Tucson Sues U.S. Air Force Over PFAS Contamination of City Water

By: AZPM

Dec 20, 2024

The City of Tucson has filed a lawsuit against the United States Air Force (USAF) under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), seeking damages for the contamination of its water supply by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) originating from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base (DMAFB). The lawsuit, filed on December 9, alleges that the Air Force has taken insufficient measures to prevent the migration of PFAS into Tucson’s drinking water. It also claims that any financial assistance the Air Force has provided will not sustain the necessary long-term mitigation efforts. This legal action follows an initial claim submitted by Tucson to the Department of Defense in June, which went unresolved after the six-month response period expired, leading to the lawsuit's filing.

The city’s lawsuit is part of a broader effort to address PFAS contamination, including ongoing litigation against chemical manufacturers such as 3M and DuPont, whose products have contributed to the issue. Tucson officials argue that DMAFB knowingly failed to remove PFAS from its soil and groundwater and did not adequately warn the city of the contamination risks. Tucson has already spent over $70 million on remediation, treatment, and monitoring to ensure safe drinking water for its residents. While the Environmental Protection Agency recently confirmed that the Air Force complied with an emergency order for water treatment costs under a settlement agreement, the city’s lawsuit underscores the need for more comprehensive action and accountability.

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