Cannon to be site of pilot study for groundwater remediation
Jun. 5—CANNON AIR FORCE BASE — Cannon Air Force Base will soon be part of a pilot study and engineering evaluation/cost estimate dealing with groundwater contamination from the "forever chemicals" of PFOS and PFOA, according to a Tuesday release from the U.S. Air Force.
Under terms of the $16.6 million contract with AECOM/Brice, a small-scale water treatment center will be installed at the base's southeast corner to remove perfluorooctane sulfonate and perfluorooctanoic acid, also known as PFOS and PFOA, from groundwater leaving the base. The compounds are used in various consumer and industrial products, and were previously a significant component of firefighting foam used by military fire departments at more than 100 military installations. There is no drinking water standard for the chemicals, but the Environmental Protection Agency five years ago issued lifetime health advisories of 70 parts per trillion for PFOS and PFOA in drinking water supplies.
The selected treatment system will treat 600 gallons per minute and could be expanded to cover the entire southern border of the base. The pilot study will test three different pump and treat filtration methods — granular activated carbon, ion resin exchange and a method that combines the two. An investigation is ongoing to discover the nature and extent of PFOS/PFOA releases from the base, and data from the study will inform the Department of Defense in creation of short- and long-term actions to protect the Ogallala Aquifer adjacent to the base.
"This is a major step toward addressing the community's concerns about the health of the Ogallala Aquifer," said Christipher Gierke, remedial project manager for the Cannon restoration effort. "We've focused the study in an area that is one of the most affected by PFOS/PFOA.
"We're aware how long this process feels for the people of Clovis. We've listened to their concerns and worked tirelessly to implement this study to get an interim treatment method in place quickly."
Also, the Air Force has scheduled a June 16 virtual public meeting is set for June 16 to provide updates on its PFOS and PFOA actions.
The 5 p.m. meeting will be available at Zoom meeting ID 913 7740 0034.
The meeting is the second in a quarterly series of meetings, with the first held March 17.
Questions from the public will be recorded in a chat box and answered either during the meeting or in the meeting minutes.
For information or a recording of the March 17 virtual meeting, visit cannon.af.mil/Environmental/
