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

2. 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

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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 TFP and Councilor Pearson ed 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

9. 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 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

10. 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.

11. Future Community Action Items
Collaborate with NH DHHS to finalize action items discussed at 2016 meetings:
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.

12. 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:
facebook.com/TestingforPease
Questions/Discussion….