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For 30 years, Tucson and the Air Force have worked together to protect local water

  • Published
  • AFIMSC Public Affairs

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas - Tucson residents, local leaders and Department of the Air Force partners will recognize 30 years of collaboration to protect human health and the environment during a Unified Community Advisory Board meeting Wednesday at the El Pueblo Activity Center.

For three decades, the Unified Community Advisory Board, or UCAB, has engaged with environmental cleanup efforts around Air Force Plant 44 and Morris Air National Guard Base and helped protect Tucson’s water in the process.

Group photo

UCAB members tour the Groundwater Treatment Plant at Air Force Plant 44 in October 2022, in Tucson, Arizona. The visit allowed community members to learn about ongoing cleanup efforts and technologies used to protect the Tucson community and support mission readiness. (Courtesy Photo)
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The UCAB was created in 1995 to give the community a direct voice in decisions about the Tucson International Airport Area Superfund Site.

“My father and other local residents were among the first to push for decisive action in the early 1980s,” said Yolanda Herrera, the Uniformed Community Advisory Board Community Co-chair. “He later helped establish the UCAB because the community needed a unified way to gather around cleanup issues, have our voices heard and work toward solutions.”

The board includes Tucson residents, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, Tucson Water, Tucson Airport Authority and the Department of the Air Force.

The advisory group will recognize the anniversary during UCAB’s quarterly meeting and open house, hosted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

“UCAB strengthens the trust between the Air Force and the community and ensures their voice is a part of our process. It’s where we listen, share information, and work together,” said Michelle Brown, Air Force Environmental Policy and Programs Director. “Our goal is to protect community health while supporting the missions that keep our nation safe.”

A Partnership That Delivers Results

Over the years, the Air Force, EPA and community partners have made significant progress. Cleanup systems at Plant 44 have removed thousands of pounds of contaminants like trichloroethylene and 1,4‑dioxane from the groundwater and treated billions of gallons of water.

The Air Force investment in Tucson-area cleanup projects stands at more than $172 million and includes construction of an advanced oxidation treatment system now operated by Tucson Water. Community feedback through UCAB helped shape these efforts and improve communication along the way.

“UCAB keeps us focused on what matters most - protecting Tucson’s water and supporting the community,” said Roger McCready, the Air Force Civil Engineer Center, or AFCEC’s, project manager at Plant 44.

Photo of Air Force Plant 44

The groundwater treatment system at Air Force Plant 44, part of the Tucson International Airport Area Superfund Site in Arizona, has removed 26,000 pounds of trichloroethylene and 155 pounds of 1,4-dioxane since it began operations in 1987. The system currently treats 1.7 million gallons of groundwater per day through seven extraction wells and eight reinjection wells, protecting the Tucson community while supporting Air Force mission readiness. (Courtesy Photo)
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The Air Force Civil Engineer Center, a primary subordinate unit of the Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center, manages restoration at Plant 44 and supports the Air National Guard’s environmental efforts at Morris.

“Environmental restoration at these sites not only protects community health but helps sustain mission operations by ensuring safe, reliable access to groundwater and maintaining compliant, mission‑ready installations.”

Working Together on New Challenges

The partnership is also focusing on per‑ and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS. The Air Force is building a new full‑scale PFAS treatment system at Plant 44 and conducting a PFAS pilot study at Morris Air National Guard Base, with results expected in 2026.

A site‑wide PFAS Technical Working Group, including the Air Force, EPA, UCAB, ADEQ, Tucson Water and Tucson Airport Authority, meets regularly to share data and coordinate next steps.

“The strength of UCAB is the variety of voices at the table,” said Lt Col Lydia Stefanik, Restoration Program Manager at Morris ANGB. “That collaboration helps us solve today’s issues and prepare for tomorrow’s.”

Looking Ahead

As UCAB marks 30 years, the partnership remains committed to protecting Tucson’s water and supporting the missions that rely on it.

“This milestone celebrates trust, teamwork and shared purpose,” Brown said. “We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished together, and we’re committed to continuing that work for generations to come.”

That commitment is shared by the community as well.

“We’re grateful for 30 years of resolve and for the ongoing support and transparency of the Air Force and our partners,” Herrera said. “Our goal is to make sure our kids and grandkids have safe, clean water in this community and that’s why UCAB continues this work today.”