Prefiled 01/05/21.Read first time 01/11/21.Referred to Committee on Environment, Energy & Technology.

TO THE UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, THE SECRETARY OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY, THE SECRETARY OF THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE, THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, THE UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE, THE DIRECTOR OF THE WASHINGTON MILITARY DEPARTMENT, AND THE COMMANDING OFFICER OF NAVAL AIR STATION WHIDBEY ISLAND:

We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:

WHEREAS, Washington state is grateful to all of the members of our nation's armed services; and

WHEREAS, Washington state welcomes and appreciates the Navy and Air Force as honored community partners who contribute to the economic vitality of our state, including in the communities near Naval Air Station Whidbey Island; and

WHEREAS, Per and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS, may be linked to health problems in people and animals, remain in the environment for an extended period of time without breaking down, and build up in people and the environment; and

WHEREAS, PFAS firefighting foams have been used since the 1970s for vapor suppression, firefighting, and firefighting training at facilities handling large volumes of flammable liquid petroleum or natural gas; and

WHEREAS, PFAS contamination related to firefighting foam use has been found at or near military sites in Washington state, including training sites at Ault Field in Oak Harbor and Naval Air Station Whidbey Island Area 6; and

WHEREAS, Known cases of PFAS contamination in surface water and groundwater in Washington state are linked to the use of firefighting foam; and

WHEREAS, Much of the known contamination in Washington state was found through testing by the Department of Defense on and near military bases in our state; and

WHEREAS, PFAS contamination above the United States Environmental Protection Agency's health advisory level has been found in drinking water wells near Ault Field, Oak Harbor, the outlying field in Coupeville, and Naval Air Station Whidbey Island Area 6; and

WHEREAS, There are significant concerns about PFAS contamination in sediment and surface waters that support family farms and flow into Dugualla Bay; and

WHEREAS, The Department of Defense is conducting research on PFAS-containing firefighting foams, including replacement products, environmental risk, and treatment technology; and

WHEREAS, It may cost hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars and require significant time and effort to mitigate PFAS contamination in surface water and groundwater sources; and

WHEREAS, To address PFAS contamination in an effective manner will require cooperation among different levels of government, the public and private sectors, and a variety of other stakeholders; and

WHEREAS, At this time, the legislature concludes that coordination among the affected parties, landowners, the state, local governments, and the federal government will lead to better solutions than imposing regulatory restrictions in the absence of sufficient data;

NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that the Department of Defense, the Department of the Navy, the Department of the Air Force, the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the United States Department of Agriculture, and the Washington Military Department assist state and local governments in Washington with monitoring and mitigating PFAS contamination of surface water and groundwater.

BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the United States Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the United States Navy, the Secretary of the United States Air Force, the Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the United States Department of Agriculture, the Director of the Washington Military Department, and the commanding officer of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.