Statement from the Minister of National Defence on PFAS at CFB Bagotville

July 12, 2023 – Saguenay, QC – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of National Defence, issued the following statement today regarding ongoing environmental studies for poly- and perfluoroalkylated substances (PFAS) at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Bagotville:

“The Department of National Defence (DND) conducts regular testing of the places we train and work. Military activities can have an effect on soil and water, and we want to ensure that we minimize risk to Canadians and the environment. During routine environmental monitoring work, PFAS were found at CFB Bagotville around the former firefighter training area on the southern side of the base, as well as near hangars, buildings, and water retention basins on the northern side of the base. PFAS are manufactured chemicals used in a variety of consumer and industrial products, including firefighting foams.

“Out of an abundance of caution, we have informed the City of Saguenay; the ministère de l’Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs; and the ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux du Québec about the presence of PFAS on the base. We will keep them informed about the results of our ongoing environmental studies. The Province of Québec and the City of Saguenay regulate municipal water and are responsible for setting PFAS guidelines for drinking water in the region.

“Over the coming months, we will continue to monitor drinking water on the base and conduct other environmental studies to determine if there is a link between the sources of PFAS on the base and those found at the property limits. The results of the studies, expected in winter 2024, will inform our next steps. We are also collaborating with the city and province to better understand the potential sources and impacts of PFAS on and near CFB Bagotville and how best to address them.

“As a good neighbour and member of the community, we are committed to managing the effects of our operational legacy responsibly and doing our part to safeguard the health of Canadians. We will continue to work with the city and province on this issue and will provide regular updates to the community as new information is available.”

                                                                                            - 30 -

Background on PFAS at CFB Bagotville

PFAS have been found in surface water, sediment, soil, and groundwater on CFB Bagotville property. The presence of PFAS at CFB Bagotville is thought to be related to the past use of firefighting foams for training and operations. From 1972 until the early 2010s, DND conducted firefighter training with foam. These activities were conducted according to the accepted practices and regulations of the time. While water is now used for training, firefighting foams containing PFAS are still used for emergencies as they are the safest and most effective way to extinguish fuel fires. When used, we follow standardized procedures to try to contain the foams and minimize their impacts on the environment as much as possible.