The Patuxent River Series
Part 1 of 7
The Navy has warned Military Poisons, which is censored on Naval installations, not to use their logos.
PFAS Contamination at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station
- What we don't know may hurt us
February 26, 2020
Read the opening investigative report that shocked a rural community in Southern Maryland and led 300 to the local library to demand answers from Navy and state officials regarding PFAS contamination of the waterways.
- What we don't know may hurt us
February 26, 2020
Read the opening investigative report that shocked a rural community in Southern Maryland and led 300 to the local library to demand answers from Navy and state officials regarding PFAS contamination of the waterways.
Part 2 of 7
Pax River's golf course is beautiful but poisoned.
Pax River Has Poisoned Groundwater and Surface Water with dozens of deadly chemicals
February 28, 2020 - The Cedar Point Golf Course is beautiful, but deadly poisons contaminate the surrounding waters.
The bodies of water surrounding the Cedar Point Golf Course are heavily contaminated with two dozen deadly poisons. Goose Creek, Harpers Creek, West Patuxent Basin, East Patuxent Basin, Supply Pond, Gardiner Pond, the Patuxent River, and the Chesapeake Bay are severely polluted with with PFAS and other deadly chemicals.
Cedar Point is one of the most contaminated sites on the east coast of the U.S. You’re reminded to attend the Navy’s meeting on PFAS contamination at the Lexington Park Library on Tuesday, March 3, 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm.
February 28, 2020 - The Cedar Point Golf Course is beautiful, but deadly poisons contaminate the surrounding waters.
The bodies of water surrounding the Cedar Point Golf Course are heavily contaminated with two dozen deadly poisons. Goose Creek, Harpers Creek, West Patuxent Basin, East Patuxent Basin, Supply Pond, Gardiner Pond, the Patuxent River, and the Chesapeake Bay are severely polluted with with PFAS and other deadly chemicals.
Cedar Point is one of the most contaminated sites on the east coast of the U.S. You’re reminded to attend the Navy’s meeting on PFAS contamination at the Lexington Park Library on Tuesday, March 3, 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm.
Part 3 of 7
PFAS test results from the Univ. of Michigan used EPA Method 537.1
Part 4 of 7
What are they thinking?
PFAS Contamination at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station Questions to Ask Navy and Public Health Officials
March 1, 2020 -The surface water on base is heavily contaminated and so are the bay and the river. We’re going to have to deal with this even if we don’t have the active support of the EPA, Congress, the Maryland Department of the Environment, the St. Mary’s County Health Department or the County Commissioners. They should all step to the plate to protect our health. America has changed so you’ve got to look out for yourself, have your water tested, and be certain your food isn’t getting you sick.
Part 5 of 7
Navy firefighter practice their trade.
Navy Confuses St. Mary's Community with Misinformation and Inaccuracies Concerning PFAS
March 5, 2020 - During its PFAS public meeting held on March 3 at the Lexington Park Library, officials from the Patuxent Naval Air Station displayed several posters containing misleading information to St. Mary’s County residents. This article explores the inaccuracies contained in one of those posters.
March 5, 2020 - During its PFAS public meeting held on March 3 at the Lexington Park Library, officials from the Patuxent Naval Air Station displayed several posters containing misleading information to St. Mary’s County residents. This article explores the inaccuracies contained in one of those posters.
Part 6 of 7
Carcinogenic firefighting foam in a hangar during a routine test.
A response to the article in The Enterprise Newspaper:
Firefighting foam releases concern activists, community
March 8, 2020 - The Enterprise – the newspaper that refused to cover the PFAS story for a full year - has published a story full of inaccuracies and misstatements on the public health crisis facing the county.
Part 7 of 7
Maryland's statehouse in Annapolis.
Legislative Remedies
March 8, 2020 - There’s a weak bill circulating in Maryland's General Assembly that would ban the use of PFAS substances during civilian firefighter training purposes. Defenders of the bill say it is a modest, but useful step to close the door on some uses of these toxic chemicals and to start the discussion on stricter legislation.
