1 00:00:00,605 --> 00:00:04,772 - So without any further ado, Colonel Ryan Samuelson. 2 00:00:05,560 --> 00:00:08,727 (audience applauding) 3 00:00:10,520 --> 00:00:12,047 - Well thank you very much. 4 00:00:12,047 --> 00:00:13,938 You know, normally I give a lot of briefs and speeches 5 00:00:13,938 --> 00:00:16,159 out amongst the community and I sometimes don't use 6 00:00:16,159 --> 00:00:17,896 a lot of notes, and I just talk to you. 7 00:00:17,896 --> 00:00:19,518 I don't want to get anything wrong tonight, 8 00:00:19,518 --> 00:00:22,716 so I'm going to read from prepared statements that I have, 9 00:00:22,716 --> 00:00:25,400 just so that I'm very crystal clear 10 00:00:25,400 --> 00:00:28,251 in the message and what I have to say. 11 00:00:28,251 --> 00:00:31,411 Ladies and gentlemen, neighbors and community partners. 12 00:00:31,411 --> 00:00:33,750 Thank you all for coming out tonight to learn more about 13 00:00:33,750 --> 00:00:37,539 the ground water contamination issue as it relates 14 00:00:37,539 --> 00:00:40,539 to both private and municipal wells. 15 00:00:41,107 --> 00:00:42,929 I'm not usually known for addressing things 16 00:00:42,929 --> 00:00:46,012 in the inland Northwest and Fairchild 17 00:00:46,758 --> 00:00:47,758 that what we're doing ... 18 00:00:47,758 --> 00:00:50,062 I'm sorry, I am usually known for addressing 19 00:00:50,062 --> 00:00:53,120 the great things that we in the inland Northwest 20 00:00:53,120 --> 00:00:55,721 and Fairchild Air Force Base are doing together 21 00:00:55,721 --> 00:00:58,899 and how our 75 years of partnership grows stronger 22 00:00:58,899 --> 00:01:03,066 every day, but regrettably this meeting is different. 23 00:01:03,513 --> 00:01:05,539 We take pride in protecting this great nation 24 00:01:05,539 --> 00:01:08,133 and its citizens and to be honest with your community 25 00:01:08,133 --> 00:01:12,133 when our actions may have led to potential harm. 26 00:01:12,666 --> 00:01:14,475 Many of you have heard me say that my family 27 00:01:14,475 --> 00:01:16,943 has been in the Air Force for three generations 28 00:01:16,943 --> 00:01:19,123 and I've been in for 23 years and yet, 29 00:01:19,123 --> 00:01:22,573 never have I seen a community the size of the 30 00:01:22,573 --> 00:01:26,047 Inland Northwest support this base like it does here. 31 00:01:26,047 --> 00:01:28,327 In my 23 years, I've never seen it. 32 00:01:28,327 --> 00:01:30,849 So the stewardship of our solid relationship is something 33 00:01:30,849 --> 00:01:35,016 I think about every single day as your Base Commander. 34 00:01:36,252 --> 00:01:38,017 You deserve to know what we know 35 00:01:38,017 --> 00:01:41,350 because this is a concern for all of us. 36 00:01:41,592 --> 00:01:44,246 This has become a community-wide issue 37 00:01:44,246 --> 00:01:48,164 that's going to take our combined efforts to resolve. 38 00:01:48,164 --> 00:01:51,676 I am confident our long-standing and positive relationship 39 00:01:51,676 --> 00:01:54,759 will help us succeed to that end. 40 00:01:55,410 --> 00:01:58,258 This past week's response to water distribution 41 00:01:58,258 --> 00:02:00,869 and our partnership with the city of Airway Heights, 42 00:02:00,869 --> 00:02:02,949 I think is a prime example. 43 00:02:02,949 --> 00:02:05,821 We take our responsibility, to keep you informed 44 00:02:05,821 --> 00:02:07,402 and to take appropriate actions 45 00:02:07,402 --> 00:02:10,819 to ensure safe drinking water, seriously. 46 00:02:11,221 --> 00:02:13,398 Throughout this process, we wanted to make sure 47 00:02:13,398 --> 00:02:17,092 you had insights to the testing results, a medium, 48 00:02:17,092 --> 00:02:19,842 to ensure we all have information 49 00:02:19,911 --> 00:02:24,078 to make informed decisions for ourselves and our families. 50 00:02:24,767 --> 00:02:27,524 We did not wait weeks, or even months, 51 00:02:27,524 --> 00:02:30,726 at Fairchild Air Force Base to share information. 