Since the 1920s, military operations have introduced hazardous chemicals into the environment at MCAS Yuma. The base supports 80% of the Marine Corps’ air-to-ground aviation training, utilizing over 1 million acres of bombing and training ranges. Environmental investigations have identified extensive soil and groundwater contamination requiring ongoing remediation through the Department of Defense Installation Restoration Program.
What toxic chemicals are present at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma?
Aviation operations, maintenance, and industrial processes have contaminated the environment at MCAS Yuma for decades. Chlorinated solvents have migrated into underlying groundwater aquifers through soil, causing widespread environmental issues.
For remediation, the EPA has divided contamination into two operational units. In Operational Unit 1, deep soil contamination is addressed and effects on groundwater systems are addressed, while in Operational Unit 2, shallow soil contamination is addressed in 18 isolated areas.
Based on the 2020 site inspection results, PFAS-impacted areas were identified within closed sites CAOC 7 (Fire Training School) and CAOC 9 (Southeast Sewage Lagoon), OU 1 Area 1 (Groundwater Plume), and a newly identified area designated as Installation Restoration (IR) Site 20 (Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Fire Training Area). The Department of the Navy is currently conducting PFAS remedial investigations at these four sites to further characterize the nature and extent of PFAS contamination.
MCAS Yuma is contaminated with these dangerous substances:
- Chlorinated solvents
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
- PFAS chemicals
- Trichloroethylene (TCE)
- Tetrachloroethylene (PCE)
- Aviation fuel compounds
- Asbestos-containing materials
- Heavy metals
- Industrial lubricants and hydraulic fluids
PFAS contamination at MCAS Yuma was identified through a basewide preliminary assessment and site inspection conducted in 2019 and 2020. These chemicals are primarily associated with firefighting activities, where aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) has been released into the environment during various fire training exercises, fire responses, and hangar fire suppression systems. PFAS chemicals pose an environmental concern due to their persistence in the environment and within organisms, their potential for migration in aqueous systems such as groundwater, and their potential health effects at low levels of exposure.
What health problems can develop from toxic exposure at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma?
Long-term exposure to PFAS chemicals, and other hazardous substances at MCAS Yuma can trigger serious medical conditions that may take years or decades to develop. These chemicals accumulate in body tissues and can cause cellular damage, leading to cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
Veterans, active-duty personnel, civilian workers, and family members who lived or worked at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma for one cumulative year or longer may qualify for compensation if diagnosed with these conditions:
The base’s annual economic impact of nearly $700 million supports approximately 4,000 active-duty Marines and Sailors, as well as over 2,000 civilian employees, all of whom are potentially exposed to environmental hazards.