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Army seeks information, sampling of drinking wells near Gregg-Adams

By Fort Gregg-Adams Public Affairs OfficeNovember 14, 2023

FORT GREGG-ADAMS, Va. — Fort Gregg-Adams representatives are working to identify and sample privately owned drinking water wells on specific properties bordering the southern and northeastern edges of the Army installation in Prince George County and Petersburg.

The goal of the testing is to detect the presence of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) – two per- and polyfluorinated substances among thousands of synthetic chemicals known collectively as PFAS – that researchers believe may have negative long-term health effects. PFAS are found in many everyday products, such as food packaging, cookware, carpet protectants and waterproofing chemicals, but are only potentially harmful to humans – according to the EPA – if ingested.

During recent testing, PFOS/PFOA were detected in groundwater at two sites on Fort Gregg-Adams’ southern and northeastern periphery – a former fire-fighting training area and a former testing area. PFOS/PFOA were used for decades at military bases, airports, fire departments and other locations around the world in aqueous film-forming foam, or AFFF, a firefighting agent that quickly suppresses fuel- and oil-based fires.

Use of AFFF at the former training site stopped when it was closed in the mid-1980s. The Fort Gregg-Adams Fire Department also maintained limited amounts of AFFF in its inventory until 2019, which was used sparingly for pump and nozzle testing at other post fire stations. There is no documented use of it during actual emergencies in the past.

Fort Gregg-Adams and almost all nearby properties have regularly tested, commercially provided water for consumption – recent tests have detected no PFOS/PFOA in this water supply. The installation is focused on identifying and conducting sampling only at adjacent off-post properties with wells used for drinking water.

Army environmental experts and contractors are contacting the owners of around 100 parcels of land near Fort Gregg-Adams to see if they have drinking wells and ask permission to collect test samples, if so. The samples will be analyzed in a laboratory to identify any concentrations of PFOS or PFOA, which were used for decades at military bases, airports, and other locations around the world in aqueous film-forming foam, or AFFF, a firefighting agent that quickly suppresses fuel- and oil-based fires.

"We are committed to being good neighbors in our larger community and doing our part to actively protect our collective health,” said Col. James D. Hoyman, Fort Gregg-Adams garrison commander. “We will be responsible in our actions relative to drinking water and forthright in our communication.”

Owners and residents do not have to pay for the sampling, which will take approximately one hour, and will be sent a copy of their test report about eight to 10 weeks later.

For more information, visit defense.gov/Spotlights/pfas.

Your cooperation and assistance are greatly appreciated. If you should have any questions about sampling, testing or both, please contact the Fort Gregg-Adams Garrison Public Affairs Office at (804) 479-5246 or by e-mail at FortGreggAdams@army.mil.