Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID CO-2023-R02

Settler-Colonialism and the Role of Military-Government Relationships in Environmental Crises: Extended Case Study of Peterson Air Force Base PFAS Water Contamination

Institute: Colorado
Year Established: 2023 Start Date: 2023-09-01 End Date: 2024-08-31
Total Federal Funds: $9,996 Total Non-Federal Funds: $20,766

Principal Investigators: Malin

Project Summary: Domestic military bases can be divisive among the surrounding communities due to the history of land occupation from indigenous peoples, contamination events, as well as increased economic activity the bases can bring to the area. This extended case study aims to investigate the role of the government and military interaction in public messaging after a military induced water contamination event through the treadmill of destruction using an environmental subjectivities lens and the historical context of settler colonialism in military activity. The research will be conducted through qualitative interviews with local government officials and activists along with content analysis of the official reporting of the pollution event. The chosen case study is PFAS pollution into the Widefield aquifer from Peterson Air Force base in Colorado in 2016. This event caused a localized water crisis in El Paso County, CO that jeopardized the aquifer used for drinking water within three municipalities. This incident required the collaboration of local government and military in developing new facilities for water treatment and cleanup. The strength of institutionalization of stakeholders like activists and local government within their organizations and their social ties with the military will be explored. This meso level mixed methods study will also investigate the narratives received by the affected public.