Last week, the Department of Defense announced two new groundwater treatment systems for Oscoda, Michigan, whose residents and nearby communities have lived with the impact of PFAS contamination for far too long.

Oscoda and its surrounding communities – near the now-closed Wurtsmith Air Force Base – have been found to have groundwater containing PFAS levels far greater than those deemed safe by the Environmental Protection Agency.

PFAS, short for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances, are harmful to humans and do not degrade naturally, which is why they are sometimes called “forever chemicals.” Due to their use at the Wurtsmith Air Force Base, the chemicals have entered the groundwater in Oscoda. 

As a result, dedicated community members and Michigan’s bipartisan congressional delegation have been pushing the Department of Defense to live up to its responsibilities. We have engaged with Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment William A. LaPlante through everything from letters, to calls to meetings.

One community member – Tony Spaniola of the Great Lakes Action Network – was especially integral to the process. An Oscoda resident, he’s been leading the fight on the ground and has been a critical partner for me and my staff.

Those efforts paid off last August when the Department announced two new groundwater treatment systems for Oscoda, and again last week when it announced two additional treatment systems. These systems were developed in close coordination with community experts, and represent a commitment to comprehensively address the issue. 

However, the issue of PFAS isn’t going away any time soon – Michigan has the highest number of PFAS contaminated sites in the country. And as a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I will continue to urge the Pentagon to implement these measures swiftly and to address other instances of PFAS contamination at installations in Michigan and across the country. 

 - Rep. Elissa Slotkin