52 00:02:30,726 --> 00:02:34,466 We did not wait a year for a full investigation 53 00:02:34,466 --> 00:02:37,216 to conclude and point to sources. 54 00:02:37,922 --> 00:02:40,610 We received the results in the same day 55 00:02:40,610 --> 00:02:42,947 we shared those results. 56 00:02:42,947 --> 00:02:45,069 All of us at Fairchild Air Force Base, 57 00:02:45,069 --> 00:02:48,069 eat, play and live in Airway Heights 58 00:02:48,406 --> 00:02:50,888 and the surrounding community. 59 00:02:50,888 --> 00:02:54,797 Our goal from the onset of this has been transparency 60 00:02:54,797 --> 00:02:57,110 and that is why we're here this evening. 61 00:02:57,110 --> 00:02:58,811 This public meeting was not directed 62 00:02:58,811 --> 00:03:01,293 by the Air Force nor other force, 63 00:03:01,293 --> 00:03:03,763 it was done to inform those of us 64 00:03:03,763 --> 00:03:06,150 who live on the West Plains. 65 00:03:06,150 --> 00:03:08,625 I understand that many of you have questions and concerns, 66 00:03:08,625 --> 00:03:11,994 as you ought, and I appreciate the willingness 67 00:03:11,994 --> 00:03:15,723 to come here to hopefully find answers and assurance 68 00:03:15,723 --> 00:03:18,293 that we, along with our regulatory partners, 69 00:03:18,293 --> 00:03:20,729 and our city leaders are doing all that we can 70 00:03:20,729 --> 00:03:24,229 as quickly as we can to protect our health 71 00:03:24,340 --> 00:03:26,840 and prevent any future issues. 72 00:03:27,393 --> 00:03:28,859 I'll be honest, I'm not here to talk 73 00:03:28,859 --> 00:03:31,053 in bureaucratic speech with words 74 00:03:31,053 --> 00:03:33,808 that leave you guessing what the heck I'm talking about, 75 00:03:33,808 --> 00:03:37,517 I'm here to honestly tell you what we know at this point 76 00:03:37,517 --> 00:03:41,223 and to learn from you what thoughts, questions or concerns 77 00:03:41,223 --> 00:03:43,412 you have that remain unanswered. 78 00:03:43,412 --> 00:03:47,373 My expectation is for you to leave better informed 79 00:03:47,373 --> 00:03:50,373 and that I leave with lots of to-dos 80 00:03:51,266 --> 00:03:53,488 to answer your questions. 81 00:03:53,488 --> 00:03:56,708 You will never, under my command, hear words like, 82 00:03:56,708 --> 00:04:00,568 no comment, or Fairchild was unavailable to answer, 83 00:04:00,568 --> 00:04:04,318 every news outlet may call me 24/7 84 00:04:05,293 --> 00:04:08,199 for answers and they know that. 85 00:04:08,199 --> 00:04:10,920 I have not denied one engagement request 86 00:04:10,920 --> 00:04:13,330 nor request for information, and I have met 87 00:04:13,330 --> 00:04:16,532 with them 19 times in the last seven days. 88 00:04:16,532 --> 00:04:18,715 There's been a lot of information out there in the news, 89 00:04:18,715 --> 00:04:22,136 on social media and other websites, in the past few weeks. 90 00:04:22,136 --> 00:04:24,553 Unfortunately, a lot of it has been misleading, 91 00:04:24,553 --> 00:04:28,297 not put in to the proper context or flat out wrong. 92 00:04:28,297 --> 00:04:31,022 What we hope here to do tonight is to afford you 93 00:04:31,022 --> 00:04:33,718 the opportunity to hear the information 94 00:04:33,718 --> 00:04:36,492 straight from the experts who are in charged 95 00:04:36,492 --> 00:04:38,901 with those particular topics. 96 00:04:38,901 --> 00:04:41,371 Those who have come here from all over the state 97 00:04:41,371 --> 00:04:44,296 and country, from a variety of organizations, 98 00:04:44,296 --> 00:04:47,632 not just the Air Force, to help all of us 99 00:04:47,632 --> 00:04:50,502 leave with a better informed understanding 100 00:04:50,502 --> 00:04:54,169 of how we are going to move forward together in this. 101 00:04:54,169 --> 00:04:55,885 We did not share each other's speeches 102 00:04:55,885 --> 00:04:58,346 or topics for the discussion but I have invited 103 00:04:58,346 --> 00:05:01,545 the city of Airway Heights, EPA and health department 104 00:05:01,545 --> 00:05:03,764 and the Spokane Regional Health Department, 105 00:05:03,764 --> 00:05:05,678 as well to this meeting. 