[CPEO-MEF] PFAS: Burlington, Vermont Air National Guard Base

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

Impact of PFAS Contamination at the Burlington Air National Guard Base


By Pat Elder
Military Poisons
January 22, 2021

​This is the first article in a three-part series on the contamination caused by the use of per-and-poly fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at the Burlington, Vermont Air National Guard base. This work is made possible through the generous support from the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILFP-US Section), the WILPF Burlington Branch, and the Center for Health, Environment, and Justice - a project of the Peoples Action Institute.

The Burlington Vermont Air National Guard base has severely contaminated the Winooski River and the environment throughout the region with PFAS chemicals. The levels of the toxins in the Winooski suggest that fish in the river and in Lake Champlain may be unhealthy to eat. PFAS are per-and-poly fluoroalkyl substances that are used in fire-fighting foams on base. The chemicals are linked to a host of cancers and fetal abnormalities.

Richard Spiese, a hazardous site manager with the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation described the PFAS contamination of groundwater, “It’s a large plume. In some places, it’s probably over a mile long, and it goes from the source area all the way to the Winooski River.” The source area Spiese is referring to is the former fire training area on the Vermont National Guard base.

Spiese said he was “relieved” that the levels of PFAS in the Winooski itself are “so low” and he doubts that the state will respond by issuing an order not to eat fish from the river. An examination of the reckless use and disposal of these chemicals by the Vermont National Guard shows the state is downplaying the impact on public health, while the local press is also minimizing the  threat posed by these chemicals.

…

For the entire first part, go to
https://www.militarypoisons.org/burlington-ang-part-1.html

--

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





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