Steve Books: County Resolution RES-548 Opposing F-35 Jets

Thanks to the sponsors of this resolution, 2019 RES-548, and to Supervisor Heidi Wegleitner for introducing this resolution.
 
I’m urging support, passage, and commitment of this resolution for many reasons. There are many problems with many issues including pollution at Truax Field as stated in the resolution, such as PFAS “forever chemical,” and it all needs to be cleaned up.  The possible contamination of groundwater needs to be thoroughly scientifically investigated by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, with any assistance from any and all departments from our Flagship University, the University of Wisconsin – Madison. 
Let the county board know what you think.  Website for Dane County Board of Supervisors

 
The cost of clean-up of all of the pollution and contamination must be factored in the pro-economic comments from the supporting groups of Truax Field, and support for the F-35A Fighter Jets such as the Madison Chamber of Commerce. The cost will be significant to clean up the toxic chemicals, not to mention the cost of the negative economic fiscal boondoggle of the F-35 Jets.  Former Wisconsin Senator William Proxmire would have called the F-35 jet a “Golden Fleece” of taxpayer dollars for the F-35. Late Senator John McCain also had concerns regarding the cost of the jet. What will happen with City of Madison well number 15 that is currently shut down?
 
What will be the cost to drill a new city well, or wells?
 
The future of Dane County, and the City of Madison’s drinking water is in your hands. A new report from Maria Powell, Ph.D. of Midwest Environmental Justice Organization states that the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation & Liability Act, CERCLA, or Superfund will be guiding PFAS investigations and clean ups at Truax Field, but unfortunately won’t do much about it.  Well, then somehow, Dane County and the City of Madison will need to step up and clean the pollution up. This will not be free.  Local control – yes. Local responsibility – yes. The children of the City of Madison, and Dane County are counting on it. The PFAS contamination alone can be considered as a “crime against humanity.”  How will this affect children who cannot vote and their future?
 
One analogy to the PFAS contamination that I will use and introduce here is the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill that happened on Alaska shores on March 24, 1989. The Exxon Valdez spilled 11 million gallons of crude oil into Alaska’s Prince William Sound. It took months to clean up the oil spill, similar to the Gulf of Mexico Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010, with millions of costs and disaster to nature. 11,000 Alaska residents worked to clean up the Exxon Valdez oil spill.(the History Channel, www.history.com/topics/1980s/exxon-valdez-oil-spill)
 
How many gallons of PFAS contamination has been released into Truax Field via Fire Fighting Foam, how much soil, and how many gallons of surface water, well water, and groundwater are contaminated with PFAS?
 
By the way, we’re all Americans. Isn’t the military supposed to protect clean drinking water as part of domestic tranquility for living conditions in the U.S.A.?
 
The City of Madison and Dane County need to clean up pollution. I urge all Dane County Supervisors to support Resolution 2019 RES-548.
 
Sincerely,
 
Steve Books