Cape and Islands NPR by Brian Engles
State and federal regulators are not seeing eye-to-eye with the Air Force on next steps for cleaning up the harmful ‘forever chemicals’ PFAS from Joint Base Cape Cod. A 6,200 acre plume of concentrated PFAS stemming from the base’s old fire training area led to groundwater contamination in Mashpee and Falmouth, including Ashumet and Johns Pond. PFAS are chemicals found in firefighting foam that was previously used at the site. The Air Force Civil Engineer Center (AFCEC) began testing the area for PFAS in 2015 after being asked to sample for the emerging contaminants by the EPA. A recent AFCEC draft supplemental feasibility study on cleanup plans for the plume said the group is not evaluating active groundwater remediation for the area downgradient of Ashumet and Johns Pond. For the full text, click here.