Protect Oregon’s drinking water!

Dangerous chemicals are contaminating Oregon’s water. Known as ‘forever chemicals’ due to their persistent nature in the environment, PFAS chemicals have been detected at military bases and airports across Oregon, and that’s likely just the tip of the iceberg.

Because PFAS chemicals do not break down, they accumulate in our bodies (and fish and wildlife) over time. In fact, PFAS is found in the blood of 97% of Americans. PFAS chemicals increase the risk of cancer, affect the immune system, increase cholesterol levels, interfere with the body’s natural hormones, lower a woman’s chance of getting pregnant, and affect growth, learning, and behavior of infants and children.

Dangerous chemicals are contaminating Oregon’s water. Known as ‘forever chemicals’ due to their persistent nature in the environment, PFAS chemicals have been detected at military bases and airports across Oregon, and that’s likely just the tip of the iceberg.

Because PFAS chemicals do not break down, they accumulate in our bodies (and fish and wildlife) over time. In fact, PFAS is found in the blood of 97% of Americans. PFAS chemicals increase the risk of cancer, affect the immune system, increase cholesterol levels, interfere with the body’s natural hormones, lower a woman’s chance of getting pregnant, and affect growth, learning, and behavior of infants and children.

Protect Oregon’s drinking water: ask Congress to address PFAS

The use of PFAS-containing firefighting foam is the main reason why drinking water supplies for Oregon airports and military bases have been contaminated. And PFAS is used in a wide range of everyday products, such as nonstick cookware, stain-resistant clothing, and food packaging.

Congress has an immediate opportunity to address PFAS pollution through the National Defense Authorization Act. This Act can kickstart cleanup by requiring a switch to PFAS-free firefighting foam, making sure the Clean Water Act and Superfund law contain PFAS provisions, and more.

Please contact your U.S. Senator and Representative today. Ask them to reduce ‘forever chemicals’ in Oregon’s waters!

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Subject:

I urge you to support several provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for FY 2020 to safeguard military communities and the general public from PFAS (per- and poly- fluoroalkyl substances) pollution.

This class of chemicals is carcinogenic and has reproductive, developmental and immunological effects.

Because the Department of Defense has required the use of PFAS in military firefighting foam for fifty years, any community where PFAS-containing firefighting foam has been discharged is likely to be contaminated. Here in Oregon, PFAS has been detected at Christmas Valley Air Force Station, an Army National Guard site in Bend, Lane County Armed Forces Reserve Center, Camp Rilea, the Biak Training Center, Ontario Readiness Center, Grants Pass Armory, Lebanon Motor Pool National Guard Site, Roseburg Armory, and Salem Anderson Readiness Center, as well as Klamath Falls Regional Airport and Portland International Airport.

You can protect the health of communities in Oregon and across the nation by ensuring the NDAA contains provisions to reduce or eliminate ongoing sources of PFAS pollution, identify the extent of contaminations, and quickly remediate PFAS pollution. These provisions include:
- Designate PFAS as “hazardous substances” under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act;
- Quickly phase out military use of PFAS in firefighting foam;
- End the use of PFAS firefighting foams in training exercises; 
- End the use of PFAS in military food packaging;
- Require ground and drinking water quality monitoring for PFAS;
- Require the military to share PFAS water monitoring information with adjacent communities;
- Subject PFAS discharges to regulation under the Clean Water Act to limit discharges of PFAS into drinking water supplies and prevent PFAS from contaminating biosolids;  
- Require reporting of industrial discharges of PFAS into air and water; 
- Ensure proper incineration of military PFAS wastes that ensures no PFAS is emitted to the air;
- Provide guidance on the destruction and disposal of PFAS wastes; 
- Accelerate PFAS cleanups at military facilities through the use of cooperative agreements;
- Set a deadline for a health-based drinking water regulation under the Safe Drinking Water Act; and 
- Provide funding for additional studies, data sharing, and remediation.

I appreciate your leadership on this important matter.

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