106 00:05:05,678 --> 00:05:08,692 I just asked them to imbibe as much factual information 107 00:05:08,692 --> 00:05:12,859 to help all of us as they could, as they possibly could 108 00:05:12,984 --> 00:05:16,014 and the Air Force continues to do the same in here tonight. 109 00:05:16,014 --> 00:05:18,431 So how did we get here today, 110 00:05:19,217 --> 00:05:21,388 this is not a very simple question to answer 111 00:05:21,388 --> 00:05:25,238 but I will do my best to provide a brief summary. 112 00:05:25,238 --> 00:05:27,824 The firefighting foam used has been used 113 00:05:27,824 --> 00:05:30,718 since before I was born and we stopped using it 114 00:05:30,718 --> 00:05:32,987 before me and most of the leadership 115 00:05:32,987 --> 00:05:35,820 on base were even assigned. 116 00:05:35,851 --> 00:05:38,267 In 2009, the Environmental Protection Agency 117 00:05:38,267 --> 00:05:40,188 published provisional health advisories 118 00:05:40,188 --> 00:05:42,909 for the compounds known, and I'm not going to pretend 119 00:05:42,909 --> 00:05:44,941 to pronounce them in their full names 120 00:05:44,941 --> 00:05:47,286 but known as PFOS and PFOA, based on 121 00:05:47,286 --> 00:05:49,896 the evidence available at the time. 122 00:05:49,896 --> 00:05:53,271 The science has evolved greatly since then and the EPA 123 00:05:53,271 --> 00:05:56,373 replaced the provisional health advisories from 2009 124 00:05:56,373 --> 00:06:00,123 with a new, lifetime exposure health advisory 125 00:06:00,299 --> 00:06:04,466 in May of 2016, that is to say a lag time of seven years. 126 00:06:05,995 --> 00:06:09,271 These advisories, last year, what triggered the Air Force 127 00:06:09,271 --> 00:06:12,640 to begin proactively sampling on, and if necessary, 128 00:06:12,640 --> 00:06:15,137 around installations to determine 129 00:06:15,137 --> 00:06:17,887 if elevated levels were present. 130 00:06:19,924 --> 00:06:23,184 Under the EPA, the established lifetime health advisory 131 00:06:23,184 --> 00:06:25,458 was set at 70 parts per trillion, 132 00:06:25,458 --> 00:06:27,698 however, there is no actual standard 133 00:06:27,698 --> 00:06:30,281 prior to that by which to test, 134 00:06:30,552 --> 00:06:32,147 nor have there been any legal 135 00:06:32,147 --> 00:06:34,539 or statutory requirements to do so 136 00:06:34,539 --> 00:06:37,796 since PFOS and PFOA are still unregulated 137 00:06:37,796 --> 00:06:41,645 and considered emerging contaminates by the EPA. 138 00:06:41,645 --> 00:06:45,334 However, the EPA is actively studying this compound 139 00:06:45,334 --> 00:06:47,465 and out of an abundance of caution, 140 00:06:47,465 --> 00:06:49,472 they stated that ingesting them 141 00:06:49,472 --> 00:06:51,874 at levels above the health advisory 142 00:06:51,874 --> 00:06:54,241 over one's lifetime could potentially 143 00:06:54,241 --> 00:06:56,619 be harmful to human health. 144 00:06:56,619 --> 00:06:58,108 Standards were also developed 145 00:06:58,108 --> 00:07:00,244 for our most vulnerable population, 146 00:07:00,244 --> 00:07:02,694 the developing child of a mother, 147 00:07:02,694 --> 00:07:06,026 and to help keep our bodies from rapidly ingesting. 148 00:07:06,026 --> 00:07:08,800 The Air Force, however, depends upon EPA 149 00:07:08,800 --> 00:07:10,951 and Department of Health and Human Services 150 00:07:10,951 --> 00:07:13,513 for toxic substance and disease registry 151 00:07:13,513 --> 00:07:16,939 to determine danger to human health and the environment. 