Marine Corps Air Station Miramar

Marine Corps Air Station Miramar is a military aviation installation in San Diego, California, that today serves as the headquarters of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. The site traces its roots to Camp Kearny, established by the Army in 1917 to train troops for World War One, with runways added in 1940. The combined Navy and Marine flying fields were designated Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in 1946, but the following year the property passed to the Navy and became Naval Air Station Miramar, widely known as Fighter Town and the longtime home of the Navy Fighter Weapons School (Top Gun). Following the 1993 Base Realignment and Closure recommendations, the station was transferred back to the Marine Corps, a transition completed in 1999 when the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing returned. Decades of flight-line, fueling, and industrial maintenance activity have left a legacy of environmental contamination that the Department of the Navy continues to investigate and address.

As with many long-operating aviation installations, environmental sampling at Miramar has identified several contaminants associated with firefighting, fueling, and maintenance operations. The substances below have been documented in connection with the station, and exposure to these materials has been associated with a range of health concerns that veterans and former residents may wish to understand.

1. PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a large family of synthetic chemicals valued for their resistance to heat, water, and oil. At Miramar, PFAS contamination has been linked primarily to the historical use of firefighting foam on and around the flight line, and the station is included on the California State Water Resources Control Board list of military facilities with a known or suspected PFAS release. Research has associated certain PFAS exposures with concerns about potential effects on the immune system, cholesterol levels, and certain cancers.
2. PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate) is one of the most studied individual PFAS compounds and a primary ingredient in legacy firefighting foams. Investigations at Miramar have evaluated PFOS as part of the broader PFAS assessment, and it has been the subject of concerns about potential exposure through affected groundwater.
3. PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) is another widely studied PFAS compound addressed in the station's PFAS work. On-site treatment efforts have targeted reducing PFOA and PFOS in collected wastewater to below federal screening levels, reflecting ongoing concerns about these compounds.
4. AFFF (aqueous film-forming foam) is the firefighting foam used at military airfields to suppress fuel fires, and it is the documented source of PFAS at Miramar. Repeated use during fire training and emergency response has been associated with the introduction of PFAS into soil and groundwater.
5. Jet fuel and related petroleum products were stored and handled in large quantities to support continuous flight operations. Releases and spills from fueling and storage systems have been associated with soil and groundwater contamination, and exposure to fuel constituents has raised health concerns.
6. Solvents used in aircraft and equipment maintenance, including degreasing operations, have been documented among the chemicals of concern at the station. Such solvents have been associated with groundwater contamination at comparable installations and with concerns about potential long-term exposure.

Marine Corps Air Station Miramar is not listed on the National Priorities List (Superfund). Fuel and solvent contamination from flight-line and industrial operations is being addressed under the Navy and Marine Corps environmental restoration program (Installation Restoration Program), carried out with Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Southwest. For PFAS, the Navy completed a preliminary assessment in 2019 to identify potential release areas, and PFAS investigation and cleanup are ongoing. The station has also treated collected firefighting foam wastewater on site to reduce PFOA and PFOS to below applicable screening levels.

Veterans, civilian workers, and family members who lived or served at Miramar may find it helpful to stay informed as the investigations continue. Those with questions about possible exposure are encouraged to speak with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and a personal healthcare provider, who can offer guidance based on individual circumstances and the most current information.