Fairchild Air Force Base, along with local municipalities and regional regulatory partners have scheduled a town hall meeting on May 23 at the Medical Lake High School auditorium.
The meeting is for residents to learn more about the recent well testing happening around the base.
Subject experts will be on hand to address questions and concerns and provide additional information about perfluorooctanesulfonic (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acids (PFOA) chemicals and the effects it has on groundwater.
Engineers contracted by the U.S. Air Force have sampled approximately 30 water wells located south and east of Fairchild from May 8-10. This came on the heels of engineers’ preliminary sampling of 17 private wells, near the base’s eastern boundary back in April, revealed PFOS and PFOA concentrations above the Environmental Protection Agency’s lifetime health advisory levels.
The Air Force provided residents whose wells tested above levels with the option to receive bottled water until a long-term solution is found to provide them with a clean source of drinking water.
Capt. David Liapas, 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs, confirmed that different agencies, including the Spokane Regional Health District, Washington State Department of Health and the EPA will be on hand to provide information on toxicology, as well as the method behind the testing. Staff from Airway Heights and Medical Lake will be at the meeting as well.
“There will be 4-5 tables with experts presenting a variety of information relating to this issue,” Liapas said.
Al Stover can be reached at al@cheneyfreepress.com.
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