State aiding dairy farmer with PFAS

An space dairy farmer who misplaced his whole herd from perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination is getting assist from the New Mexico Surroundings Division.

A information launch from Matthew Maez, communications director with NMED, describes what occurred to Highland Dairy as PFAS-contaminated groundwater from Cannon Air Pressure Base migrated offsite and resulted in contamination of 1000’s of cows at Highland Dairy, a fourth-generation operation which is now closed.

Years of Air Pressure hearth crew coaching utilizing firefighting foam containing PFAS at Cannon precipitated the difficulty not solely within the Curry and Roosevelt counties space but in addition within the Holloman Air Pressure Base space in Otero County in addition to different places across the nation.

The information launch said testing confirmed the cows and their milk contained PFAS at ranges the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration deemed unsafe for human consumption. In consequence, the proprietor of the dairy was unable to promote merchandise from the farm and was pressured to euthanize your complete herd of three,665 cows underneath the path of the state veterinarian and the New Mexico Livestock Board. The estimated value of this lack of income and elevated bills is $5,946,462, which doesn’t account for upcoming prices related to the on-farm composting of the animal carcasses and last disposal.

“The Division of Protection poisoned Highland Dairy’s cows and the loss is devastating and heartbreaking,” NMED Cupboard Secretary James Kenney mentioned. “Relatively than take accountability for the PFAS air pollution, the Division of Protection put a household farm out of enterprise and has the audacity to proceed its litigation in opposition to New Mexico.”

Kenney continued by mentioning the clean-up of the contamination is within the palms of state companies and residents.  He famous that his division helps Highland Dairy in managing the cattle carcasses as hazardous substances and in search of enter from consultants on remedy and disposal choices.

“Cannon Air Pressure Base is aware of what they’ve accomplished to the groundwater,” Highland Dairy proprietor Artwork Schaap mentioned. “They should personal the air pollution.”

An try to achieve touch upon the NMED information launch from Cannon’s Public Affairs division was unsuccessful by press time.

Cannon beforehand has referred inquiries to the Division of Protection, which subsequently referred inquiries to the EPA.

The Nationwide Protection Authorization Act for fiscal 12 months 2022 budgeted $517 million for PFAS cleanup and motion.  

The Air Pressure Civil Engineering Middle in March started putting in groundwater monitoring wells as part of the remedial investigation to help in figuring out the extent of potential per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) substances in groundwater from Cannon Air Pressure Base.

In accordance with a March information launch from the Cannon public affairs workplace, the AFCEC started gathering soil and groundwater samples to establish potential PFAS contamination each on and off the bottom.

The samples offered the info wanted to find out the best places for the set up of groundwater monitoring wells. 

That March information launch reported the primary groundwater monitoring effectively was put in on the air base then, with one other 12 scheduled for set up all year long.  The info collected from monitoring wells will assist the AFCEC decide potential future full-scale response efforts.

Along with the groundwater monitoring wells, an ongoing pilot examine initiated by a $16.6 million Division of the Air Pressure-awarded contract in Might 2021, will filter and return water to the aquifer.

NMED is the state company overseeing Highland Dairy’s plan for disposal of PFAS-contaminated livestock, which is required for the dairy to qualify for cow indemnity underneath USDA’s dairy indemnity cost plan.

Within the first part of the plan, the dairy will compost all PFAS-contaminated carcasses on the farm property.  In part two, the dairy will conduct PFAS evaluation of the composted materials and related impacted materials, comparable to soil on the compost web site, to be able to decide last removing and disposal choices.

The Highland Dairy removing plan is the primary of its variety nationally for addressing PFAS-contaminated cows as a hazardous waste and was developed in session with the USDA Farm Service Company together with different Federal and state companies.

“I help NMED’s science-based method to make sure that livestock and different agricultural sectors are protected,” New Mexico Agriculture Cupboard Secretary Jeff Witte mentioned.  “We, sadly, already witnessed how PFAS contamination affected a New Mexico dairy.”

Along with the cost sought by Highland Dairy from USDA, NMED has allotted as much as $850,000 of its hazardous waste emergency fund for bills related to the right disposal of PFAS-contaminated hazardous carcasses and related wastes.

The hazardous waste emergency fund is used for clean-up of hazardous substance incidents and replenished via civil penalties collected underneath the New Mexico hazardous waste act.

PFAS are a bunch of artificial chemical substances which are used for a variety of functions not solely in firefighting foam additionally meals packaging, cleansing merchandise, stain resistant carpet remedies, and nonstick cookware amongst different merchandise because the Fifties. The NMED information launch says PFAS are discovered within the our bodies of individuals and animals everywhere in the world, and in floor and floor water, due to widespread use.