State Rep. Sue Allor today sharply criticized the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) after recent reports that the DOD has been lobbying the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to adopt a more lenient standard for cleaning up PFAS in groundwater. For decades, the DOD used fire-fighting foam laden with PFAS for training exercises on Air Force bases, including the former Wurtsmith base.

“We all have to take responsibility for our actions, whether we like it or not. It is underhanded and unfair to the citizens of this state for federal bureaucrats to try and dodge responsibility at the eleventh hour, and leave Michigan taxpayers with the bill,” Allor, of Wolverine, said. “This mess will take a long time to clean up, and the federal government must step up and do its part, not play political games with the health and safety of Michigan families.”

The DOD’s push to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for a lower groundwater clean-up standard comes as the Department of Defense faces billions of dollars in cleanup costs tied to its use of PFAS-laden AFFF firefighting foam. If successful, media reports stated, the Pentagon’s move could get the Air Force off the hook for cleaning up sites.

“The science around PFAS cleanup is rapidly advancing, but one thing remains the same—our standards are getting stronger, not weaker,” Allor said. “The Pentagon’s suggestion that the EPA adopt a cleanup standard of 380 parts per trillion— more than five times weaker than Michigan’s current standard – is ludicrous. We need to make sure we are pursuing science-backed standards that best protect Michigan families.”