![\"NMPBS](\"https:\/\/www.newmexicopbs.org\/productions\/groundwater-war\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/white_nmpbs_logo_NO_TM-1-1024x576-copy-1.png\" "\\"NMPBS"){kind=logo}
\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t![\"Frontline](\"https:\/\/www.newmexicopbs.org\/productions\/groundwater-war\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/frontline3.png\" "\\"Frontline")
\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n![\"Stories](\"https:\/\/www.newmexicopbs.org\/productions\/groundwater-war\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/StoriesCircle.jpg\" "\\"Stories")
\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n![\"Timeline](\"https:\/\/www.newmexicopbs.org\/productions\/groundwater-war\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ClockCircle.jpg\" "\\"Timeline")
\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n![\"PFAS](\"https:\/\/www.newmexicopbs.org\/productions\/groundwater-war\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/MapCircle.jpg\" "\\"PFAS")
\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n![\"PFAS](\"https:\/\/www.newmexicopbs.org\/productions\/groundwater-war\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/QuestionCircle.jpg\" "\\"PFAS")
\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n![\"Bubbling](\"https:\/\/www.newmexicopbs.org\/productions\/groundwater-war\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/sonika-agarwal-DyyPIdim9lY-unsplash-1.jpg\" "\\"sonika-agarwal-DyyPIdim9lY-unsplash\\"")
\n\tRecently, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)\u00a0granted, in part, a petition from New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, requesting that the agency list four types of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances\u00a0(PFAS) as hazardous waste under a federal pollution law.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Now,\u00a0New Mexico is asking the U.S. Department of Defense to drop its lawsuit against the state\u00a0and agree to clean up PFAS pollution from Cannon and Holloman Air Force bases.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead More\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n Last month, the U.S. Air Force held one of its quarterly meetings related to PFAS contamination from Cannon Air Force Base<\/a> in Clovis, New Mexico. \u00a0<\/p>\n Officials talked about an\u00a0upcoming pilot program,<\/a> a\u00a0$16.6 million water treatment plant at the southeastern corner of the base\u00a0that would\u00a0test ways to remove\u00a0the toxic chemicals from groundwater. That\u00a0facility\u00a0is slated to\u00a0begin operations in 2023\u00a0and will “pump and treat”\u00a0water\u00a0only\u00a0from below the base itself.\u00a0<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead More\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n Recently, New Mexico Department of Agriculture Secretary Jeff Witte spoke about the military’s contamination of groundwater in New Mexico-and specifically, about how PFAS contamination from firefighting foams used for decades at Cannon Air Force Base have affected Highland Dairy owner Art Schaap<\/a>, who says he has been dumping milk since 2018, when the U.S. Air Force notified him it had contaminated the water that supplies his home, dairy, and employee housing.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead More\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n In the early to mid-1990s, Air Force firefighter Kevin Ferrara was stationed at Cannon Air Force Base in Clovis, New Mexico. It was his first deployment after training at Chanute Air Force Base in Illinois.<\/p>\n Daily, he says, he and other firefighters used Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF), a firefighting foam useful for extinguishing petroleum-based fires. That foam also contains per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, toxic chemicals linked to a variety of health problems-and known to have contaminated the water at hundreds of military bases nationwide, including Cannon and Holloman Air Force bases. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead More\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n In a separate conversation<\/a>, New Mexico Environment Department Secretary James Kenney spoke about the state’s efforts to understand the extent of the groundwater contamination at places like Cannon and Holloman Air Force bases and hold the military responsible for its cleanup.<\/p>\n “The pilot project that I understand Cannon is undertaking is a system that will prevent PFAS-contaminated groundwater from migrating off base,” said Kenney, whose office learned of the Air Force’s plans only after they had been publicly announced. “In terms of a larger delineation and cleanup of the area, the Air Force hasn’t been in contact with us to talk about that.”<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead More\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n Recently, New Mexico Sen. Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n spoke with New Mexico in Focus correspondent Russell Contreras, who tossed into the conversation a couple of questions about PFAS.<\/p>\n New Mexico’s Democratic members of Congress have repeatedly called for the military to address groundwater contamination from Cannon and Holloman Air Force bases. That contamination is the result of the military’s use of aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) containing PFAS.