New Mexico Files Lawsuit Against Air Force Over PFAS Contamination at Cannon AFB

The New Mexico Environment Department and Department of Justice have filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of the Air Force over its mishandling of PFAS contamination at Cannon Air Force Base near Clovis. The suit demands the Air Force cease non-emergency use of PFAS-containing firefighting foam, provide water treatment and drinking water lines for affected residents, install stormwater controls, and compensate property owners for damages. This legal action follows the passage of House Bill 140, signed into law by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, which expanded state authority to regulate and require cleanup of PFAS under the Hazardous Waste Act. PFAS, known as 'forever chemicals' due to their persistence in the environment, have been linked to serious health risks and have contaminated groundwater plumes extending about four miles from the base, leading to environmental and community harm including the euthanasia of thousands of dairy cows. The Air Force has contested the state's regulatory authority and previously sued the New Mexico Environment Department, but state officials emphasize the need for accountability and remediation to protect public health and the environment. New Mexico officials vow to use every legal tool to ensure cleanup and prevent further PFAS exposure to residents and local ecosystems.