152 00:07:16,939 --> 00:07:19,388 It is an important to note that these compounds 153 00:07:19,388 --> 00:07:22,628 have been used in household and commercial products 154 00:07:22,628 --> 00:07:26,628 since 1950s and contamination found in this area 155 00:07:26,644 --> 00:07:29,772 could also have occurred at any point since then 156 00:07:29,772 --> 00:07:32,121 from a variety of military, commercial, 157 00:07:32,121 --> 00:07:34,108 and industrial sources. 158 00:07:34,108 --> 00:07:35,798 These compounds, as you may have read, 159 00:07:35,798 --> 00:07:37,201 have been used in many products 160 00:07:37,201 --> 00:07:41,338 such as stains, carpets, greases, rain-resistant clothing, 161 00:07:41,338 --> 00:07:45,171 furniture, fast-food and popular manufacturing 162 00:07:45,638 --> 00:07:49,805 and yes, the firefighting foam used many aviation fields. 163 00:07:50,912 --> 00:07:52,942 The Food and Drug Administration hadn't banned 164 00:07:52,942 --> 00:07:57,109 the use of PFOA in food packaging until January of last year 165 00:07:57,525 --> 00:07:59,898 because of its widespread use in carpets, 166 00:07:59,898 --> 00:08:02,574 upholstered furniture and other textiles, 167 00:08:02,574 --> 00:08:05,447 PFOA has been detected in indoor desks 168 00:08:05,447 --> 00:08:09,614 and homes, offices, vehicles and other indoor spaces. 169 00:08:09,846 --> 00:08:13,203 Their use, in fact, has been so widespread, for so long, 170 00:08:13,203 --> 00:08:16,741 that science indicates most, if not all of us, 171 00:08:16,741 --> 00:08:20,503 have some level of PFOS and PFOA in our bodies. 172 00:08:20,503 --> 00:08:23,045 According to the EPA study released last year, 173 00:08:23,045 --> 00:08:25,363 PFOA was detected in the bloodstream 174 00:08:25,363 --> 00:08:29,530 of 99% of the U.S. general population between 1999 and 2012. 175 00:08:33,298 --> 00:08:36,548 A version of Aqueous form-filling foam, 176 00:08:36,645 --> 00:08:39,207 I will call it triple A, triple F from now on 177 00:08:39,207 --> 00:08:41,848 is a very effective firefighting foam 178 00:08:41,848 --> 00:08:44,410 that contain a PFOS and PFOA 179 00:08:44,410 --> 00:08:46,293 and has been used for military 180 00:08:46,293 --> 00:08:48,932 and commercial aircraft fire protection worldwide 181 00:08:48,932 --> 00:08:53,099 since the 1970s, including here at Fairchild Air Force Base. 182 00:08:53,487 --> 00:08:57,355 That is why, after looking at how the foam was used 183 00:08:57,355 --> 00:08:59,626 at Fairchild Air Force Base, particularly, 184 00:08:59,626 --> 00:09:02,922 in the southeast training section of our base, 185 00:09:02,922 --> 00:09:05,853 the Air Force moved forward with well water testing. 186 00:09:05,853 --> 00:09:09,412 First on base, then outside, in the immediate area 187 00:09:09,412 --> 00:09:11,582 and then we've continued to expand 188 00:09:11,582 --> 00:09:13,822 every week since we first tested. 189 00:09:13,822 --> 00:09:16,446 The Air Force did not conduct a health study 190 00:09:16,446 --> 00:09:19,113 on the impacts AFFF foam itself. 191 00:09:20,195 --> 00:09:22,451 In the early 1980s, I'm sorry ... 192 00:09:22,451 --> 00:09:24,860 The early 1980's study referenced 193 00:09:24,860 --> 00:09:28,610 by some news sources was not a study on AFFF, 194 00:09:28,687 --> 00:09:31,787 nor was the chemical in that study used by the Air Force 195 00:09:31,787 --> 00:09:34,644 for any other purpose than of the initial study. 196 00:09:34,644 --> 00:09:36,937 The Air Force is investigating to determine 197 00:09:36,937 --> 00:09:39,599 if our mission activities are a potential source 198 00:09:39,599 --> 00:09:42,177 and that has contributed to this problem 199 00:09:42,177 --> 00:09:46,344 by using AFFF to put out aircraft fires in training 200 00:09:47,279 --> 00:09:50,820 our firefighters over the past few decades. 