Scott Air Force Base

Scott Air Force Base is an active United States Air Force installation in St. Clair County, Illinois, near Belleville and east of St. Louis. The site began as Scott Field in 1917, one of dozens of Air Service training camps established after the United States entered World War I, and it is named for Corporal Frank S. Scott. After the Air Force became a separate service, the installation shifted toward an air mobility role in the late 1950s with the relocation of major transport headquarters. Today it is home to the 375th Air Mobility Wing and supports airlift, aeromedical evacuation, and command and control functions. Decades of flight operations, aircraft maintenance, and fire training have left a record of environmental concerns at and around the base.

As with many long established airfields, certain activities at Scott Air Force Base have raised concerns about potential exposure to several contaminants in soil and groundwater. The contaminants described below have been documented or reported in connection with the installation and surrounding area.

1. PFAS are a large family of synthetic chemicals valued for resisting heat, water, and grease and known for persisting in the environment. At Scott Air Force Base, PFAS are associated with firefighting foam used in fire training and emergency response, and testing has reported elevated PFAS levels in on base areas and in nearby water. PFAS exposure has been associated in some studies with a range of health concerns.
2. PFOS is one of the most studied PFAS compounds and a primary ingredient in older firefighting foams. Testing at Scott has reported PFOS in groundwater at concentrations many times above federal screening levels, and PFOS has been associated with potential effects on the immune system, cholesterol, and other outcomes.
3. PFOA is a related PFAS compound historically found in foam formulations and industrial products. It has been reported alongside PFOS in sampling near the base, and concerns about potential exposure have been raised because PFOA breaks down very slowly and can accumulate over time.
4. AFFF (aqueous film forming foam) is the firefighting foam, used at the base since roughly the 1970s, that is considered the principal source of PFAS contamination here. Repeated use during fire suppression and training allowed PFAS bearing residues to reach soil and groundwater.
5. Jet fuel and other petroleum products were stored, handled, and used in large quantities at the installation. Documented restoration sites at the base include former petroleum, oil, and lubricant storage areas and bulk fuel storage, and spills and leaks of this type can introduce petroleum related compounds into soil and groundwater, raising concerns about potential exposure for people in affected areas.

Scott Air Force Base is not listed on the federal National Priorities List. Environmental investigation and cleanup are being carried out under a federal facility lead program consistent with CERCLA, the federal Superfund law, with oversight involving the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and state authorities. Air Force testing of PFAS began around 2015, and in 2020 the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency expanded sampling of public water supplies and nearby private wells. Investigation, monitoring, and remediation activities are described as ongoing.

Veterans, family members, and others who lived or worked at Scott Air Force Base may wish to stay informed as testing and cleanup continue. Anyone with questions about possible exposure and related health care or benefits is encouraged to speak with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and a personal medical provider, who can offer guidance based on individual circumstances.