Naval Air Station Lemoore

Naval Air Station Lemoore is an active United States Navy installation in California's San Joaquin Valley, spanning parts of Kings and Fresno counties. It was commissioned on July 8, 1961, and was purpose built as a master jet base, with long runways and uncongested airspace chosen to support the heavier, faster carrier based jet aircraft of the jet age. Today it is described as the Navy's newest and largest master jet base and serves as the home of Strike Fighter Wing Pacific. Its long operational history and aviation mission have involved materials now associated with environmental concerns.

As at many aviation installations, decades of routine operations, fire training, and emergency response at NAS Lemoore have raised concerns about potential exposure to several contaminants in soil and water. The following items summarize the documented contaminants of concern and the hedged health questions associated with them.

1. AFFF (aqueous film forming foam): AFFF is a firefighting foam developed in part by the Navy and used to suppress fuel fires of the kind that can occur at jet bases. Its use in fire training and response at installations such as NAS Lemoore is the principal documented source of the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances that prompted later sampling. AFFF has been associated with concerns about long term exposure because of the fluorinated compounds it contains.
2. PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances): PFAS are a large family of synthetic, persistent chemicals found in AFFF. NAS Lemoore appears on the California State Water Resources Control Board's list of military facilities with a known or suspected PFAS release. Navy sampling in October 2023 detected certain PFAS compounds above minimum reporting limits, and these chemicals have been associated with a range of potential health concerns.
3. PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate): PFOS is a specific PFAS compound historically common in AFFF formulations. The Navy's reported sampling at the base did not detect PFOS above the 2016 federal health advisory level, and the installation continues periodic monitoring of its drinking water. PFOS has been associated in scientific literature with concerns about potential effects from prolonged exposure.
4. PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid): PFOA is another individual PFAS compound included in the Navy's drinking water sampling. As with PFOS, the reported results did not exceed the 2016 federal health advisory level, and PFOA has been the subject of concerns about potential long term exposure.
5. Heavy metals: Heavy metals such as arsenic and chromium have been documented as concerns in water in and around the base, reflecting both regional San Joaquin Valley groundwater conditions and industrial activity. Elevated metals in drinking water have been associated with concerns about potential exposure, and they are part of the broader water quality picture at the installation.

Investigation and cleanup of PFAS at NAS Lemoore are being carried out under the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), described as a multi step process to identify, assess, and address contamination. The installation is not listed on the National Priorities List as a Superfund site. The Navy conducted PFAS sampling and notifications in 2020 and again in 2023, collecting samples from the water treatment plant and an on base well, and has stated that it will continue monitoring its drinking water on a recurring schedule.

Veterans, civilian workers, and family members who lived or served at Naval Air Station Lemoore may wish to stay informed as monitoring continues, and to keep their own records of where and when they were stationed. Those with questions about possible exposure are encouraged to speak with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and their own health care providers, who can offer guidance based on individual circumstances.