Molly has a plan for restoring clean water access

Contaminated Water in Spokane County: PFAS, the forever chemical, is already in resident water supplies.

• We urgently need to restore clean water access for District 5 residents affected by PFAS contamination.
• PFAS has been linked to cancer, liver disease, kidney disease, immune disorders, birth defects, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure and unfortunately, we are seeing these effects across the West Plains.
• As District 5 County Commissioner, I will prioritize getting clean water and resources to affected residents, and have already developed a plan (see below) to protect the health, safety, and welfare of our citizens.

Background information:

In 2017, both Fairchild Air Force Base and Spokane International Airport detected PFAS contamination in their wells from previously used firefighting foam. Fairchild AFB publicly disclosed this information and began remediation, but the Spokane Airport did not. In 2019, Spokane Airport again detected PFAS contamination in their wells but did not notify the public. In 2020, the Department of Ecology offered a $450,000 grant to further investigate contamination on the West Plains. Spokane County was the logical choice to be the fiscal agent for the grant, but the grant opportunity was removed from the county’s agenda by my opponent, Commissioner Al French and never supported In 2021, the Spokane Regional Health Board was willing to accept the grant but again the request was denied. In 2022, through a public records request, the PFAS contamination at the airport was finally revealed. Please refer to the articles below for more detailed information.

My 5-point plan to protect the health, safety, and welfare of our citizens:

1. Redirect unused Federal Rescue Plan (ARPA) funds to create a Countywide PFAS victims fund for water, filtration, and testing that includes West Plains, Cheney, Medical Lake, and others with contaminated systems. 

2. Follow the city of Spokane’s lead and direct County Attorneys to join the class action PFAS Lawsuit against the manufacturers and start the process to get funds directed to our county for remediation. Washington’s Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed 20 lawsuits against manufacturers over a year ago. Why isn’t Spokane County joining? 

3. Spokane County Health District has lost its toxicology expert. Make hiring a replacement a priority and commit to funding, potentially by the state, and supporting this position because it will be critical for long-term success. 

4. Assemble a County Task Force to secure funding at the State and Federal Level for remediation in the short term and the long term. In April of this year, the EPA awarded the state of Washington $17.3 million through the bipartisan infrastructure law to help states implement PFAS testing and treatment at public water systems, and to help owners of private wells address PFAS contamination. 

5. Apply, accept, and prepare to host grants for PFAS mediation and resources from Ecology, EPA, and any other sources. We need funding to take care of this problem. Spokane County is a victim to these forever chemicals and our taxpayers should not have to shoulder the bill. 

Commissioner Al French’s recent proposal to bring a new water source to the West Plains, while lofty, lacks the necessary critical details, transparency, and immediate relief our community desperately needs. The reality is his proposal is a concept, not a plan as it lacks collaboration and financing from stakeholders. Significantly, it does not address the immediate need for safe drinking water for the affected residents, whose numbers continue to grow.

The health of citizens are at stake, and we need to hold leaders accountable. Our community deserves better.  We need leadership that prioritizes immediate and effective solutions over speculative plans with uncertain outcomes, timelines, and results. All politics aside, these people need help and they need it now!"

Endorse Molly's 5 Point Water Plan Now

Further reading: 

My opponent’s involvement in this issue, and his lack of action have been reported by local and regional journalists and organizations.

• Al French’s PFAS pipe dream, Range Media.
• Al French and the “Forever Chemicals” Cover-up, by independent journalist Tim Connor
• Troubled Waters - PFAS on Spokane’s West Plains produced by the West Plains Water Coalition
• Spokane County Commissioner Al French proposes ambitious PFAS solution for new water source on the West Plains. Some remain skeptical, The Spokesman-Review.
• PFAS is in the groundwater west of Spokane. What’s known about the contamination is only growing, The Seattle Times.
• Many with PFAS in their West Plains wells question airport leadership and Commissioner Al French; he blames criticism on election year politics, The Spokesman-Review