It was in response to a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency lifetime health advisory for certain chemicals used in a variety of commercial products since the 1950’s.
Those chemicals are found in firefighting foam the Navy has used to put out aircraft fires during training and incidents.
Marine Corps Outlying Landing Field (MCOLF) Atlantic is in the community of Atlantic.
Cherry Point Communications Officer Mike Barton explained while records have not yet shown that firefighting foam was ever used at Marine Corps Outlying Landing Field (MCOLF) Atlantic, the Navy is still testing water in Atlantic as a precaution.
Barton said of the 223 drinking water wells that were tested, samples from two drinking water wells indicated the presence of these chemicals exceeding the EPA Health Advisory.
Water testing is now in its second round of testing in Atlantic.
Barton said the Navy is now providing bottled water to the residents in the two homes where the private wells tested for the chemicals in an amount exceeding the EPA Health Advisory.
The Navy, in a release, provided the following information on the chemicals they are testing for: In May 2016, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued lifetime health advisory levels for two perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) – specifically perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) – at 70 parts per trillion, individually and combined when both are present.
It has been used in a variety of products and substances such as non-stick cookware, food packaging such as microwaveable popcorn bags, and water resistant textiles and sprays used to treat carpets and fabrics.
Although there are no known records indicating AFFF was used at MCOLF Atlantic, based on the Navy’s policy protocol, the Navy is voluntarily conducting this drinking water investigation for PFOS/PFOA.