Sierra Army Depot
Sierra Army Depot is a military equipment storage facility located near the unincorporated community of Herlong, California. It was built in 1942 as one of several ammunition storage facilities. In Army-speak, the Sierra Army Depot "performs a wide variety of long-term logistics and sustainment missions, ranging from equipment receipt and asset visibility to long-term care, storage and sustainment, to repair/reset of all Army fuel and water systems."
Data released by the Army through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request show PFAS contamination detected at 221.00 parts per trillion (ppt) in tests of drinking water at Sierra Army Depot. The tests were conducted in 2017. Three carcinogens were found in the water families drank: PFHpA, PFHxS, PFOA
(See the complete list across the country.)
Extremely low doses of PFAS chemicals have been linked to cancer, harm to the reproductive and immune systems, thyroid disease and other health problems. Harvard health professionals say 1 ppt of the substances may be harmful.
“There are currently no Army personnel or families drinking water with levels of PFOS/PFOA above the Lifetime Health Advisory, (LHA)” the Army told the Environmental Working Group in August, 2019.
The EPA’s LHA for PFAS is set at 70 ppt while California’s Division of Drinking Water has established Notification Levels at 6.5 parts per trillion for PFOS and 5.1 parts per trillion for PFOA, two types of PFAS chemicals. Firefighting foams made with PFAS and long used on military installations are a major source of PFAS contamination.
(See the complete list across the country.)
Extremely low doses of PFAS chemicals have been linked to cancer, harm to the reproductive and immune systems, thyroid disease and other health problems. Harvard health professionals say 1 ppt of the substances may be harmful.
“There are currently no Army personnel or families drinking water with levels of PFOS/PFOA above the Lifetime Health Advisory, (LHA)” the Army told the Environmental Working Group in August, 2019.
The EPA’s LHA for PFAS is set at 70 ppt while California’s Division of Drinking Water has established Notification Levels at 6.5 parts per trillion for PFOS and 5.1 parts per trillion for PFOA, two types of PFAS chemicals. Firefighting foams made with PFAS and long used on military installations are a major source of PFAS contamination.
Sierra is included in the report “Bases and Facilities with Significant Historical U.S. Nuclear Weapons or Naval Nuclear Propulsion Missions - 2002” Radioactive
Compiled by Stephen I. Schwartz, 2002
https://www.brookings.edu/bombs-in-the-backyard/
Sierra Army Depot - Source - DOD
7 Active SitesSites where military cleanup actions are still ongoing.
EXPLOSIVES & MUNITIONS
HONEY LAKE DEMOLITION RANGE Open Burn
This site is under ongoing monitoring until Sep 2045
Site ID: SIAD-020
1960 DEMOLITION AREA
Explosive Ordnance Disposal Area
This site is under ongoing monitoring until Jan 2035
.50 CALIBER FIRING RANGE
Unexploded Munitions and Ordnance Area
This site is under ongoing monitoring until Jan 2042
TNT LEACHING BEDS
7 Active SitesSites where military cleanup actions are still ongoing.
EXPLOSIVES & MUNITIONS
HONEY LAKE DEMOLITION RANGE Open Burn
This site is under ongoing monitoring until Sep 2045
Site ID: SIAD-020
1960 DEMOLITION AREA
Explosive Ordnance Disposal Area
This site is under ongoing monitoring until Jan 2035
.50 CALIBER FIRING RANGE
Unexploded Munitions and Ordnance Area
This site is under ongoing monitoring until Jan 2042
TNT LEACHING BEDS
DoD's Installation Restoration Program (IRP) Sites that have not Achieved Response Complete (RC) January 2018
https://www.denix.osd.mil/derp/home/documents/installation-restoration-program-report-to-congress-january-2018/
Key: DERA - Defense Environmental Restoration Account funds
BRAC - Base Realignment and Closure
Army California SIERRA ARMY DEPOT DERA SIAD-001 TNT LEACHING BEDS 204609 2,075 30
Army California SIERRA ARMY DEPOT DERA SIAD-002 DRMO TRENCH AREA 204610 3,286 30
Army California SIERRA ARMY DEPOT DERA SIAD-003 ABANDONED LANDFILL 204603 4,526 30
Army California SIERRA ARMY DEPOT DERA SIAD-014 BUILDING 210 AREA 202909 4,596 13
https://www.denix.osd.mil/derp/home/documents/installation-restoration-program-report-to-congress-january-2018/
Key: DERA - Defense Environmental Restoration Account funds
BRAC - Base Realignment and Closure
Army California SIERRA ARMY DEPOT DERA SIAD-001 TNT LEACHING BEDS 204609 2,075 30
Army California SIERRA ARMY DEPOT DERA SIAD-002 DRMO TRENCH AREA 204610 3,286 30
Army California SIERRA ARMY DEPOT DERA SIAD-003 ABANDONED LANDFILL 204603 4,526 30
Army California SIERRA ARMY DEPOT DERA SIAD-014 BUILDING 210 AREA 202909 4,596 13
Herlong Public Utility District Serves: 2,100 Data available: 2012—2017
https://www.ewg.org/tapwater/system.php?pws=CA1805007
Source: Groundwater Contaminants Detected 1 EXCEEDS EWG HEALTH GUIDELINES
2 Total Contaminants
EWG's drinking water quality report shows results of tests conducted by the water utility and provided to the Environmental Working Group by the California State Water Resources Control Board, as well as information from the U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History database (ECHO). For the latest quarter assessed by the U.S. EPA (January 2019 - March 2019), tap water provided by this water utility was in compliance with federal health-based drinking water standards.
Legal does not necessarily equal safe. Getting a passing grade from the federal government does not mean the water meets the latest health guidelines.
Legal limits for contaminants in tap water have not been updated in almost 20 years.
The best way to ensure clean tap water is to keep pollution out of source water in the first place.
https://www.ewg.org/tapwater/system.php?pws=CA1805007
Source: Groundwater Contaminants Detected 1 EXCEEDS EWG HEALTH GUIDELINES
2 Total Contaminants
EWG's drinking water quality report shows results of tests conducted by the water utility and provided to the Environmental Working Group by the California State Water Resources Control Board, as well as information from the U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History database (ECHO). For the latest quarter assessed by the U.S. EPA (January 2019 - March 2019), tap water provided by this water utility was in compliance with federal health-based drinking water standards.
Legal does not necessarily equal safe. Getting a passing grade from the federal government does not mean the water meets the latest health guidelines.
Legal limits for contaminants in tap water have not been updated in almost 20 years.
The best way to ensure clean tap water is to keep pollution out of source water in the first place.
The California Water Board did not test Herlong's water for PFOS/PFOA in 2019.
96113 96109 Susanville Portola Herlong