In a letter sent to the Air Force on Monday US Congressman Dan Kildee threatened “additional congressional action” if the Air Force doesn’t begin cleaning up pollution in Oscoda.
The former Wurtsmith Air Force is a source of chemical contamination that has led to several health advisories in the region - including against eating fish, deer, or coming into contact with toxic foams.
At issue is $13.5 million which Congress appropriated for pollution clean up efforts.
Air Force officials said the funds will be used for more studies of contamination at the base.
Congressman Kildee said that is not how the funds were intended to be used.
“If we had wanted to fund a study, we would have funded a study. The Air Force needs to immediately use those funds for clean up as we intended.”
Congressman Kildee said he will push additional Congressional action to force the Air Force to clean up pollution if that is what is necessary.
“It’s a terrible embarrassment to the Air Force that it would take that kind of action to force them to protect American citizens from something as dangerous as this chemical contaminant. But if we have to do it, we’ll do it.”
Tony Spaniola is a member of the Need Our Water group, which advocates for pollution clean up at the former Wurtsmith Air Force base.
“In my own home and the homes of my neighbors we can’t drink our water,” he said. “The time for empty excuses and foot dragging has passed.”
The Air Force did not respond to our request for comment.