Congressman Calls For Congressional Hearings On Area Water Contamination
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Congressman Brendan Boyle is calling for a formal congressional hearing into the groundwater contamination from chemicals used at hundreds of military installations around the country the naval air base in Horsham.
"We do not want to be the next Flint. We need to deal with this problem now."
In question: Perflourinated chemicals used in fire-fighting foams that are in the groundwater. The EPA doesn't have set standards on PFOS or PFOA, but Boyle points to recent studies that show a potential link between the chemicals and increased risk of cancer or thyroid issues. And he says more than 600 communities with military bases or installations across the country are also affected:
"For some reason there has been no sense of urgency in dealing with this problem. The Navy has said it will take over two years to investigate."
Boyle is calling for testimony from officials with the Navy and the EPA, as he says two years is too long to wait for answers.