1991-xx-xx – George AFB’s Missing Completed Exposure Pathways Assessment

epidemiological environmental health surveys at majcoms

NARA Destruction of the George AFB epidemiological, environmental, and health surveys

Prior to the closure of George AFB in December 1992, the Air Force conducted “epidemiological, environmental, and health survey(s) / assessment(s) / investigation(s)” for the base personnel, their families, and civilian employees. However, the Air Force chose to withhold these studies from the public, state, federal regulators, including the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry’s Public Health Assessment for George AFB for over 23 years. In doing so, the Air Force failed to properly inform military personnel, their families, civilian employees, and the surrounding community, of potential health dangers posed by contamination.  Are these withheld “epidemiological, environmental, and health surveys” the George AFB Completed Exposure Pathway assessment required under CERCLA?

Dozens of parents have contacted me about miscarriages, stillbirths, birth defects, and childhood cancers at George AFB. In some families, every child who was born at George AFB died at or shortly after leaving George AFB. The family members of about six Adelanto School District employees who worked at the schools on George AFB have contacted me after their loved ones died, developed cancer(s), and/or serious illness. Unfortunately, these schools remained open for 10 years after George AFB closed have reopened. See George AFB’s Schools

Hundreds, possibly thousands, of people, including children, are sick, dying, or dead after being exposed to extremely toxic contamination when we lived at, worked at, and/or lived next to the former George AFB. We desperately need the Air Force to release the “epidemiological, environmental, and health surveys” that the Air Force conducted before the base closed in 1992, so that we can get medical care for friends and families, and help bring closure for those who lost their loved ones.

When George AFB was listed as a Superfund Site, on 21 February 1990, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) required the Air Force to conduct a Completed Exposure Pathway (CEP) assessment for the George AFB personnel, their families, civilian employees, and the surrounding community. Over fifty thousand people may have been exposed to hazardous substances at and from the former George Air Force Base, CA, “EPA Superfund ID: CA2570024453.″

Completed Exposure Pathway (CEP) Assessment Timeline

  • June 24, 1980
    In order to comply with Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) the DOD issued the Defense Environmental Quality Program Policy Memorandum 80-6
  • December 2, 1980
    The Air Force implemented the Defense Environmental Quality Program to control the migration of hazardous material contaminants from its installations
  • October 1981
    George AFB Hospital employees were telling “newcomers that it was a good idea to not get pregnant while assigned to George AFB because of the ‘high infant mortality rate’.  She said this included the dependent wives and the active duty females.”
    See:  G. Albi and George AFB’s Children
  • 1988
    Col. Maurice Long, Lt Col Vernon R Lee, and Capt. William McDaniel contend: “Air Force officials intentionally misled the Defense Secretary’s Commission on Base Realignment and Closure during 1988 hearings.”
    See: Ex-officers: Air Force lied about [George AFB] range – Moscow-Pullman Daily News – 7 May 1990

    • Why did the Air Force close a George AFB with 360 days of flying weather and move the training facility to Idaho with 100 good days of good weather (Mountain Home AFB)?
      Fighter Pilots need lots of training and lots of good weather. I understand doing winter training to be prepared, but not moving a whole base from one of the top areas with great weather and low population.
  • December 29, 1988
    The Secretary of Defense announced that George Air Force Base was selected for closure
  • July 1989
    Proposed placement on the National Priorities List (NPL)
  • February 21, 1990
    George Air Force Base, CA was listed as a Superfund Site “EPA Superfund ID: CA2570024453.″
  • September 27, 1991
    Air Force employee, Grace T. Rowe, asked permission from the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) to destroy the epidemiological, environmental, and health surveys for the former George Air Force Base

    • Why did the Air Force request to destroy these important environmental / CERCLA documents?
    • Why did NARA allow George AFB to destroy these important environmental / CERCLA documents?
  • January 1992 to January 1994
    George AFB employees destroyed the epidemiological, environmental, and health surveys for George AFB.

    • Why did George AFB employees destroy these important environmental / CERCLA documents?
  • December 1992
    George AFB was closed by the Base Realignment and Closure 1 (BRAC 1)
  • December 1, 1998
    Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) completed the Public Health Assessment for George AFB

    • Why were these reports/studies not made available to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) Public Health Assessment for George AFB?
  • May 1, 2014
    The pre-1991 epidemiological, environmental, and health surveys are not in the George AFB Administrative Record
  • May 2, 2014
    The epidemiological, environmental, and health surveys for George AFB were requested under FOIA
    See:  FOIA – AF HQ – Epidemiological, Environmental, and Health Surveys George AFB – 2 May 2014
  • August 13, 2014
    Called the Air Force FOIA Public Liaison Office to check the status of the May 2, 2014 FOIA request. The Air Force FOIA Public Liaison stated that “the Air Force had no record of the May 2, 2014 request.”
  • August 13, 2014
    Refiled the FOIA request with the SAF/AAII
    See:  FOIA – AF HQ – Epidemiological, Environmental, and Health Surveys George AFB – 13 Aug 2014

Wanted!

If anyone has firsthand knowledge of, or a copy of, the epidemiological, environmental, and/or health survey(s) / assessment(s) / investigation(s) for George AFB that were done before 1992, please contact me.


References

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Standard Form (SF) 115 Disposition Of Federal Records

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) Public Health Assessment for George AFB – December 1, 1998

George AFB Administrative Record (AR)

FOIA Request

I am not a doctor, Veterans Service Officer (VSO), or attorney; therefore, I cannot provide medical or legal advice.

If you, a friend, or a loved one have been injured or have passed away due to exposure to contamination at a DOD Superfund Site, please follow the steps outlined on the "Get Help" page.

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