vaccine effectiveness and increased cancer risks.
In the 14-page document issued Tuesday, the New Mexico Environment Department said the military violated pollution limits and failed to tell authorities about a spill into surrounding groundwater.
Environment Secretary James Kenney said that basic maintenance could have prevented the spill.
“This reckless discharge is an example of Cannon [Air Force Base’s] willful disregard for public health and environmental safety in the exact community in which they operate,” Kenney said in a statement.
Kenney said the military’s repeated violations of handling toxic and hazardous waste pushed the agency to require justification for why the Air Force can keep state permits for disposal.
“The Air Force must now prove why the state should allow Cannon AFB to continue operating in Clovis if they cannot meet the basic conditions of their permit,” Kenney stated.
The documents laid out that Cannon Air Force Base personnel deposited 7,300 gallons of waste liquid with firefighting foam containing PFAS into a retention pond in July. On Aug. 14, personnel pumped all the liquid from the retention pond, but only recovered about half of the liquid – 3,600 gallons.
While the pond had passed previous inspections, the lining was damaged, with “approximately 13 tears in the material,” according to the order.
The spill is in addition to a 4-mile long PFAS plume that seeped into the groundwater over the decades from firefighting foams used on the base. That plume resulted in the euthanization of more than 3,500 dairy cows after they were found to be contaminated with PFAS.
NM looking to recoup costs from PFAS damages at military bases
Environmental officials said the U.S. Air Force violations included waiting nearly 16 days to notify state officials, instead of alerting NMED within 24 hours of discovering the spill. Further, NMED said Cannon failed to provide written explanation and did not maintain the pond’s integrity.
State officials assessed a civil fine of $67,300 for Cannon’s alleged violations of hazardous waste laws. Additionally, the news release said Cannon officials may need to pay a $98,780 fine to a hazardous waste emergency fund for the permit violations.
State officials ordered Cannon to submit documentation regarding the spill, submit a plan for cleanup, detail all PFAS-contaminated liquid waste at the base – past and present – and submit records of pond inspections in the next 30 days.
The U.S. Air Force has 30 days to either pay the fine or can request an administrative hearing to appeal.
Cannon Air Force base public affairs acknowledged emailed requests for comment Tuesday afternoon, but did not respond to Source NM questions regarding an appeal or the order prior to publication.
The state of New Mexico is embroiled in several lawsuits over PFAS releases from military bases and, according to state environment officials, has paid more than $12 million in legal costs.
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