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead More\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n Earlier this year, Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-New Mexico, spoke with NMPBS about PFAS contamination. He noted some optimism for changes in how the federal government handles regulation of those toxic chemicals, which have polluted water at hundreds of military bases nationwide, including Cannon and Holloman Air Force bases in New Mexico.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead More\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n Last week, I\u00a0reported<\/a>\u00a0that PFAS, or\u00a0per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, had been found in water samples collected at Los Alamos National Laboratory.\u00a0Most of the samples scientists collected\u00a0from groundwater, effluent, and wastewater treatment plants\u00a0revealed\u00a0just traces of various members of the PFAS family, including\u00a0perfluorooctanesulfonic\u00a0acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA).\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n But\u00a0in\u00a0some of the\u00a0database’s\u00a0water samples, PFAS levels\u00a0were extremely high.\u00a0<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead More\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n New Mexico Democratic\u00a0Sen. Martin Heinrich had questions last week during the\u00a0Senate\u00a0confirmation hearing<\/a>\u00a0of Kathleen Hicks\u00a0as Deputy Secretary of Defense.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Among other things, Heinrich emphasized the need for the U.S. Department of Defense to take full responsibility for PFAS contamination at military bases nationwide, including\u00a0at\u00a0Cannon and Holloman Air Force bases in New Mexico.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead More\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n This week, the state of New Mexico\u00a0is\u00a0attempting a\u00a0new\u00a0legal\u00a0tactic\u00a0to\u00a0force the military to\u00a0clean up the PFAS, or\u00a0per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, that have\u00a0polluted\u00a0waters\u00a0below\u00a0two New Mexico communities.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n In a\u00a0writ of mandamus<\/a>\u00a0filed on Monday,\u00a0New Mexico state\u00a0officials\u00a0attempt to\u00a0bring the legal battle over\u00a0PFAS\u00a0home-and they’re\u00a0challenging an earlier court decision\u00a0that\u00a0the state says\u00a0took\u00a0away\u00a0its\u00a0environmental policing powers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead More\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n Rep. Deb Haaland, D-New Mexico, was nominated by President-elect Joe Biden to head the U.S. Department of the Interior. Until that nomination is confirmed, Haaland is the sitting\u00a0congresswoman for New Mexico’s\u00a01st\u00a0Congressional District. In both her current role and potential future role, she says protecting the environment will be a top priority. Rep. Haaland took a few minutes recently to talk with correspondent Laura Paskus about the evolving story of groundwater contamination\u00a0and PFAS\u00a0near at least\u00a0seven\u00a0military installations across the state.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead More\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n In an interview taped late last year, now-former Sen. Tom Udall, D-NM, spoke about the military’s contamination of groundwater in New Mexico with PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.\u00a0<\/p>\n During the interview, we talked about the lack of transparency on the part of the military,\u00a0whether\u00a0New Mexicans should be concerned about the presence of PFAS from military installations in addition to Holloman and Cannon Air Force bases, and what\u00a0we’ll wish we’d done when looking back on this moment decades from now.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead More\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n More than two\u00a0years ago,\u00a0New Mexico regulators\u00a0learned that the Air Force\u00a0had\u00a0contaminated water beneath Holloman and Cannon Air Force bases\u00a0with PFAS, or\u00a0per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. The two parties are locked in litigation as the state\u00a0tries\u00a0to\u00a0compel the U.S. Department of Defense to clean up the toxic pollution, as well as map its spread.\u00a0<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead More\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n In August 2018, the U.S. Air Force revealed there were PFAS in the soils and waters below Cannon Air Force Base. More than two years later, dairy farmers like Art Schaap are\u00a0still waiting for relief<\/a>, the drinking water utility in Clovis\u00a0has shut down drinking water wells<\/a>, and the military and the state of New Mexico are\u00a0locked in legal battle<\/a>\u00a0over cleanup.\u00a0<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead More\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n In Colorado, state agencies are looking into\u00a0how much PFAS make\u00a0it into waterways and then onto crops and consumer’s plates.<\/a>\u00a0According to a story from CBSN Denver,\u00a0“The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Colorado Department of Agriculture are examining the potential contamination of irrigation waterways in areas that have previously been tested for contamination of drinking water.”