Young, Senate colleagues urge inclusion in NDAA of toxic chemical prevention provisions

As Armed Services conferees negotiate the final fiscal year (FY) 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), U.S. Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) helped lead a bipartisan group of lawmakers in requesting inclusion of several provisions that would help prevent the potential harm caused by toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at American military bases. 

“PFAS chemicals, like perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), have emerged as a widespread contaminant to the drinking water sources of military bases across the country due to their use in aqueous firefighting foam (AFFF) used by the military,” wrote Sen. Young and his colleagues in an Oct. 7 letter sent to leaders in both the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee and the U.S. House Armed Services Committee. “The uncertainty associated with the health impacts of these materials has caused great public concern for members of the military and veterans who have served at the hundreds of bases found to be contaminated with these materials.”

Among the 19 other lawmakers who joined Sen. Young in signing the letter were U.S. Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH).

The NDAA, which is annual legislation to authorize national defense programs and priorities for the coming year, should include provisions that underscore the adverse health effects tied to PFAS, according to their letter, which cites the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DOD) PFAS Task Force report that updated the count of military installations impacted by these materials from 401 to 651. 

Sen. Young and his colleagues expressed concern about occupational exposure for firefighters in particular, who are more exposed to PFAS through the use of firefighting foam, and also potentially through their personal protective equipment, according to their letter. 

Toward that end, the lawmakers asked that a provision be included to require the Secretary of Defense to evaluate available firefighting technologies or substances to be adapted for use by DOD to facilitate the phase-out of firefighting foam that contains PFAS chemicals.

Sen. Young and his colleagues also urged the conference committee to include a measure that modifies the authority for environmental restoration projects of the National Guard and provides technical corrections to ensure restoration of contamination by specific PFAS.

“We acknowledge the ongoing efforts of the DOD,” the senators wrote, “however, additional action is needed to address the immediate concerns of citizens near these military bases who are desperate to know what exposure to these contaminants means for their health and the health of their families.”