New Hampshire

Air Force to Spend $30 Million on Pease Base Cleanup

The Air Force says it will spend $30 million this year on cleaning up contaminated groundwater at a former New Hampshire base.

The groundwater at the former Pease Air Force Base has been found to be contaminated with perfluorinated compounds from the use of firefighting foam.

The chemicals are found in scores of everyday products like nonstick cookware and stain-resistant carpet. The Environmental Protection Agency says exposure has been linked in animal studies to low birth weight, accelerated puberty, cancer and thyroid problems, among other maladies.

The Air Force said this week it already spent $25 million addressing the contamination. It plans on spending $30 million more in 2017, including $13 million to build a system to treat the groundwater from one of the contaminated wells.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
Contact Us