Public comment opens for cleanup plan at Paine Field site

EVERETT — The Washington Department of Ecology is inviting community members to comment on an agreed order between the state and Snohomish County regarding a Paine Field clean-up site.

During previous drills, firefighting foam containing per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS, contaminated the ground at Paine Field’s fire training site located on the western side of Paine Field near south Everett.

PFAS are nicknamed “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down in the environment or human bodies. There have been no reports of the chemicals affecting drinking water, but when people are exposed, PFAS can increase the risks of certain cancers and weaken the body’s immune system.

The agreed order with the state requires the county to investigate environmental conditions of the site and complete a remedial investigation, feasibility study and cleanup action plan.

https://www.heraldnet.com/news/public-comment-opens-for-cleanup-plan-at-paine-field-site/