\u00a0<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead More\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released an interim strategy<\/a> last week for some states and territories to address contamination from PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. According to the recommendations, states like New Mexico can consider requiring monitoring for PFAS when granting wastewater discharge permits to military facilities or companies where PFAS are expected to be present.\u00a0<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead More\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n In New York, newly released data show that the\u00a0U.S. Navy did not\u00a0tell\u00a0the public that it knew PFAS were present<\/a>\u00a0at the\u00a0southern\u00a0boundary of\u00a0the former Grumman manufacturing site\u00a0in\u00a0Calverton.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead More\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n In New Hampshire, the Air Force has refused requests from state officials and members of Congress\u00a0to follow the state’s regulations\u00a0limiting the amount of PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, in drinking water.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Because the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has failed to set drinking water regulations for PFAS, many states have started creating and trying to enforce those limits.\u00a0<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead More\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n Last week, the state of New Mexico\u00a0released a request for proposals\u00a0on\u00a0a contract to investigate PFAS contamination from Cannon and Holloman Air Force bases.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n We mentioned these plans a while back,\u00a0after the New Mexico State Legislature allocated\u00a0$1 million to\u00a0study where PFAS pollution has spread\u00a0and\u00a0another $100,000\u00a0to create and implement a well testing program in Curry and Roosevelt counties.\u00a0<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead More\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n Here in New Mexico, activities at Holloman and Cannon Air Force bases have contaminated groundwater with PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. The Pentagon has also identified five other military sites that may have polluted local waters with PFAS.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n But PFAS contamination isn’t just a problem in New Mexico. The toxic chemicals have seeped out of factories, Naval bases, and airports around the nation. And the world.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead More\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n A new study published in the peer-reviewed journal, Environmental Science and Technology Letters estimates that 200 million Americans could have PFAS in their drinking water at levels of one part per trillion<\/a> or more.\u00a0<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead More\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n Here in New Mexico, two Air Force bases have contaminated groundwater with PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Five other military sites\u00a0in the state\u00a0have been identified as possibly having contaminated local waters, as well.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\t\t Blaming Superfund, Air Force keeps punting on PFAS cleanup\n\t<\/h2>\n
\n\t\tOctober 8, 2021\n\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newmexicopbs.org\/productions\/groundwater-war\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/markus-spiske-sFydXGrt5OA-unsplash-1.jpg\" "\\"Water\\"")
\n\t\n\t\tNM Ag Secretary on PFAS\n\t<\/h2>\n
\n\t\tSeptember 8, 2021\n\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
![\"Cows](\"https:\/\/www.newmexicopbs.org\/productions\/groundwater-war\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/arts-cows.jpg\" "\\"arts-cows\\"")
\n\t\n\t\tRetired USAF firefighter on PFAS: ‘We had no reason to doubt them’\n\t<\/h2>\n
\n\t\tAugust 4, 2021\n\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
![\"Firefighter\"](\"https:\/\/www.newmexicopbs.org\/productions\/groundwater-war\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Firefighters-1.jpg\" "\\"Firefighters\\"")
\n\t\n\t\tIn the battle to regulate PFAS, states take the lead as military, industries play defense\n\t<\/h2>\n
\n\t\tJuly 7, 2021\n\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
![\"James](\"https:\/\/www.newmexicopbs.org\/productions\/groundwater-war\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/James-Kenney-01-copy.jpg\" "\\"James")
\n\t\n\t\tWill the Biden administration be a ‘willing partner’ for communities on PFAS?\n\t<\/h2>\n
\n\t\tJune 3, 2021\n\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
![\"Ben](\"https:\/\/www.newmexicopbs.org\/productions\/groundwater-war\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/1447BenRayLujan.jpg\" "\\"Ben")
\n\t\n\t\tWill EPA, Defense Department act on PFAS?\n\t<\/h2>\n
\n\t\tMay 5, 2021\n\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
![\"Heinrich\"](\"https:\/\/www.newmexicopbs.org\/productions\/groundwater-war\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Heinrich.jpg\" "\\"Heinrich\\"")
\n\t\n\t\tLANL: High PFAS levels not being released into local waters\n\t<\/h2>\n
