New Mexico Delegation Fights for Clean Water Near Base

WASHINGTON D.C. — The New Mexico Congressional Delegation sent a letter to the Acting Secretary of the Air Force expressing concern over the decades-old jet fuel leak at Kirtland Air Force Base (KAFB) and the contamination of surrounding soil and groundwater in close proximity to drinking water supply wells.

Read the full letter here.

Rep. Melanie Stansbury (NM-01) led a letter to Gary A. Ashworth Acting Secretary of the Air Force that was signed by Senators Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), and Reps. Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03) and Gabe Vasquez (NM-02).

“We are deeply concerned with the impacts of groundwater contamination on our surrounding communities, and with the prolonged process to clean up this site,” the Members wrote. “Our communities deserve action, transparency, and collaboration with the Air Force. Over the years, members of our delegation have called, written and met with the Department of the Air Force to urge swift action be taken on both interim treatment, and long-term remediation.” 

The Bulk Fuels Facility (BFF) jet fuel leak was discovered in 1999. Since there, there has been severe consequences for groundwater quality in the aquifer which is a critical drinking water supply source serving the city of Albuquerque and its surrounding communities. After 26 years, the fuel leak remains in the investigation phase of the clean up process.

“The current contamination has rendered a significant area of the aquifer as inaccessible for drinking water supply and persistence of fuel at the site will mean the area will increase, further damaging this once pristine resource,” the Members wrote. “This slow-moving, decades-long investigation is unacceptable, and our communities deserve answers... In New Mexico, water is life. It is one of our most precious resources, and the continued contamination of this resource is unacceptable.”

The Members requested answers to their questions by May 7, 2025. 

The full letter is below: 

Dear Acting Secretary Ashworth,

We are writing to express our profound concern regarding the decades-old jet fuel leak at Kirtland Air Force Base (KAFB) and the contamination of surrounding soil and groundwater in close proximity to drinking water supply wells. We are deeply concerned with the impacts of groundwater contamination on our surrounding communities, and with the prolonged process to clean up this site. Our communities deserve action, transparency, and collaboration with the Air Force. Over the years, members of our delegation have called, written and met with the Department of the Air Force to urge swift action be taken on both interim treatment, and long-term remediation. We again write to request that you reinitiate proactive interim treatment of fuel, expedite the final remediation process planning, and work alongside local experts like the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority (ABCWUA).

The Bulk Fuels Facility (BFF) jet fuel leak, which was discovered in 1999, has had severe consequences for groundwater quality in the aquifer—a critical drinking water supply source that serves the city of Albuquerque and its surrounding communities. Twenty-six years later, the fuel leak remains in the investigation phase of the clean up process. It continues to threaten the water quality in the aquifer and the jet fuel that remains at the site of the leak has at times been neglected, leaving the groundwater in the area susceptible to further contamination. The current contamination has rendered a significant area of the aquifer as inaccessible for drinking water supply and persistence of fuel at the site will mean the area will increase, further damaging this once pristine resource. This slow-moving, decades-long investigation is unacceptable and our communities deserve answers.

Therefore, we demand comprehensive responses to the following questions no later than May 7, 2025:

1.     As the Air Force works to investigate and plan for long-term remediation, it is critical that state and local stakeholders are consulted throughout the process. Ensuring adequate consultation with local stakeholders is critical to building trust throughout the planning and to an expedited clean up process. How does the Air Force plan to re-engage and consult with ABCWUA directly, outside of regularly held stakeholder meetings, and incorporate feedback from ABCWUA?

2.     While the decades-long investigation takes place, we believe it is critical to reinitiate interim treatment of the remaining fuel in the soil to proactively address contamination while the regulatory cleanup process proceeds. Will the Air Force commit to reinitiating interim treatment of remaining fuel?

3.     Please provide an update on the status of the remedy proposal process.

In New Mexico, water is life. It is one of our most precious resources, and the continued contamination of this resource is unacceptable. We look forward to receiving your response.

###