New Mexico official asks Congress to fund PFAS cleanup in his state

073020GovTalk_71.JPG

 

New Mexico Environment Department Cabinet Secretary James Kenney went before Congress on Wednesday to ask the government to do something about those “forever” chemicals in his state.

He testified before Oklahoma U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe and others on the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works about the environmental threats of PFAS.

“States commonly tackle problems impacting their communities,” Secretary Kenney told committee members. “What’s not common is when such efforts are met with federal lawsuits.”

New Mexico is in litigation with the U.S. Air Force over its efforts to compel the federal government to clean up groundwater contamination caused by decades of use of a PFAS-containing firefighting foam at Cannon and Holloman Air Force Bases.  Kenney contends the contamination threatens public health, the environment, and the economy.

New Mexico grapples with its 'forever' chemicals — High Country News – Know  the West

The state’s Environment Department is investigating the contamination – and Kenney says state taxpayers are footing the bill.

He urged Congress to take action to recognize in federal statute that discarded PFAS is a hazardous waste that should be regulated from manufacture to disposal. He also asked Congress to provide additional funding to states like New Mexico that must take on additional costs related to managing PFAS contamination and protecting communities.

A video of the hearing, “PFAS: the View from Affected Citizens and States,” and the Secretary’s written testimony is available here.