Letter to Deborah Lee James, Secretary of the Air Force - Contaminated Water at Pease Tradeport

Letter

The Honorable Deborah Lee James
Secretary of the Air Force
U.S. Department of the Air Force
1160 Air Force Pentagon
Washington, DC 20330-1160

Dear Secretary James:

Enclosed is a copy of a letter Portsmouth, New Hampshire City Manager John Bohenko sent to Dr. Stephen TerMaath, the Air Force's BRAC Program Management Division Chief, regarding the recent closure of the Haven Well at the Pease International Tradeport. As you know, an analysis of water samples from the well detected levels of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) above the EPA's provisional health advisory level.

I am deeply concerned about this situation. The City of Portsmouth will face a significant financial challenge in replacing the Haven Well as a supply source. Given that the former Pease Air Force Base is a Superfund site and that the firefighter foam the Air Force used at the base contained PFCs, I would urge the Department of the Air Force to include in the draft Memorandum of Understanding the provisions Mr. Bohenko outlines in his letter to Dr. TerMaath.

In addition to the issues Portsmouth must now address, residents who live near the Tradeport and tenants who work there have also expressed concerns with the health effects resulting from exposure to PFOS. Although the well is no longer providing drinking water to the public, I would urge the Department of the Air Force to conduct additional testing to insure that any private well in the vicinity is safe.

I know you share the goal of protecting the health and safety of the public. Thank you for insuring the problems that have resulted from the contamination of the Haven Well continue to be a priority for the Department.

Sincerely,

Jeanne Shaheen
United States Senator

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