July 30, 2024
In a significant show of partnership, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the United States Department of the Army (Army or Department) announced on July 26 a joint effort aimed at addressing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination in drinking water near Army installations.
Under the initiative, EPA and Army will work together to sample and test private drinking water wells near Army sites to identify where PFAS contamination emanating from Army activity has impacted nearby wells. Where test results exceed PFAS limits promulgated by EPA in its April 2024 drinking water regulations, Army will take action to address the contamination and protect against exposures.
This effort will apply to locations nationwide, and begins with a list of nine Army installations identified as first priority from the list of 235 candidate sites. The nine sites identified for the initial round of sampling are:
- Fort Novosel (Alabama)
- Fort Hunter Liggett – Parks Reserve Forces Training Area (California)
- Fort Stewart (Georgia)
- Fort Stewart – Hunter Army Airfield (Georgia)
- Blue Grass Army Depot (Kentucky)
- Fort Campbell (Kentucky & Tennessee)
- Fort Liberty (North Carolina)
- Fort Sill (Oklahoma)
- McAlester Army Ammunition Plant (Oklahoma)
These sites of first priority are a result of EPA’s and Army’s identification of installations with significant PFAS contamination, warranting further investigation. In 2017, the Army initiated a program to identify PFAS releases from Army and Army National Guard sites, leading to the list of 235 sites identified for additional investigation at the conclusion of that program in 2023. EPA and the Army refer to their current joint effort as a pilot, indicating that the future of the partnership remains to be seen depending on the success of this initial phase. Both sides have committed to sharing updates on this effort on their public PFAS websites. This effort is in addition to EPA’s ongoing sampling effort near military installations aimed at identifying private drinking water wells that have been impacted by PFAS contamination potentially migrating off-base.
U.S. military bases have long been identified as major contributors of PFAS contamination throughout the U.S. and abroad. This is due in great part to the military’s use of PFAS-containing aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) for fire training, equipment testing, and extinguishing fuel fires. Extensive use of AFFF by the military for decades has resulted in releases of PFAS to the environment. Other Department of Defense activities and products, such as munitions, are also potential sources of PFAS use and releases. Contamination of environmental media, including groundwater used for drinking water, at and around military bases poses a health risk to members of the military, military families, and neighboring communities. The Army’s willingness to engage in this joint effort with EPA is an important step in addressing the Department’s contribution to the PFAS problem.