201 00:09:50,820 --> 00:09:53,155 But we are also not waiting for legislation 202 00:09:53,155 --> 00:09:56,655 or regulations to move forward and to act. 203 00:09:57,334 --> 00:09:59,544 After the EPA's advisory in 2009, 204 00:09:59,544 --> 00:10:02,461 the Air Force began looking for ways to limit 205 00:10:02,461 --> 00:10:06,100 the use of our AFFF and eventually replace it 206 00:10:06,100 --> 00:10:08,999 with a more environmentally friendly alternative 207 00:10:08,999 --> 00:10:12,951 that would still effectively protect lives and aircraft. 208 00:10:12,951 --> 00:10:14,918 You see aircraft fires tend to be difficult 209 00:10:14,918 --> 00:10:18,113 to put out with water and most basic firefighting foams. 210 00:10:18,113 --> 00:10:21,809 We started using an improved, more efficient, I'm sorry, 211 00:10:21,809 --> 00:10:25,809 more environmentally foam last year very shortly 212 00:10:25,821 --> 00:10:28,775 after the EPA released their May 2016 213 00:10:28,775 --> 00:10:31,964 health advisory levels on PFOS/PFOA 214 00:10:31,964 --> 00:10:35,370 and as soon as it was approved by the Department of Defense. 215 00:10:35,370 --> 00:10:38,001 Additionally, Fairchild stopped using it 216 00:10:38,001 --> 00:10:40,668 for training over two years ago. 217 00:10:40,896 --> 00:10:42,665 In order to ensure the health and well-being 218 00:10:42,665 --> 00:10:45,026 of our communities, the Air Force is conducting 219 00:10:45,026 --> 00:10:49,193 a pro-active process to identify, to respond and prevent 220 00:10:51,392 --> 00:10:55,559 as it relates to potential PFOS and PFOA contamination 221 00:10:55,579 --> 00:10:57,583 and to begin sampling ground water wells 222 00:10:57,583 --> 00:11:00,508 in the areas where we know or suspect 223 00:11:00,508 --> 00:11:03,091 AFFF has been used in the past. 224 00:11:03,266 --> 00:11:06,403 This is exactly what led to the sampling on base 225 00:11:06,403 --> 00:11:08,784 as well as private and municipal wells 226 00:11:08,784 --> 00:11:12,268 within approximately two miles to the south and east 227 00:11:12,268 --> 00:11:16,131 of the base's eastern fence line in the past few months 228 00:11:16,131 --> 00:11:18,686 in what has been noted as Round One 229 00:11:18,686 --> 00:11:20,641 and Round Two of sampling. 230 00:11:20,641 --> 00:11:22,067 Again, there was no organization 231 00:11:22,067 --> 00:11:23,834 or federal government agency that directed 232 00:11:23,834 --> 00:11:26,228 the Air force to begin this testing. 233 00:11:26,228 --> 00:11:28,964 PFOS/PFOA in drinking water are not regulated 234 00:11:28,964 --> 00:11:31,547 by the Safe Drinking Water Act. 235 00:11:31,591 --> 00:11:33,565 The Air Force will not wait for federal laws 236 00:11:33,565 --> 00:11:37,333 for monitoring and testing to change before moving forward. 237 00:11:37,333 --> 00:11:39,997 Fairchild first sent our teams on base 238 00:11:39,997 --> 00:11:43,198 to inform well owners, these were private well owners, 239 00:11:43,198 --> 00:11:45,773 of the potential issue and requested permission 240 00:11:45,773 --> 00:11:49,940 to sample their wells for the suspected contamination areas. 241 00:11:50,367 --> 00:11:53,690 As soon as we had the results, we immediately informed 242 00:11:53,690 --> 00:11:56,521 the residents and provided bottled water 243 00:11:56,521 --> 00:11:58,442 to effected personnel. 244 00:11:58,442 --> 00:12:01,583 We are now working with these residents, one-on-one, 245 00:12:01,583 --> 00:12:03,836 and our local and regional partners 246 00:12:03,836 --> 00:12:06,817 to find a long term solution to provide them 247 00:12:06,817 --> 00:12:10,532 with clean drinking water and you have my word 248 00:12:10,532 --> 00:12:14,449 that I will follow up on this every single day. 249 00:12:14,847 --> 00:12:19,014 We need to fix it fast, each house and well will have 250 00:12:19,235 --> 00:12:22,287 to be looked at differently to find the best solution, 251 00:12:22,287 --> 00:12:24,509 but for me, living on bottled water 252 00:12:24,509 --> 00:12:26,964 is not an acceptable solution. 