`Forever Chemicals’ Cleanup Cost to Air Force Nears $500 Million

The Air Force says it’s spent almost $500 million on cleaning up a family of toxic “forever chemicals” that have polluted bases across the country. Senators pointed to mixed results in some communities.

The cost for clearing chemicals such as perfluorinated carboxylic acid, or PFAS, used in firefighting foam was cited by Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett as senators peppered her with questions during an Armed Services Committee hearing. Efforts to develop an alternative foam that is equally effective have failed so far, Barrett said.

“We have spent almost a half billion dollars in clean up to date and we’ll ...