# U.S. Navy PFAS contamination and cleanup efforts

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/us-navy-pfas-contamination-and-cleanup-efforts
> Updated: 2026-10-16T08:30:00.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 3.

The U.S. Navy is managing various PFAS contamination issues across different locations in the United States.

In Calverton, officials and Senator Chuck Schumer are demanding the Navy accelerate cleanup efforts at a former Naval Weapons Industrial Reserve Plant. Federal records indicate the start date for remedial investigations has been delayed from 2028 to April 2039. Concerns have been raised regarding a toxic groundwater plume containing PFAS and 1,4-dioxane that is moving toward Peconic Bay.

On Whidbey Island, the Navy has initiated a three-year baseline study to establish background levels of PFAS following the discovery of contamination in groundwater and nearby wells linked to historical firefighting foam use. Navy co-chair Kendra Clubb stated the findings will help assess the necessity of further cleanup efforts. Since the EPA released health advisories in 2016, the Navy has sampled 377 off-base drinking water wells in the vicinity.

Additionally, the Navy is undertaking a time-critical removal action in North Whidbey to connect a building to the Oak Harbor municipal water system. This follows tests in late 2025 and early 2026 that detected PFAS concentrations between 5.80 and 6.26 parts per trillion in a private well, exceeding the EPA’s maximum contaminant level of 4 parts per trillion. The contaminated well is located within the Area 6 Landfill sampling area. The project, estimated to cost $120,000, involves installing approximately 150 linear feet of piping and is expected to take about one year to complete. This is the second such time-critical action initiated in North Whidbey since September 2025.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-16: U.S. Navy to address PFAS contamination in Whidbey water well

The Navy will connect a North Whidbey building to Oak Harbor’s water system after PFAS levels in a private well exceeded EPA limits.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-navy-to-address-pfas-contamination-in-whidbey-water-well

### 2026-09-25: U.S. Navy launches PFAS baseline study on Whidbey Island

The U.S. Navy is launching a three-year study to establish PFAS baseline levels on Whidbey Island following groundwater contamination linked to firefighting foam used at the Naval Air Station.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-navy-launches-pfas-baseline-study-on-whidbey-island

### 2026-09-03: Navy delays Calverton PFAS cleanup until 2039

Senator Chuck Schumer is calling on the U.S. Navy to expedite the cleanup of PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ in Calverton after federal timelines for investigation were delayed until 2039.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/navy-delays-calverton-pfas-cleanup-until-2039

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Cite as: U.S. Navy PFAS contamination and cleanup efforts. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/us-navy-pfas-contamination-and-cleanup-efforts