Gov. Lujan Grisham, congressional delegation release joint statement on Air Force Base contamination

By State Of New Mexico

Following a call Wednesday afternoon between Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, the New Mexico congressional delegation, and U.S. Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson regarding contamination at Cannon and Holloman Air Force Bases, in which the group expressed their concerns to Secretary Wilson, the governor and members of the delegation issued the following joint statement:

“We firmly expect the Air Force to show much more urgency in responding to the contamination around Holloman and Cannon Air Force Bases than they have to date. Their activities have caused contamination in groundwater surrounding these bases, and it must be fixed immediately. We will continue to work with Secretary Wilson to ensure the Air Force moves quickly to determine the full extent of PFAS contamination and take substantive action to protect the health of impacted communities and our service members. And we will pursue all available avenues to protect New Mexico’s water supplies and ensure affected New Mexicans are made whole as soon as possible. New Mexico is a proud and welcoming host to three Air Forces bases, and we are entitled to accountability and access to safe, healthy water for households and businesses in our communities. We will pursue this and push the Air Force until it is achieved.”

Subsequent to the phone call, the New Mexico Environment Department issued the Air Force a Notice of Violation regarding contamination Holloman Air Force Base. A news release can be found here.