Cannon Air Force Base, home of the 27th Special Operations Wing
“The Steadfast Line”, continues to play a vital role in defending our nation and its global
strategic missions. Situated just six miles west of Clovis, New Mexico, CAFB provides unrivaled
access to unimpeded training airspace, advanced infrastructure, and elite special operations
capabilities. Approximately more than 5,000 active-duty military personnel who serve at
CAFB, forming a base community which, including military dependents, appropriated fund
civilians and non-appropriated fund contract civilians and private businesses, comprises some
12,000 personnel.

Cannon AFB actively invests in quality-of-life improvements for its community and supports
both personnel readiness and community cohesion. The Cannon community is an integral part of
life on the High Plains of eastern New Mexico for which we are truly grateful.

While CAFB remains a strategic asset, the base and the broader Air Force faces significant
environmental challenges tied to PFAS contamination. New Mexico state officials have filed
lawsuits demanding full remediation, increased sampling access, and compliance with hazardous
waste permits related to Cannon.

Cannon Air Force Base must be allowed and continue to uphold its significant mission and
national security contributions while meeting environmental obligations to New Mexicans.
Ongoing collaboration between the U.S. Air Force, Cannon Air Force Base, and the State of
New Mexico is vital as Cannon continues PFAS remediation as transparently and expeditiously
as possible.

On July 14 and 15, 2025 Cannon Air Force Base hosted an impromptu environmental
compliance inspection from the New Mexico Environment Department Resource Protection
Compliance and Enforcement Bureau. The inspection, which was conducted by NMED’s
Hazardous Waste Bureau, assessed Cannon’s management of hazardous waste generated through
base operations in accordance with permits issued in December 2018. During the two-day visit,
NMED examined 39 facilities. The review focused on hazardous waste generation, including
inspections of central and satellite accumulation areas and secondary containment zones. The
review included interviews with 27th Special Operations Wing personnel to verify proper
procedures for handling, storing, and disposing of hazardous waste.

While NMED sought to collect samples for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), the Air
Force could not authorize PFAS sampling due to ongoing litigation over NMED’s authority to
regulate PFAS as a hazardous waste. However, Cannon did offer sampling opportunities for
hazardous waste covered by its permit.

Opening the PFAS treatment facility at Cannon AFB reflects the dedication for remediation, and
while progress has been made, more work lies ahead. The Air Force remains committed to the
safety and well-being of the Cannon AFB community and the surrounding area. The launch of
these pilot treatment systems represents a critical milestone in addressing PFAS contamination.
The U.S. Air Force Civil Engineer Center launched two plans for pilot treatment systems with
the main objective of mitigating the spread of PFAS and safeguarding surrounding communities.
One facility has officially begun operating and treating impacted groundwater with a full-scale
pump and treatment system. As the 27th Special Operations Wing continues to evaluate and
mitigate environmental risks, it remains dedicated to transparency, regulatory compliance, and
public health protection.

Secretary Kenny and the NMED’s statement: “Cannon officials’ narrative on their sluggish
PFAS cleanup effort is not only patently false but also discounts the intelligence of New
Mexicans who see through their grift,” was not only disrespectful to our dedicated Cannon Air
Force Base leadership, but unprofessional as well, and fails to recognize the Department of
Defense has spent over $71 million addressing the PFAS situation at CAFB, including a state-of
the-art PFAS treatment plant that currently treats almost 1,000,000 gallons of water per day.
The Clovis Committee of 50 and the Portales Military Affairs Committee
supports Cannon Air Force Base, its mission, and its personnel, and is grateful
for their dedicated service in the protection of our nation, and their support
for our communities on the High Plains of Eastern New Mexico. The
Committee of 50 and the Portales Military Affairs Committee respectfully
request that Cannon AFB be allowed to continue their due diligence to focus
on remediation without the distraction of harassment and threats from other
governmental agencies.
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