Read the full article by Amy Joi O’Donoghue (Desert News)
“SALT LAKE CITY — A new analysis confirms drinking water or groundwater contamination at 328 installations across the country that have levels of ‘forever chemicals’ that never break down and pose health risks.
Three of those incidences of contamination were confirmed in Utah including at Hill Air Force Base, Camp Williams and the Salt Lake City International Airport.
The Environmental Working Group pulled Department of Defense records and other documents that led them to suspect 678 installations in total may have a problem with PFAS, which are man-made chemicals used in everyday materials to repel oil, water, grease and stains.
Examples include water repelling clothing, grease resistant food packaging such as pizza boxes and fast food bags, and stain resistant carpet.
While these water samples may be confined to groundwater, the organization emphasized concerns over the adequacy of treatment for private wells and noncommunity providers that deliver water to a variety of facilities that include campgrounds.
Another four sites in Utah — all military — are suspected of having levels of forever chemicals because of the Pentagon’s use of a particular type of firefighting foam.
In a video conference hosted by the nonprofit advocacy organization, Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Michigan, detailed the need to take more action to protect communities and military service members from exposure to forever chemicals.
‘These are really dangerous to human health and we ought to act as a nation to protect people from them,’ said Kildee, who co-chairs a congressional bipartisan task force formed to address the issue of contamination, especially in the military community.
Kildee said he asked for and was able to get the Department of Defense inspector general to conduct a probe of forever chemicals, but that investigation has likely been delayed due to the spread of coronavirus.
He and members of Congress sent a letter Thursday to the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee and its ranking member asking provisions of the PFAS Action Act be incorporated in to this year’s National Defense Authorization Act…”