The PFC Contamination at Pease: Community Update 2016 Portsmouth City Council Meeting | December 5, 2016 Andrea Amico, Alayna Davis, Michelle Dalton

Who is Testing for Pease? Testing for Pease is a community action group, whose mission is to be a reliable resource for education and communication while advocating for a long-term health plan on behalf of those impacted by the PFC water contamination at the former Pease Air Force Base in Portsmouth, NH From left to right: Andrea, Alayna & Michelle

RAB: Restoration Advisory Board – Air Force re-established the RAB in March 2016 to foster an open dialogue about aquifer restoration activities and discussions surrounding clean-up and ongoing treatment for the 3 wells that supply water to the former Pease AFB. CAP: Community Assistance Panel – ATSDR formed a panel in March 2016 to work with ATSDR to gather and review community health concerns, provide information on how people might have been exposed to hazardous substances, and inform ATSDR how to involve the community.

RAB RAB consists of members from the Pease community, AF, City of Portsmouth, Air National Guard, PDA, NH DES, US EPA RAB holds quarterly meetings on Pease that are open to the public: 1st meeting on April 19, 2016 2nd meeting on July 14, 2016 – Bus tour of various sites on Pease 3rd meeting on October 5, 2016 Upgraded water filtration system (GAC) installed on the Smith and Harrison wells on Pease in September 2016. Air Force announces plans to build two groundwater treatment systems to protect the drinking water supplies on Pease in November 2016.

CAP ATSDR appointed initial members from the community in March 2016 and have since added additional members CAP members are representatives from the community, Portsmouth City Council, NH State Senate, PDA, Pease daycares, Portsmouth Fire Dept, Portsmouth Health Officer, former CAB members, scientific experts in epidemiology and water contamination Monthly CAP calls to discuss CAP concerns, obtain updates from ATSDR, hear from scientific experts in the field of PFC research, etc. In person meetings 3 times per year: 1st meeting = May 3, 2016 2nd meeting = September 6, 2016

CAP ATSDR released interim physician guidance in August 2016 ATSDR discussed details of a proposed pediatric health study for the Pease population at the September 2016 meeting CAP and ATSDR continue to discuss the need for adult health studies on exposed workers and former civilians & military stationed at Pease ATSDR has discussed the potential to combine Pease population with a possible larger national study to improve statistical findings

Testing for Pease Launched our comprehensive community website in March 2016 All three TFP members appointed to ASTDR’s CAP in March 2016 Presented at the Toxic Actions Center annual conference in March 2016 Met with Governor Hassan and top officials from NH DHHS and NH DES in Concord in May 2016 to advocate for: re-opening blood testing for the Pease community lower standards for PFCs in drinking water in NH set a PHA standard for PFHxS offer specific health recommendations for physicians

Testing for Pease TFP hosted a community meeting on Pease with three scientific experts to educate community members on “How to Interpret PFC Blood Test Results” US EPA lowers the standards for PFOS and PFOA to 70 ppt, individually or combined (reduced from 200 ppt for PFOS & 400 ppt for PFOA) DHHS presented the blood test results to the Pease community in June 2016 July 2016 - TFP and Councilor Pearson emailed DHHS asking for better collaboration and communication with the Pease community TFP and Councilor Pearson met with DHHS in August 2016 to advocate for: improved electronic communication with the community create a community friendly pamphlet to summarize the blood test results revised healthcare provider recommendations

Testing for Pease TFP provided detailed written feedback to NH DHHS on the ATSDR’s physician recommendations in August 2016 TFP and Councilor Pearson had follow up meeting with DHHS in September 2016 regarding discussions from August meeting TFP provided detailed suggestions to DHHS on content for a community friendly pamphlet summarizing blood testing results September 2016 - DHHS requested TFP provide feedback on their revised healthcare provider recommendations TFP provided detailed feedback to DHHS on their revised healthcare provider recommendations in October

Future Community Action Items Follow up on post treatment water results now that GAC filters on Smith & Harrison wells to ensure all PFCs are being treated to non detect levels. Continue to research the long term environmental impacts of the PFC contamination at Pease (i.e. drinking water, wildlife, surrounding water sources, etc). Continue to advocate for long term health studies of multiple populations (children, adults, former military, firefighters) with multiple endpoints. Continue to advocate for improved physician recommendations and medical monitoring for the exposed Pease community. Continue to advocate for lower standards for PFCs in drinking water.

Future Community Action Items Collaborate with NH DHHS to finalize action items discussed at 2016 meetings: Email software to improve mass communication with Pease community Community friendly pamphlet summarizing blood test results Revised physician recommendations Continue to build relationships and collaborate with current and recently elected local, state, and federal officials. Continue to attend CAP, RAB, and other community meetings to raise awareness about community concerns and action items. Collaborate with other communities (nationally and internationally) facing similar contamination to share best practices and streamline efforts to advocate for change.

Questions/Discussion…. Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has. ~ Margaret Mead For more information, please visit: www.testingforpease.com facebook.com/TestingforPease Questions/Discussion….