“We cannot take our foot off the pedal.”
In case you missed it, following advocacy and continued calls from U.S. Senator Gary Peters to expedite cleanup efforts, the United States Air Force announced that they had agreed to award a contract to remediate the spread of PFAS in Oscoda.
This comes after Gary secured $13.5 million for remediation efforts around the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base and worked to pass a bipartisan measure to stop future use of PFAS chemicals in DOD firefighting foams. Gary will continue to work with community stakeholders to ensure the Air Force acts with urgency to clean up contamination.
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Detroit News: Air Force to clean up contamination of Oscoda base after pushback
- The Air Force Civil Engineer Center announced it is awarding a contract in July that will expand capture zones to better control migration of PFAS contaminants from a former air force base in Oscoda following pushes from politicians.
- The announcement comes after Sen. Gary Peters wrote to the Air Force last month urging the branch to expedite PFAS cleanup efforts at the former base in Oscoda. He said the Air Force’s treatment efforts to date would not adequately capture and stop the continued spread of the PFAS.
- Peters said residents have been suffering for more than a decade. The contamination and exposure is having a devastating effect on the local environment, economy and is affecting the health of residents, he said Saturday.
- Peters helped secure bipartisan provisions that were signed into law in December to address the contamination, which includes a provision to phase out the Department of Defense’s use of firefighting foam containing PFAS.
Oscoda Press: Air Force announces expanded PFOS, PFOA treatment for Oscoda
- “I pressed the Air Force to act more quickly because the people of Oscoda have waited far too long. That’s why I worked to secure additional funding for PFAS clean-up at sites like Wurtsmith. While I’m encouraged that the Air Force is now moving at a faster rate and ahead of its schedule, we cannot take our foot off the pedal.
- “We know PFAS contamination and exposure is having a devastating effect on the local environment and economy as well as the health of residents. I’m going to continue working with the community to pressure the Air Force to act swiftly to clean up the pollution and protect Michigan families who have endured so many hardships due to the presence of PFAS in the area.”
- Peters has led numerous efforts to expedite the PFAS remediation projects at the former Wurtsmith facility, and enact legislation to address and prevent PFAS contamination across Michigan and the country. His work has included helping to secure the $13.5 million in funding in February, for additional tangible cleanup projects.
MLive: Air Force plans new cleanup at Wurtsmith base, but questions remain
- The interim cleanup measures follow recent pushes from both U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Flint, and U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., who helped secure $13.5 million in new base funding that was intended to help the Air Force accelerate a slow-moving cleanup that has angered locals.
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