Goodfellow Air Force Base (AFB) covers approximately 1,235 acres of San Angelo City. The Department of Defense has completed the Preliminary Assessment and Site Inspection of Goodfellow AFB under CERCLA. The base is now undergoing remedial investigation, which is on track to be completed in 2027.
What dangerous contaminants are present at the Goodfellow Air Force Base?
For decades, trainees at the Goodfellow AFB were exposed to fluorine-based firefighting foam, which contained high levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These chemicals were released into the soil and water when aqueous film-forming foam was used for firefighter and emergency response training sessions.
In 2020, the Air Force Civil Engineering Center sampled drinking water wells near the Goodfellow Air Force Base and found that PFAS levels in some wells were above the Environmental Protection Agency’s advisory of 70 parts per trillion (ppt). However, the EPA has since changed the legally enforceable limit to 4 ppt. According to the Environmental Working Group, at least 25 well samples from Goodfellow Air Force Base contained PFAS levels below 70 ppt, but above four ppt (4 ppt).
The firefighting foam used in specialized training activities is considered the most likely source of high PFAS levels at the base. In response, the Air Force replaced old AFFF stocks with a new formula that did not contain PFOS (perfluorooctanesulfonic acid) and contained only trace amounts of PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid). However, these two types of cancer-causing PFAS have already contaminated the soil and groundwater at Goodfellow Air Force Base.
Goodfellow AFB serves a population of more than 12,500 individuals, including military and civilian personnel, family members, and retirees. The surrounding area of Tom Green County is a military-friendly community, home to over 118,000 people as of 2004. If you had worked or lived at the base and developed PFAS-related conditions, ELG Law can help you file a PFAS exposure claim.
Which health conditions are eligible for PFAS exposure claims from Goodfellow Air Force Base contamination?
PFAS are often referred to as “forever chemicals” due to their persistent nature, which allows them to build up and stay in the environment for a long time. They can even accumulate in our blood and organs, potentially leading to adverse health consequences. Exposure to PFAS has been linked to an increased risk of developing kidney cancer and testicular cancer. You may be able to file a PFAS exposure claim if you were stationed at Goodfellow AFB or lived within one mile of the base, and you were diagnosed with any of the following PFAS-related diseases:
