[CPEO-MEF] PFCs: "Firefighting foam contaminated water near Fentress field, so the Navy is researching an alternative"

[Lenny Siegel]

Firefighting foam contaminated water near Fentress field, so the Navy is researching an alternative

By Brock Vergakis 
Virginian-Pilot
October 23, 2017

CHESAPEAKE - The Navy is researching new types of firefighting foam free of contaminants that were found in well water near a landing field used by fighter jets and in water systems near several other military installations around the country, according to a congressional watchdog report.

Firefighting foam is used by the Defense Department to quickly extinguish fires and prevent them from reigniting, but the foam used since the 1970s has contained perfluorinated compounds.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency doesn’t regulate those compounds, but it considers them an “emerging contaminant” that could threaten health or the environment. The EPA is studying the contaminants to determine whether regulations for acceptable levels are needed. A provisional health advisory level is in place for now.

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For the entire article, see
https://pilotonline.com/news/military/local/firefighting-foam-contaminated-water-near-fentress-field-so-the-navy/article_c7d29d85-3ac4-5526-9f2b-3881751c0515.html

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Lenny Siegel
Executive Director
Center for Public Environmental Oversight
a project of the Pacific Studies Center
P.O. Box 998, Mountain View, CA 94042
Voice/Fax: 650/961-8918 
<lsiegel at cpeo.org>
http://www.cpeo.org