253 00:12:26,964 --> 00:12:30,241 I'll be your advocate as we work through this. 254 00:12:30,241 --> 00:12:31,607 After the first round of testing, 255 00:12:31,607 --> 00:12:33,479 the Air Force approved additional testing 256 00:12:33,479 --> 00:12:37,646 at a further distance to the east and the south of base. 257 00:12:37,659 --> 00:12:40,629 As soon as we received the results of Round Two, 258 00:12:40,629 --> 00:12:42,056 we not only did the same thing 259 00:12:42,056 --> 00:12:44,561 for private well owners as we did in Round One, 260 00:12:44,561 --> 00:12:47,718 we also immediately as soon as we had the tests, 261 00:12:47,718 --> 00:12:50,364 informed the city of Airway Heights of those results 262 00:12:50,364 --> 00:12:54,092 and this prompted the city out of an abundance of caution 263 00:12:54,092 --> 00:12:57,218 and care for the community to take the actions 264 00:12:57,218 --> 00:13:01,098 that I will let Mr. Albert Tripp discuss in a few minutes. 265 00:13:01,098 --> 00:13:04,356 Needless to say, the base is partnering with the city 266 00:13:04,356 --> 00:13:07,546 to find solutions and investigate all possible sources 267 00:13:07,546 --> 00:13:10,754 of the PFOS/PFOA contamination 268 00:13:10,754 --> 00:13:13,174 such as landfills, commercial sources, 269 00:13:13,174 --> 00:13:16,693 and waste water treatment plants, just to name a few. 270 00:13:16,693 --> 00:13:20,860 Let me also state that Fairchild Air Force Base will not, 271 00:13:20,992 --> 00:13:23,308 will not release the details of private 272 00:13:23,308 --> 00:13:26,326 or municipality well testing results to any one 273 00:13:26,326 --> 00:13:28,456 other than people near another well. 274 00:13:28,456 --> 00:13:30,530 Whether that be a private citizen 275 00:13:30,530 --> 00:13:32,380 or the city of Airway Heights 276 00:13:32,380 --> 00:13:33,931 because, for me, this should be treated 277 00:13:33,931 --> 00:13:35,970 like someone's private medical data. 278 00:13:35,970 --> 00:13:37,071 If those individuals so chose 279 00:13:37,071 --> 00:13:39,587 to release it, that is really up to them. 280 00:13:39,587 --> 00:13:43,170 The reason is that this is a complex issue. 281 00:13:43,272 --> 00:13:46,500 Along one such road, we find four neighbors 282 00:13:46,500 --> 00:13:48,855 all living on the exact same street, 283 00:13:48,855 --> 00:13:51,717 who are close to one another that have four readings 284 00:13:51,717 --> 00:13:55,615 that go all the way from no detection to right next door, 285 00:13:55,615 --> 00:13:58,516 many times to health advisory levels. 286 00:13:58,516 --> 00:14:00,834 So many factors, many, many factors 287 00:14:00,834 --> 00:14:05,001 play in to what potentially could contaminate a well. 288 00:14:05,003 --> 00:14:07,348 What we are finding is the age of the well, 289 00:14:07,348 --> 00:14:10,044 the structure of the well, the depth of the well, 290 00:14:10,044 --> 00:14:13,598 the water flow both on the surface and underground 291 00:14:13,598 --> 00:14:17,167 all play in to whether or not chemical contamination 292 00:14:17,167 --> 00:14:19,647 of PFOS/PFOA is found. 293 00:14:19,647 --> 00:14:23,814 If we made an error for anybody to draw a conclusion 294 00:14:23,918 --> 00:14:27,498 about our sample testing areas that we'll see on the maps 295 00:14:27,498 --> 00:14:30,162 represent plumes of contamination, 296 00:14:30,162 --> 00:14:32,995 it is just simply not the case, 297 00:14:33,025 --> 00:14:34,520 it is independent based on the wells 298 00:14:34,520 --> 00:14:36,407 that we were finding and testing. 299 00:14:36,407 --> 00:14:39,476 In fact, between the base and the Airway Height 300 00:14:39,476 --> 00:14:42,536 effected municipal wells, we have wells, 301 00:14:42,536 --> 00:14:46,703 four of them that did not contain any PFOS/PFOA compounds. 