The Department of Defense (DoD) fully investigates a potential release and determines the appropriate cleanup actions based on risk. Through September 30, 2024, DoD has determined that 722 active military installations, Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) locations, National Guard facilities, and Formerly Used Defense Sites (FUDS) properties require an assessment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) use or potential release. DoD is performing Preliminary Assessments/Site Inspections (PA/SIs) at these installations, which is the first phase of the cleanup process and may take two to three years to complete. As of September 30, 2024, DoD has completed the PA/SI phase at 712 installations. The Department has determined that no further action is required at 131 of these installations, while 581 are proceeding to the next step in the CERCLA process. DoD will prioritize sites to move to the next phase in the cleanup process (i.e., Remedial Investigation (RI)) and determine appropriate cleanup actions based on risk. Status for the 722 installations where PFAS is being investigated can be found here.
DoD can also take interim actions at any phase during the CERCLA process. Interim cleanup actions can include removal of soil “hot spots” and installation of groundwater extraction systems. Locations of interim actions currently in progress or to be taken in 2024 are illustrated on this map or can be viewed on this list.
As DoD moves through the CERCLA process, the Department works in collaboration with regulatory agencies, communities, and facilities to ensure open and transparent information sharing.
PFAS in Groundwater
DoD addresses PFOS and PFOA in groundwater that is not consumed as drinking water under CERCLA (click here for an overview of the CERCLA process). Groundwater is underground water that resides within the cracks, crevices and spaces in soil, sand, and rock. Cleaning up groundwater is often technically complex and takes many years to complete. DoD tailors the actual sequence, timing, and scope of cleanup actions to site-specific conditions. Additionally, the Department prioritizes resources and addresses sites where risk to human health is the highest using the Relative Risk Site Evaluation (RRSE) framework. If at any time during the CERLCA process, DoD identifies a location where there is an imminent risk to human health, DoD performs an interim removal action. This removal action mitigates the risk to human health while still allowing the site to continue through each phase of the CERCLA process and identify any additional actions that may be needed to fully cleanup the site.
DoD Cleanup Actions to Address Off-Base Drinking Water
DoD conducts sampling of drinking water off-base to ensure it identifies potential impacts of PFAS resulting from previous DoD activities. PFOS and PFOA were found above 70 parts per trillion (ppt) in drinking water resulting from DoD activities at 55 installations and the Department took immediate action to address the drinking water exposure.
Moving forward, the DoD Components will initiate interim actions to address private drinking water wells impacted by PFAS from DoD activities where concentrations are known to be at or above three times the Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCL) values (i.e., PFOA = 12 ppt; PFOS = 12 ppt; PFHxS = 30 ppt; GenX = 30 ppt; PFNA = 30 ppt; HI = 3). The Department is prioritizing action where PFAS levels from DoD releases are the highest, rather than delay action at these locations while ongoing remedial investigations continue.
View final testing results for PFAS in off-base drinking water in areas in the United States located adjacent to and down gradient from a DoD military installation, FUDS, or National Guard facility.