A federal judge has allowed New Mexico’s lawsuit against Cannon Air Force Base to move forward, positioning it as a key test case in national efforts to hold the military liable for PFAS groundwater contamination.
Kevin Hendricks reports for New Mexico Political Report.
In short:
- New Mexico’s lawsuit, filed in 2024, claims the U.S. Air Force contaminated groundwater near Clovis with PFAS chemicals from firefighting foam, impacting health, agriculture, and property values.
- The case, now part of multi-district litigation in South Carolina, could set precedent for holding the military and chemical manufacturers liable under federal Superfund law.
- State officials argue the pollution threatens the Ogallala Aquifer, Eastern New Mexico’s primary water source, and say delay from the Air Force endangers long-term water security.
Key quote:
“We’re fighting for families who lost loved ones or the family farm, who worry about letting their children drink contaminated water, or who are now upside down on a mortgage because PFAS contamination caused their property values to crater.”
— James Kenney, New Mexico Environment Department Secretary
Why this matters:
The U.S. Department of Defense is among the nation’s largest PFAS polluters due to decades of using firefighting foams at bases like Cannon and Holloman in New Mexico. These chemicals have leached into groundwater, posing a direct threat to drinking water supplies like the Ogallala Aquifer — a vital, rapidly depleting source for agriculture and communities across the High Plains. Holding federal agencies accountable could influence national standards for military environmental responsibility.
Read more: New Mexico moves to ban nearly all PFAS-containing products by 2028
