Read the full article by Danielle Prokop (Source NM)
“Cannon Air Force Base outside of Clovis is seeking a hearing to appeal a fine issued in January from New Mexico environmental officials for a 4,000-gallon PFAS spill last August.
When the New Mexico Environment Department issued the nearly $68,000 fine, it said the military had violated pollution limits and failed to tell authorities about a spill into surrounding groundwater from a damaged retention pond last year. The state agency further alleged the U.S. Air Force violations included waiting nearly 16 days to notify state officials, instead of reporting the spill within 24 hours of discovery.
Per- and poly-fluorinated alkyl substances — called PFAS — are a class of thousands of manmade chemicals. The chemicals are used in everyday items like cookware or in waterproofing, but also are a component of certain firefighting foams. Health studies have linked PFAS to decreased fertility, fetal development issues, immune system damage, lower vaccine effectiveness and increased cancer risks.” …