Courtney Bourgoin, courtney.bourgoin@sierraclub.org
Lauren Lantry, Lauren.Lantry@sierraclub.org
Washington, DC-- Today, the House Oversight Committee is hosting a hearing on the PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl chemical) crisis polluting communities and harming public health across the country. Coloradan, veteran, and clean water activist Mark Favors submitted written testimony about his personal experience -- sharing the stories of his family and his community’s suffering from PFAS pollution originating at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado.
In addition, Sonya Lunder, senior toxics advisor at the Sierra Club, submitted written testimony-- urging the committee to take action on the military’s responsibility in the crisis. Lunder called for the Department of Defense (DoD) to 1. End the use of PFAS in Aqueous Fire-Fight Foams (AFFF) and 2. Immediately halt its incineration contracts to dispose of PFAS chemicals, until they can prove the technology works and doesn’t cause harmful byproducts.
Affected communities and activists stress that the recently released Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Action Plan lacks the urgency and breadth to contain the PFAS crisis effectively. Mark’s testimony is available here and Sonya’s here.
In addition to written testimony, advocates released the following statement:
“In my family, there are at least seven military veterans who themselves, along with their spouses and children’s drinking water had been contaminated without their knowledge, while they were on active duty in the U.S. Army and/or deployed to Iraq. That type of injustice can no longer go unchecked. The EPA must hold the Department of Defense accountable. Lives are truly on the line,” said Mark Favors.
“The military should be held fully accountable for decades of PFAS exposure by service-members, their families and surrounding communities to harmful levels of PFAS contamination. It must also address two important and on-going sources of PFAS into the environment. These are the continued use of newer generation PFAS chemicals in fire fighting foams and the disposal of historic stockpiles via incineration,” said Sonya Lunder, Senior Toxics Advisor at the Sierra Club.
Background:
About Mark Favors
Mark Favors is a community activist helping lead water testing and is drawing attention to the PFAS crisis that is especially plaguing the place he grew up south of Colorado Springs, CO. At least 16 of Mark’s family members and in-laws have been diagnosed with different kinds of cancer-- 7 of whom are military veterans. Mark has been featured in several prominent news stories about the chemical’s effects-- including the New York Times and Colorado Springs Independent.
About PFAS
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl) chemicals are in the bloodstream of an estimated 98% of Americans, as many as 110 million Americans could be drinking PFAS contaminated water.
PFAS is linked to decreased effectiveness of childhood vaccines, liver and kidney damage, increased risk of thyroid disease, increased risk of asthma, decreased fertility, pregnancy complications, lower birth weights, and cancer.
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.