Dairy Farmer Sues Burlington Over Airport PFAS Contamination

South Burlington dairy farmer, John Belter, is suing the City of Burlington, contending that his well was contaminated by toxic chemicals that flowed off airport property.
Belter asserts that per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS, or “forever chemicals” have contaminated the groundwater and stream that run across his farm. The chemicals are alleged to have come from a firefighting foam that the Vermont Air National Guard has used for decades on land they lease at the Burlington International Airport.
Belter, and his attorneys at Langrock Sperry & Wool, including Emily Joselson and Jim Swift, believe the City should be held responsible as owners of the land, and are seeking compensation for Belter’s family, as well as an end to the “permanent physical invasion” of his property by the toxic chemicals.
“They’ve been such good farmers, and such responsible stewards of the land, that it’s tragic something like this should happen to them,” said attorney Joselson.

Read the full story from Kevin McCallum of Seven Days: https://www.sevendaysvt.com/OffMessage/archives/2021/10/21/dairy-farmer-sues-burlington-over-airport-pfas-contamination