Let’s flip the legislative etch-a-sketch upside down, give it a good shake, and start all over.
March 8, 2020 - There’s a weak bill circulating in Maryland's General Assembly that would ban the use of PFAS substances during civilian firefighter training purposes. Defenders of the bill say it is a modest, but useful step to close the door on some uses of these toxic chemicals and to start the discussion on stricter legislation.
Let’s flip the legislative etch-a-sketch upside down, give it a good shake, and start all over.
Media Coverage
Oysters are particularly susceptible to high levels of PFAS.
ADVISORY: Public Meeting on PFAS Pollution in St. Inigoes Creek; Quote from NAS
02/28/2020 By Press Release, St. Mary's River Watershed Association
Statement from Patrick Gordon, NAS Patuxent River Public Affairs Officer: "While we appreciate concerns over PFAS, without knowing how and under what conditions this single sample tested at St. Inigoes was collected, it is impossible to comment on its veracity or accuracy."
02/28/2020 By Press Release, St. Mary's River Watershed Association
Statement from Patrick Gordon, NAS Patuxent River Public Affairs Officer: "While we appreciate concerns over PFAS, without knowing how and under what conditions this single sample tested at St. Inigoes was collected, it is impossible to comment on its veracity or accuracy."
Janice Sevre-Duszynska (center), 70, traveled from Baltimore to attend a public meeting on PFAS around Naval Air Station Patuxent River. Bev Banks/E&E News
Into the unknown': Navy plans PFAS tests at Md. base
LEXINGTON PARK, Md. — E & E News - March 9, 2020 - Despite the Navy's assurances, residents near an air base by the Chesapeake Bay are worried about whether chemicals are contaminating their water. The military looms large in St. Mary's County, where Navy, Marine Corps and Army banners hang in a cafe near Naval Air Station Patuxent River and residents rely on the base for jobs. But they are also concerned about chemicals known as PFAS found in firefighting foam that have caused drinking water contamination near other military sites across the country.
LEXINGTON PARK, Md. — E & E News - March 9, 2020 - Despite the Navy's assurances, residents near an air base by the Chesapeake Bay are worried about whether chemicals are contaminating their water. The military looms large in St. Mary's County, where Navy, Marine Corps and Army banners hang in a cafe near Naval Air Station Patuxent River and residents rely on the base for jobs. But they are also concerned about chemicals known as PFAS found in firefighting foam that have caused drinking water contamination near other military sites across the country.
Navy Asserts Drinking Water is Safe Leaves Many Questions Unanswered
03/11/2020 Lexington Park, MD - The Baynet - On Tuesday March 3, 2020, the Navy held a public meeting at the local library to inform the public on the pollutants in the PFAS family of chemicals. The Navy reported that PFAS was not detected in drinking water at the sprawling Patuxent Naval Air Station. But the Navy had no information regarding testing at the adjacent facility in St. Inigoes, known locally as Webster Outlying Field. The meeting was attended by more than 275 local residents, many concerned after hearing about an open water sample taken in St. Inigoes Creek that had resulted in a laboratory report suggesting the PFAS total level there was worrisome.
03/11/2020 Lexington Park, MD - The Baynet - On Tuesday March 3, 2020, the Navy held a public meeting at the local library to inform the public on the pollutants in the PFAS family of chemicals. The Navy reported that PFAS was not detected in drinking water at the sprawling Patuxent Naval Air Station. But the Navy had no information regarding testing at the adjacent facility in St. Inigoes, known locally as Webster Outlying Field. The meeting was attended by more than 275 local residents, many concerned after hearing about an open water sample taken in St. Inigoes Creek that had resulted in a laboratory report suggesting the PFAS total level there was worrisome.
St. Inigoes Creek, MD
Maryland to test water, oysters in St. Mary’s River for toxic chemicals
Bay Journal, April 6, 2020 Maryland officials say they plan to test a Chesapeake Bay tributary and oysters in St. Mary’s County after a local resident found high levels of toxic chemicals in his tidal creek — a category of contaminants that have been traced to military and industrial sites nationwide.
