Air Force must address Tucson's water contamination crisis

The refusal of the US Air Force to address the contamination of Tucson's drinking water with toxic PFAS compounds, citing the Supreme Court's Chevron ruling, is deeply concerning. While the applicability of this decision to enforcement actions is questionable, the Air Force's stance highlights a troubling attempt to evade responsibility for a severe public health hazard. Tucson residents face imminent danger from limited clean water sources due to the PFAS pollution caused by Air Force operations. The EPA has rightly ordered the development of a dedicated filtration system, a reasonable measure estimated to cost a fraction of the Air Force's budget. However, the Air Force's claims of lacking authority and minimizing the risk are unacceptable attempts to shirk its duty to protect public well-being. The contamination originated from Air Force activities, and the burden of rectifying this crisis should not fall on the city or state. Prolonging this issue could have devastating consequences for the community's access to safe drinking water. Prioritizing the health of people over institutional self-interest is imperative. The Air Force must expedite a comprehensive plan to remove these hazardous pollutants from Tucson's water supply without further delay.