WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), questioned Maureen Sullivan, deputy assistant secretary of Defense for Environment at the Department of Defense, during a committee hearing examining the federal response to the risks associated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
Barrasso presses the Defense Department on chemical pollution at F.E. Warren Air Force Base and the Cheyenne Air National Guard Base:
Click here for video of Chairman Barrasso questioning Sullivan on PFAS pollution at active military sites.
“Yesterday, Todd Parfitt, director of the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, sent three letters to the Department of Defense. They concern known and suspected PFAS pollution at active and former military facilities in Wyoming.
“The Defense Department has found that the F.E. Warren Air Force Base and the Cheyenne Air National Guard Base have groundwater, surface water, and soil contaminated with high levels of PFAS pollution.
“Could you explain to us the status of the Department’s efforts to determine the nature and the extent of the contamination at those sites?”
(Following Sullivan’s response)
“The state and I believe that contaminated groundwater at the National Guard Base is likely to migrate off-base. There are residential areas around.
“So I just wanted to know when we could expect the Department to test the groundwater outside of the involved facilities?”
Barrasso asks Sullivan when to expect testing at Wyoming’s former Atlas Missile sites:
Click here for video of Barrasso questioning Sullivan about testing at Wyoming’s former Atlas Missile sites.
“One of Todd Parfitt’s letters also mentioned Wyoming’s formerly used defense sites – specifically, the former Atlas ‘D’ and Atlas ‘E’ missile sites and the former Casper Army Airfield facility.
“The state of Wyoming believes that PFAS pollution may also be present at these additional sites.
“Can we also expect the department to test pollution at these sites?”
(Following Sullivan’s response)
“I appreciate that. I think it’s critical that we do get these sites tested as well to confirm that there’s no pollution there.
“They have the potential to affect the sources of Cheyenne’s water supply.”
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