302 00:14:46,874 --> 00:14:49,727 Again, it is a complex problem that will require 303 00:14:49,727 --> 00:14:52,430 extensive investigation but I will tell you 304 00:14:52,430 --> 00:14:55,248 that does not change our support to the community 305 00:14:55,248 --> 00:14:58,748 in getting water to those who may need it. 306 00:14:59,206 --> 00:15:02,944 Further private well testing, my guess is that many of you 307 00:15:02,944 --> 00:15:05,711 are here to have that question answered. 308 00:15:05,711 --> 00:15:07,658 Headquarters of Air Force is working 309 00:15:07,658 --> 00:15:09,203 with Fairchild Air Force Base 310 00:15:09,203 --> 00:15:11,414 in taking a proactive, measured approach 311 00:15:11,414 --> 00:15:15,329 to sampling additional, off-base private wells. 312 00:15:15,329 --> 00:15:18,127 That is to say, we are starting in areas 313 00:15:18,127 --> 00:15:20,514 that are likely affected the most, 314 00:15:20,514 --> 00:15:22,843 areas where we know had activity 315 00:15:22,843 --> 00:15:25,781 and moving out from there, if necessary. 316 00:15:25,781 --> 00:15:27,729 During the site inspection phase, 317 00:15:27,729 --> 00:15:30,671 we identified wells to be sampled based on 318 00:15:30,671 --> 00:15:32,864 number one, probability of contamination, 319 00:15:32,864 --> 00:15:36,735 proximity to the contaminant area, and possible pathways 320 00:15:36,735 --> 00:15:40,450 from the contaminant to the drinking water wells. 321 00:15:40,450 --> 00:15:44,593 If your drinking water well is within the sample area 322 00:15:44,593 --> 00:15:48,760 and you have not been contacted than please, contact us, 323 00:15:49,121 --> 00:15:51,367 even if it's not on a map currently, 324 00:15:51,367 --> 00:15:54,342 this evening on our Public Affairs phone number. 325 00:15:54,342 --> 00:15:58,431 If a site indicates that your well might be impacted, 326 00:15:58,431 --> 00:16:01,207 we may be able to go out and continue to sample. 327 00:16:01,207 --> 00:16:03,696 If you are still concerned after talking 328 00:16:03,696 --> 00:16:06,745 with our hydro-geologist and looking at our maps 329 00:16:06,745 --> 00:16:10,007 and you're not living in the current testing area, 330 00:16:10,007 --> 00:16:13,507 please do not leave without us documenting 331 00:16:13,704 --> 00:16:16,244 where you live so we can get experts 332 00:16:16,244 --> 00:16:19,925 to look at your unique location and situation. 333 00:16:19,925 --> 00:16:22,320 We care tremendously about the health and well-being 334 00:16:22,320 --> 00:16:25,395 of our families, our neighbors, our community workers, 335 00:16:25,395 --> 00:16:28,637 and we understand those impacted, or potentially impacted, 336 00:16:28,637 --> 00:16:32,470 by this urgent issue have legitimate concerns. 337 00:16:32,554 --> 00:16:34,229 I'd like to encourage every one 338 00:16:34,229 --> 00:16:36,146 to take the time you need tonight 339 00:16:36,146 --> 00:16:38,990 to learn about what PFOS and PFOA are, 340 00:16:38,990 --> 00:16:41,287 how they might affect human health 341 00:16:41,287 --> 00:16:44,725 if consumed at certain levels over one's lifetime 342 00:16:44,725 --> 00:16:47,309 and what the Air Force and our partners have done 343 00:16:47,309 --> 00:16:51,476 and will continue to do to identify, respond, and prevent. 344 00:16:52,672 --> 00:16:55,990 We will continue to remain completely transparent 345 00:16:55,990 --> 00:16:57,866 as we work to determine the extent 346 00:16:57,866 --> 00:17:00,734 of PFOS/PFOA contamination and how to quickly 347 00:17:00,734 --> 00:17:03,520 and effectively provide clean water 348 00:17:03,520 --> 00:17:07,603 to those possibly affected by any past activities 349 00:17:07,631 --> 00:17:09,406 associated with base operations. 