Pentagon Quietly Extends 'Forever Chemical' Cleanup Timelines at Over 100 Military Sites

Military Bases Face Extended Timelines for "Forever Chemicals" Cleanup

The U.S. Department of Defense has quietly extended the timeline for cleaning up PFAS, also known as "forever chemicals," at over 100 military sites nationwide. These delays impact bases in multiple states, including Montana, Oregon, and Washington.

PFAS Contamination: A Growing Concern

Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, Montana, and the Air National Guard base in Portland are among the affected sites. PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of chemicals that can persist for thousands of years and contaminate water, soil, and food. They are found in waterproofing materials, food packaging, and, critically, firefighting foam.

The Department of Defense is one of the most prolific users of these chemicals due to their use in emergency response training at airports and military bases. Studies have linked exposure to PFAS with increased risks of cancer, immune disorders, problems with child development, and other adverse health effects, according to an EPA health advisory.

Cleanup Delays and Financial Implications

Since 2017, the Defense Department has spent $2.6 billion investigating and cleaning up PFAS. However, delays in cleanup timelines have been reported by news outlets like the New York Times and the Daily Montanan. At Malmstrom, the completion date for a remedial investigation and feasibility study has been pushed back from September 2026 to June 2032. The delay in investigations is due to funding being directed to other sites, as stated by Oregon Officials

According to a 2025 Government Accountability Office report, future PFAS investigation costs have more than tripled since 2022, and cleanup costs have increased 15-fold. Republicans are also trying to roll back the 2024 ban on firefighting foam containing PFAS.

State and Federal Responses

Nolan Lister, a spokesperson for the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), confirmed the extension of the CERCLA process at Malmstrom. While no cleanup has been completed, "best management practices" have been implemented to reduce PFAS in stormwater discharges. Oregon and Washington have also been proactive in trying to reduce PFAS contamination. While Washington was the first state to ban the sale and use of firefighting foam containing PFAS in 2018, Oregon lawmakers this year voted to phase out the use of PFAS-laden firefighting foam

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released new drinking water standards for certain PFAS compounds in 2024. Public water supplies have three years to meet the sampling requirements and two additional years to implement a remedy if the water quality exceeds the new standards. The Montana Department of Environmental Quality is reviewing the new information.