Contaminant eradication bill vetoed by Governor Dunleavy

In the last week of August 2023, Governor Mike Dunleavy vetoed a bill that would have banned PFAS chemicals from continuing to pollute Alaskan waters.

PFAS stands for ‘per- and polyfluorinated substances’ and is a chemical found in many heat resistant products such as fire hydrant foam, and are described as “forever chemicals” according to Harvard’s School of Public Health.

The bill was passed by a majority vote in the Alaska State Senate early in 2023. Dunleavy’s decision to veto the bill came little over a month after the creation of a PFAS chemical site near Point Woronzof. The PFAS site is located on Point Woronzof Drive. 

Coincidentally, this location is also where many people used to go to view departing planes and an abundance of wildlife.

Senator Jesse Khiel stated in an interview with Juneau Empire that he attempted to contact Governor Dunleavy about any concerns or questions Dunleavy may have had about the chemicals, but all contact was ignored.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that PFAS chemicals do not break down and can move through the soil – possibly contaminating nearby drinking water sources. The chemicals can also build up in fish and wildlife and “may affect reproduction, thyroid function, the immune system and injure the liver” in both humans and animals.

More research must be conducted to understand the exact effects of PFAS on those who consume the chemical, but prevention of further chemical exposure is the priority for many. 

Many states in the United States have banned the use of PFAS in food packaging and personal care products, while eleven states have banned PFAS creation sites like the one that was recently established near Point Woronzof, according to Safer States.

According to the Alaska Beacon, a study was conducted on Anchorage and Fairbanks water sources and found that the highest levels of PFAS contamination were found in Lake Spenard and Lake Hood – at around ten times the standard safety threshold.

The Alaska Community Action on Toxins stated other countries and states have discontinued the use of PFAS chemicals and have found alternatives to the toxic flame repellent. 

Alaska has nearly 500 PFAS contaminated water sources as of 2022, a number that has potential to grow if more PFAS sites are opened.