2018-09-26 GAO – Status of DOD Efforts to Address Drinking Water Contaminants Used in Firefighting Foam

The GAO report “Status of DOD Efforts to Address Drinking Water Contaminants Used in Firefighting Foam” fails to address the known PFOA and PFOS contamination of the soil and groundwater at the DoD Superfund site George Air Force Base, CA “EPA Superfund ID: CA2570024453.”

Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs or what is now called PFOA and PFOS) were detected as high as 5,396 parts per trillion (ppt) at the George AFB fire training areas in 2015 and reported in November 2016.  This is well above the 70 ppt limit for PFCs.

There were several homes on private wells, located just north of the base, that were possibly impacted by the PFOA and PFOS contamination in the groundwater.  As of 10/2/2018, the Air Force has not tested for PFOA and PFOS in the old private wells that are downstream of the George AFB fire training areas.

• Final Perfluorinated Compounds Site Investigation Report, George Air Force Base, File 1 of 2 – (PDF 25.976 MB)
• Final Perfluorinated Compounds Site Investigation Report, George Air Force Base, File 2 of 2  – (PDF 6.78 MB)

George Air Force Base disposed of Firefighting Foam in Landfill-1 (L-1).  Landfill-1 is located south of Air Base Road in the Southeast Disposal Area (SEDA) and about a ¼ mile upstream of the old Drinking Water Supply Wells for George AFB, Adelanto, CA, several homes, and the former Victor Valley Country Club. Unfortunately, the groundwater flows northeast from the SEDA directly toward these drinking water supply wells creating a potential Completed Exposure Pathway (CEP) for PFOA and PFOS to tens of thousands of civilians, and military personnel and their family members (spouses, children, and developing fetuses) over the years.

As of 10/2/2018, the Air Force has not tested for PFOA and PFOS in the soil and groundwater of the SEDA or the old supply wells for GAFB, Adelanto, and the private wells that are downstream of the SEDA.

Firefighting Foam SEDA – GAFB Final Environmental Impact Statement  – May 1990 – PDF