350 00:17:09,406 --> 00:17:11,584 We are providing water to the public, 351 00:17:11,584 --> 00:17:14,299 we are providing water to the effected businesses, 352 00:17:14,299 --> 00:17:16,941 we are providing manpower to help each other 353 00:17:16,941 --> 00:17:20,022 all while heavily deployed to over 19 locations 354 00:17:20,022 --> 00:17:23,939 around the globe and we will continue to do so. 355 00:17:24,097 --> 00:17:26,213 And while we don't yet know the full extent 356 00:17:26,213 --> 00:17:28,484 to which past base activities have contributed 357 00:17:28,484 --> 00:17:31,117 to the PFOS/PFOA contamination of this area 358 00:17:31,117 --> 00:17:34,858 or what part non-military sources may have played, 359 00:17:34,858 --> 00:17:38,280 the Air Force, your Fairchild, is committed 360 00:17:38,280 --> 00:17:40,798 to working with our city, regulatory partners, 361 00:17:40,798 --> 00:17:43,129 and most importantly, to the residents 362 00:17:43,129 --> 00:17:46,129 to protect human health and resolve the issue at hand. 363 00:17:46,129 --> 00:17:48,437 I will remain fully accessible 364 00:17:48,437 --> 00:17:50,400 to any member of the community, 365 00:17:50,400 --> 00:17:53,115 city leadership, or media outlets 366 00:17:53,115 --> 00:17:56,088 that have questions and to ensure the public knows 367 00:17:56,088 --> 00:17:58,948 that the great patriots of Fairchild Air Force Base 368 00:17:58,948 --> 00:18:01,698 are here to help and not to hurt. 369 00:18:01,955 --> 00:18:03,876 I will delegate the tough questions 370 00:18:03,876 --> 00:18:08,043 or leave the tough decisions and discussions on the side. 371 00:18:08,064 --> 00:18:10,180 We want our base and communities we live in 372 00:18:10,180 --> 00:18:12,796 to be clean and as friendly as possible. 373 00:18:12,796 --> 00:18:14,226 We want to be the great neighbors 374 00:18:14,226 --> 00:18:16,665 that you want living next to you. 375 00:18:16,665 --> 00:18:19,332 Let me close by saying, thank you to those 376 00:18:19,332 --> 00:18:22,052 who have stopped by the water distribution sites 377 00:18:22,052 --> 00:18:25,923 or left messages to say thank you for your support and help. 378 00:18:25,923 --> 00:18:29,957 No one who serves at Fairchild Air Force Base made decisions 379 00:18:29,957 --> 00:18:34,054 on what products to use to conduct our activities. 380 00:18:34,054 --> 00:18:37,169 No one intentionally made decisions to harm ourselves 381 00:18:37,169 --> 00:18:41,030 or the community of partners in areas that we live. 382 00:18:41,030 --> 00:18:44,959 This was not a spill covered up overnight by Team Fairchild. 383 00:18:44,959 --> 00:18:49,048 And please, for some of you, let your frustrations not be 384 00:18:49,048 --> 00:18:52,066 with the men and women, active, guard, reserve, civilians 385 00:18:52,066 --> 00:18:54,696 and families who call Fairchild home. 386 00:18:54,696 --> 00:18:58,087 If you do have frustrations related to base activities, 387 00:18:58,087 --> 00:19:02,254 give them to me and I will work tirelessly with you 388 00:19:03,454 --> 00:19:06,264 and my higher headquarters to get a resolution 389 00:19:06,264 --> 00:19:07,859 as soon as possible. 390 00:19:07,859 --> 00:19:10,960 Our patriots defend with their lives this great country, 391 00:19:10,960 --> 00:19:14,021 please continue to support them as you have for decades. 392 00:19:14,021 --> 00:19:16,066 Again we care about solving the problem, 393 00:19:16,066 --> 00:19:18,069 we care about protecting our environment, 394 00:19:18,069 --> 00:19:22,236 and leaving a legacy that generations to come can enjoy. 395 00:19:22,353 --> 00:19:24,507 Transparency and accessibility 396 00:19:24,507 --> 00:19:27,147 are the top key words in this room. 397 00:19:27,147 --> 00:19:30,020 It has been the basis of our 75 year partnership 398 00:19:30,020 --> 00:19:33,520 through great times, and yes, tough times. 399 00:19:33,887 --> 00:19:37,054 With that, Mr. Albert Tripp can speak. 400 00:19:37,508 --> 00:19:40,508 (audience applause)