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County task force discusses PFAS response; officials weigh declaring a public‑health emergency

5951373 · September 30, 2025

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Summary

Commissioners heard that a task force has recommended Spokane County consider a public‑health emergency declaration over PFAS contamination; Ecology said the state has no additional funds tied to such a declaration, and the Department of Defense has delayed investigative work tied to Fairchild Air Force Base.

County officials reported that PFAS (per‑ and polyfluoroalkyl substances) contamination work discussed at a regional task force may prompt a county health emergency declaration to pursue federal funding.

A county official said task‑force participants suggested the county adopt a formal health state of emergency because of PFAS presence; she noted that an emergency declaration would not automatically create state funds but might make the county eligible for federal assistance.

Brooke Bealer of the Washington State Department of Ecology (referenced during the meeting) said the state does not currently have an additional pot of money tied to a county health emergency declaration, and that any change in available federal funding is uncertain. Meeting participants said the Department of Defense has delayed or paused investigative work related to PFAS at some Air National Guard/Air Force sites; the schedule for mitigation work at Fairchild was reported as moved out several years, with a new mitigation deadline cited as 2032 in presentation materials.

Task‑force participants discussed sequencing remediation work and whether declaring a health emergency would allow the county to access federal resources or accelerate technical assistance; officials agreed more analysis is needed before making a formal county declaration and that coordination with the local health officer and state/federal partners would be required.

Ending: County staff said they will continue to investigate the funding implications and may return to the board with a recommendation after consulting the health officer and Defense Department updates.