\n\t\tMarch 4, 2021\n\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
![\"Water](\"https:\/\/www.newmexicopbs.org\/productions\/groundwater-war\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/pexels-hilary-halliwell-612341-1.jpg\" "\\"Water")
\n\t\n\t\tQuestioned by Heinrich on PFAS, deputy defense secretary says Pentagon should meet with families\n\t<\/h2>\n
\n\t\tFebruary 9, 2021\n\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
![\"Pentagon\"](\"https:\/\/www.newmexicopbs.org\/productions\/groundwater-war\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/clem-onojeghuo-jNx7P5a8DpE-unsplash.jpg\" "\\"Pentagon\\"")
\n\t\n\t\tNew Mexico officials say PFAS court decision infringes on state’s rights\n\t<\/h2>\n
\n\t\tFebruary 2, 2021\n\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
![\"New](\"https:\/\/www.newmexicopbs.org\/productions\/groundwater-war\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/new-mexico-state-capitol-1.jpg\" "\\"New")
\n\t\n\t\tPFAS in NM’s waters, plus NJ sues the military, too\n\t<\/h2>\n
\n\t\tJanuary 19, 2021\n\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
![\"Our](\"https:\/\/www.newmexicopbs.org\/productions\/groundwater-war\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Our-Land-Gila-Master-02.00_00_00_00.Still002.jpg\" "\\"Our")
\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead More\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\tHaaland on PFAS contamination in NM\n\t<\/h2>\n
\n\t\tJanuary 12, 2021\n\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
![\"American](\"https:\/\/www.newmexicopbs.org\/productions\/groundwater-war\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/aaron-burden-t2b1Z-jPT-w-unsplash-1.jpg\" "\\"American")
\n\t\n\t\tStates, Water Districts Ramp Up PFAS Action\n\t<\/h2>\n
\n\t\tJanuary 5, 2021\n\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\n\t\tWhat military history says about the future of PFAS cleanup\n\t<\/h2>\n
\n\t\tDecember 22, 2020\n\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
![\"everest-small\"](\"https:\/\/www.newmexicopbs.org\/productions\/groundwater-war\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/everest-small.jpg\" "\\"everest-small\\"")
\n\t\n\t\tFirefighting foams to pigskin tanning: PFAS persists in NM, nationwide\n\t<\/h2>\n
\n\t\tDecember 15, 2020\n\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
![\"River\"](\"https:\/\/www.newmexicopbs.org\/productions\/groundwater-war\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/silvia-fang-uPi6d91TUjg-unsplash.jpg\" "\\"River\\"")
\n\t\n\t\tIn the water we drink and the products we use to protect ourselves, PFAS are everywhere\n\t<\/h2>\n
\n\t\tDecember 8, 2020\n\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
![\"water](\"https:\/\/www.newmexicopbs.org\/productions\/groundwater-war\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/patrick-perkins-iCvz49lS6wE-unsplash-1.jpg\" "\\"water")
\n\t\n\t\t Public begs for PFAS cleanup, feds announce ‘interim strategy’ for monitoring \n\t<\/h2>\n
\n\t\tDecember 1, 2020\n\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
![\"dirty-water\"](\"https:\/\/www.newmexicopbs.org\/productions\/groundwater-war\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/dirty-water-background.jpg\" "\\"dirty-water-background\\"")
\n\t\n\t\tNewly-released documents show Navy knew about spread of PFAS\n\t<\/h2>\n
\n\t\tNovember 24, 2020\n\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
![\"Navy\"](\"https:\/\/www.newmexicopbs.org\/productions\/groundwater-war\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/asael-pena-SCgE-uLumj4-unsplash-1.jpg\" "\\"Navy\\"")
\n\t\n\t\tAs states try to regulate PFAS, disputes increase between military, companies\n\t<\/h2>\n
\n\t\tNovember 17, 2020\n\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
![\"Washing](\"https:\/\/www.newmexicopbs.org\/productions\/groundwater-war\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/noah-0BeVb_y_jWY-unsplash-scaled.jpg\" "\\"Washing")
\n\t\n\t\tNew Mexico to delineate PFAS contamination from two Air Force bases\n\t<\/h2>\n
\n\t\tNovember 3, 2020\n\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
![\"Water](\"https:\/\/www.newmexicopbs.org\/productions\/groundwater-war\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/imani-vDQ-e3RtaoE-unsplash-scaled.jpg\" "\\"Water")
\n\t\n\t\tNationwide, PFAS seeping from military bases, factories, and airports\n\t<\/h2>\n
\n\t\tOctober 27, 2020\n\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
![\"underwater\"](\"https:\/\/www.newmexicopbs.org\/productions\/groundwater-war\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/jong-marshes-79mNMAvSORg-unsplash-scaled.jpg\" "\\"jong-marshes-79mNMAvSORg-unsplash\\"")
\n\t\n\t\tStudy shows 200 million Americans drinking PFAS-tainted water \n\t<\/h2>\n
\n\t\tOctober 20, 2020\n\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
![\"Water](\"https:\/\/www.newmexicopbs.org\/productions\/groundwater-war\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/water_splash2-scaled.jpg\" "\\"water_splash2\\"")
\n\t\n\t\tPFAS found in bottled water, MD oyster waters, and the blood of a Wisconsin activist\n\t<\/h2>\n
\n\t\tOctober 13, 2020\n\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t
![\"water](\"https:\/\/www.newmexicopbs.org\/productions\/groundwater-war\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/julian-bock-UuAs_sR4frs-unsplash_small-300x169.jpg\" "\\"julian-bock-UuAs_sR4frs-unsplash_small\\"")
\n\t