This commentary is by Jennifer Decker of Hinesburg, a community organizer.
The Vermont Military Poisons Coalition recently pushed the state Legislature to restrict some, but not all, PFAS sources in Vermont.
The limitations placed on the state by the federal government mean that the Vermont National Guard and Air National Guard have the prerogative to continue to offload toxic chemicals into our already dangerous local waters at seven sites around the state. In this case, seven is not our lucky number.
PFAS are called forever chemicals because they don’t break down in the body, and they are linked to liver, thyroid, hormone, immune system and child development problems, and to testicular and kidney cancer. Science has shown exposure to even infinitesimal amounts of PFAS has been linked to deleterious health effects like decreased fertility and high cholesterol. Not surprisingly, new research also suggests a link between this class of chemicals and neurological conditions.
Many Vermonters watched films like “Dark Waters” and “No Defense” this spring, and instead of looking forward to a summer in the lake, we worry that our drinking water isn’t safe, because the testing requirements for drinking water are woefully inadequate. We worry that our gardens and farms are affected, our favorite swimming holes are contaminated, and the rivers and streams that friends and family harvest fish from and otherwise recreate at are compromised.
The fact that the recent drought means using less water in our gardens ironically may mean any food that survives the drought is slightly less contaminated by PFAS. I wouldn’t call that a victory garden. It doesn’t give us much to celebrate on the Fourth of July, when we know that the Vermont Air National Guard knows that PFAS exposure complicates Covid-19 recovery. We can’t even enjoy our great local brews without worrying we’re imbibing toxic crud.
The Vermont Guard leaders like to use the excuse that since they do good for us — of course, that is their job — it is acceptable to also abuse our health, but that is just like any abusive relationship. The abuser feeds you to keep you alive, yet cannot tolerate any criticism or dissent and points to their positive qualities to gaslight their terrifying behavior.
VTANG even has the Vermont Health Department silent in the face of the abuses wrought by the F-35 basing at Burlington International Airport. Those of us who reached out to the Vermont Health Department about the damaging noise impacts of the basing were met with silence reminiscent of truly corrupt governments.
ith regard to PFAS, we rightfully wonder which government entity is there to protect us and provide for our common security. The F-35 basing is also what requires the use of firefighting foams during drills. The U.S. Air Force could choose the alternate foams used by many other militaries around the world that do not contain PFAS. These chemicals harm the Guard members themselves first, before they come downstream and target your pregnancy plans.
Luckily, good service members and good community members all know one thing: One doesn’t need to follow orders that are unjust. We need to do so much more as a community to end PFAS contamination of our soils, farms and waterways. Cleanup efforts are going to mean something when the military is stopped from destroying our health and happiness. Just like our efforts to defund police, confronting VTANG’s ongoing abuse of Vermonters is going to succeed when we stand together and fight back.
The Vermont Military Poisons Project invites you to join us in educating one another to demand from our Legislature and the Guard that: 1) there be no exposure to these chemicals in Vermont, 2) we protect public and environmental health, 3) we provide justice for victims, and 4) laws and regulations are passed that both prevent all future contamination and mandate cleanup at the urgent pace that our community deserves.
It is our experience that our state legislators need to be watched carefully to ensure they will do the right thing, as the lobbyists for the Pentagon and those for the chemical companies pull on the heartstrings of legislators from both major parties. During legislative hearings, one is appalled to observe our representatives’ reticence to raise family or community concerns about the health of Vermont’s water supply, while they rush to reassure polluters that their profits won’t be compromised.
It is due to the egregious nature of PFAS in our bodies and other living things that Gov. Scott signed S.20 into law. The state doesn’t go far enough to protect or inform us, so please don’t be misled now that it has taken a tiny step in the right direction that won’t even go into effect for another two years.
Federal pre-emption in Vermont means that our squeaky-clean image as a state is a deceptive lure that endangers all of us. The Vermont Air National Guard and the U.S. Air Force ought to have the responsibility and respectability to ascertain the damage they have wrought in our midst and make amends. Until they do, residents in Vermont have much less reason to wonder at the supposed mystery of the state’s high rates of cancer and other debilitating illnesses.