PETERSON SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. -- PETERSON SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Peterson SFB and the Air Force Civil Engineer Center are conducting multiple PFAS mitigation pilot programs at the base, exploring the innovative strategies being studied to address PFAS in soil, surface water and groundwater.
The studies are being held in conjunction with the Colorado School of Mines.
“The Air Force is proud to be a leader in the response to PFAS in drinking water, and we will continue to work with our neighbors, regulators and elected officials to protect human health and our environment,” said Sean Houseworth, chief of the AFCEC operating location at Peterson SFB. “The safety and health of our Guardians, Airmen, their families and our community partners are our priority.”
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS, are man-made chemicals that have been used in a variety of industries and products, including firefighting foam. Recognizing the environmental and health concerns associated with these substances, the Air Force is committed to proactively addressing PFAS impacts.
The studies here include smoldering combustion technology, in pile thermal desorption, PFAS foam assisted soil treatment, hydrothermal alkaline treatment, supercritical water oxidation and ultraviolet-activated silica-based granular media.
“We are working on removing and destroying the PFASs that are onsite. In total there are seven technologies being demonstrated at this site,” said Chris Higgins, AMAX Chair of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Colorado School of Mines. “We are not picking any winners; this is not a bake-off. We know different PFAS scenarios will require different solutions.”
The studies here will continue through the end of July. The reports from here and other pilot programs will be analyzed by the DoD’s Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program to assess feasibility of the technologies for implementation across the DoD.
“We are very appreciative of the partnership we have with the (Department of Defense) that allows us to do this important work,” Higgins said.
The Air Force remains committed to environmental stewardship and the health of the community. The studies showcase the installation’s proactive approach to addressing PFAS impacts and its dedication to finding effective solutions in partnership with leading research institutions.
For more information, go to the AFCEC PFAS resource page.