New Mexico AG Sued U.S. Air Force Over PFAS Groundwater Contamination

MARCH 5, 2019

New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Air Force for contamination of drinking water supplies near U.S. Air Force bases in New Mexico. The complaint alleged that the U.S. Air Force has sprayed firefighting foam containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) on the ground and tarmacs in fire training and actual firefighting events at the New Mexico bases for more than 50 years, allowing PFAS to seep into the surrounding groundwater in violation of the New Mexico Hazardous Waste Act. New Mexico sought injunctive relief requiring abatement of ongoing violations of the Act and a permanent injunction for the Air Force to take all steps necessary to achieve permanent and consistent compliance with the Act.