Ebbing Air National Guard Base continues to operate as an active military facility and has been selected as the location for the new Foreign Military Sales Program Pilot Training Center, demonstrating its ongoing strategic importance despite environmental contamination challenges. Firefighting training protocols and emergency response procedures at the installation routinely used aqueous film-forming foam containing perfluorinated compounds for decades.
Environmental investigations conducted at the base revealed widespread contamination in soil and groundwater systems. Several Arkansas military installations, including Eaker Air Force Base, Little Rock Air Force Base, and Fort Chaffee, have been contaminated. Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge filed a lawsuit against major PFAS manufacturers in October 2024, specifically naming Ebbing Air National Guard Base as a contaminated site.
What toxic agents are lurking on Fort Smith Air National Guard Base?
Throughout its operational history, Fort Smith Air National Guard Base/Ebbing Air National Guard Base conducted firefighting training exercises utilizing multiple formulations of aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) containing perfluorinated compounds. These substances were incorporated into firefighting foam to enhance its effectiveness in suppressing petroleum-based fires and preventing the re-ignition of extinguished flames.
The principal components found in AFFF include PFOS and PFOA, which are non-biodegradable chemicals that persist indefinitely in environmental systems. Natural processes cannot break down these "forever chemicals" therefore, they pose an extremely high threat to human health and the environment. Although manufacturers of firefighting foam formulations were aware or should have known about the harmful effects of PFAS compounds, these risks were not adequately disclosed.
Firefightinng foam is not the only possible source of contamination at military bases. Groundwater and soil testing at military facilities revealed the following hazardous substances:
- Heavy metals and metallic compounds
- Jet fuel and petroleum products
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
- Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
- Industrial solvents and cleaning agents
What health problems can exposure to PFAS on military bases cause?
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) demonstrate environmental persistence, bioaccumulation in living organisms, and toxicity even at minimal concentrations. Many serious health conditions and disorders have been linked to these chemicals, including cancer, autoimmune system dysfunction, and developmental problems.
If you developed any of the following medical conditions while stationed at Fort Smith Air National Guard Base for 1 cumulative year or longer, please contact us:
Our experienced attorneys can help navigate the complex legal challenges that arise when pursuing toxic exposure claims due to the severe health effects of toxic chemical exposure.
